Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-05-07

much more true to an idea than 4 fact. aud
having very lofty conception of woman
hood. with very sanguine nature. he saw
in each new face the possibilities OF real
ization of his ideal. 1t was, perhaps, an
unfortunate thing for the women, particu-
larry as he brought to each trial a surpris-
Ing freshness which was very deceptive.
and quite distinct from the base familiari
ty Of the man of gallantry. 1t was this
perennial virginity Of the affections that
most endeared him to the best women,
who were prone TO exercise toward him
chivalrous protectlon-as of one likely to
go astray unless looked after-and indulg-
ed in the dangerous combination OF senti-
ment with the highest maternal instincts.
It was this quality which caused Jenny to
recognize In him a certain boyishness that
required her womanly care, and even in-
duced her to offer to accompany him to the
crossroads when the time OF his departure
arrived. With her superior knowledge OF
woodcraft and the locality, she would have
kept him from being lost. l wot not but
that she would have protected him from
bears or wolves, but chiefly, think, from
the feline fascinations OF Name Robinson,
aud Lucy Rance, who might be lying in wait
for this tender young poet. Nor did she
cease to be thankful that Providence had,
SO to speak, delivered him as a trust into
her hands.
1t WAS lovely night. The moon swung
low and languished softly on the snowy
ridge beyond. There were quaint odors
in the still air, and strange incense from
the woods perfumed their young blood and
seemed to swoon in their pulses. Small
wonder that they fingered On the white
road, that their feet climbed unwillingly
the little hill where they were to part. and
that when they at last reached it, even the
saving grace OF speech seemed to have for
saken them.
For theer they stood, alone. There was
no sound nor motion in earth or woods,
or heaven, They might have been the
one man and woman for whom this good
| ly earth that lay at their feet, rimmed with
the deepest azure. was created. And see
| ing this, they turned toward each other
with sudden instinct. and their hands
met, and then their lips in one long kiss.
And then out OF the mysterious distance
came the sound of voices and the sharp
clatter OF hoofs and wheels, and Jenny slid
away-a white moonbcam-from the hill.
For a moment she glimmercd through the
| trees. and then, reaching the house, pass
I ed her sleeping father on the vcranda, and.
/ darling into her bedroom, locked the
/ door, threw open the window, and falling
/ on her knees beside Il, leaned her hot
/ checks upon her hands and listened. ln
! u few moments she was rewarded by the
sharp clatter of hoois on the stony road,
| but IL was only horseman whose dark
/ figure WAS swiftly lost in the shadows of
! the lower road. At another time she
! might have recognized the man. but her
/ eyes and ears were now all intent on
/ something else. II came presently, with
( dancing lights, a musical rattle OF harness.
/ cadence OF hoof-beats, that set her heart
/ 10 beating in unison, aud was gone.
! sudden sense of loneliness came over her
aud tears gathered in her sweet eyes
4 She arose and looked around her There
/ was the little bed. the dressing table, the
/ roses that she had worn last night, still
| fresh and blooming Ia the little vase.
/ Everything was there, but every thing look
! ell strange; the roses should have wiiher-
| el IA
she could hardly remember when she had
worn this dress that lay upon the chair.
SO she came back to the window and sank
| down beside it, with her cheek, tritle
| paler, leaning on her hand, and her long
| braids reaching to the floor. The stars
paled slowly, like her cheek; yet with
| eyes tha, saw not. she still looked from
| her window for the coming dawn.
/ 1t came, with yiolets deepening into pur-
! pie, with purple flushing into roses. with
rose shining into silver aud glowing into
| gold. The struggling line OF black picket
/ fence below, that had faded away with the
! STAR. come back with the sun. What was
that objec: moving by the fence: Jenny
raised her head, and looked intently. /.
was q man endeayoring TO climb the pick
cts, and falling backward with each at
tempt. Suddenly she started to her feet,
as if the rosy fushes of the dawn had
crimsoned her from forehead to shoulders )
then she stood. white as the wall, with her
hands clasped upon her bosom. Then,
with single bound she reached the door,
and with flying braids and fluttering skirt,
sprang down the stairs aud out in the
garden walk. When within few feet of
the fence she uttered cry-the first she
had giyen-the cry of mother over her
striken babe, of a tigress over her man
gled cub, and in another moment she had
leaped the fence and knelt beside Ridge
| way, with his faintlng head upon her
breast.
My boy-my poor, poor boy! who has
done this?'
Who, indeed? His clothes were cover
ed with dust, his walstcoat was torn open,
and his handkerchief, wet with the blood
it could not stanch. fell from o cruel stab
beneath his shoulder.
'kidseway!-my poor boy-tell me
what has happened
Ridgeway slowly opened his heavy blue
veined lids, and gazed upon her. Present.
ly CLEAN Of mischief came into his dark
eyes, a smile stole over his lips as he whis-
pered slowly:
"It--was-yOur kiss-did it-Jenny,
dear! had forgotten-how high priced
the article was here. Never .mind. Jen-
ny!-he feebly raised her hand to his
white lips-'it was-worth It, and tainted
away.
Jenny started to her feet and looked
wildly around her. Then, with sudden
resolution, she stopped over the insensi
BILE man, and, with one strong effort, lift
ed him in her arms as if he had been
child. When her father, moment later
rubbed his eyes and woke from his sleel
upon the veranda, it was to see the god
dass oroct q nd tri,,mnh M et trid;oo toy :, -.