Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-02-26

snt her q message. His uncle's fami-
y had told her that he wrote to them
10 good spirits, apparently, but that he
safd nothing about his business, aud
they believed AMI hoped he was fast
gotting cured Of his folly, for the y un-
derstood that he worked like q CON-
non day-laborer. She sometimes ques-
toned Mr.. Daryl, but he would mere.
" reply: "The young man is doing
pretty fairly" which was certainly not
very enthusiastic praise. Mr.. Daryl
had good reasons for his reticence, for
hs remembered how she had spread the
report Of Benard's going to TO Maple
Bend through all Perkinvillc, while
The matter was still undecided, and af-
ter he, Daryl, had told her he should
tell no one.
ss1t's strange" thought Jcsseca that
afsee.oon for the hundredth time, "that
Bernard never writes to me! am afraid
he is not doing well. | wonder If he
was foolish enough to literally believe
that l did not love him, aud never
would love him! Or it may be he has
learned to love work so much he don't
cara-for anything else. A pretty result
Of my advice! But, l am not sorry l
aroused him from his lethsrgy, even if
nescr see him morel'
Here the gray eyes filled with tears,
which might perhaps have fallen but for
Sound that now struck upon her ears
-the quick tramping of footsteps
through the long grass and daises. Her
hear. beat fast, but she would not turn
her head.
81 knew would find you under he
ash-tree.'
Benard.' And now the head turned,
and she held out both hand. lie squeez-
ed them in very uncivilized manner,
that he must surely have learned in the
lumber region.
'How YOU are changed!' she exclain-
ed. She saw at a 81 lance that the great
brown eyes were alight with active
thought; that the mouth was firmer. and
the whole bearing of the man, rcsolute
aud manly.
III he has not succeeded, he has not
given up" was her mental comment.
She made room for him on the bench
And you, not at all, You are the
same Jessca lett! do believe this is
the very dress YOU wore when last
saw you.
How can you be expected to know
one white dress from another.
III is not your wedding-dress, hope
You are not married, Jessica?
Ne, am not married. she said de-
murely.
Thank Heaven for that. What have
you been doing this long time?'
The same old round of duties. Sew
ing and helping mother with her house
Eeeping, and the children with their
lessons. There is no end 10 women's
work, YOU know. Only l don't believe
you know anything about it,
'Ikuow You were ALWAYS as busy n. Il
bee. and used to think You must con-
sequently be unhappy, but have learn
ed better than that now
Indeed And pray what have you
been doing that you were ashamed to
Writ to your old friend?'
'Diu YOU expect me To write TO vou?'
We generally look for common court
esy from those who pretend to be oar
friends and neither letter or me ssaye
have YOU sent me-
Il was waiting for something OF my
own
You see have not forgotten a certain
conversation under the pollard willows
yonder.'
Jc,sica turned away her head. Il did
not say You were 10 treat me with the
ordinary poitcncss OF an acquaintance
Il know. l resolved To see you no
more, TO speak to you no more, until l
should have retrieved my manhood. |
went TO see Daryl who told me Of his
lumber business at Maple Bend, where
could get work as common laboring
hand. 1t was rather staggering otler,
and | took couple of days to consider
il. was at first somewhat inclined, to
back out of the scrape, bu< at last sum-
moned up the necessary fortitude, and
went
Jessica though of the report she had
purposcly spread around him TO force
him 10 g., but, like discreet women,
she held her peace.
Hard work it was continued Ber-
nard after pause, and dreary and dis
agreeable, helping to get the lum-
Der TO the RATS, aud down to the
vessels. This labor lasted for three
months, and il it had not been for
my positive dissemination that nothing
should force me back 10 the old life-and
for one other thing-l think my endur-
ance woul! have given way. At the
end OF three months The business in
creased SO rapidly, and SO many hands
came up, that | was promoted to part
OF tie business l liked very well-filling
out the orders, that came in pretty fast,
by selecting the proper wood, and meas
uring the lengths, etc. But, need not
tell YOU all that, and how one thing led
70 ho1I
important position, with fair salary,
good knowledge of business, and the
prospect of doing better still. And, be-
sides these, have the funniest mite of q
house that Il oks as if the wind had blown
it together, and might, at any time, blow
IT apart, and yet It is snug and tight for
ALL
You have, indeed done wonders,
Bernard. l knew you could do any
thing you wanted to do
If had got nothing from my work
but the consciousness Of independence
and manliness, | would consider my
self fully repaid
OF course you wouldv
But then you see got something
more than this, and still except some
thing worth more than ALL
Ou, yOu uS9 "A ullIl Vi your OWD, i
supposed
NO, you little demure witch, you
don't suppose anything Of the kind.
Would have come down here in our
busiest season for that !! No 1 came to
look for jewel without which my life
will be nOthing-my Jessica's love. Will
yon refuse to listen to me now, darling?
There was no need for words: Jessica
turned her blushing face 10 Bernard,
and he clasped her in his arms.
AT lastp he said rapturous.y. oh.
my dearest, have waited long for this.
Ii We're not so happy would reprOach
you for having been 50 cold to me. But,
you love me at last'
Il will make confession to you now,
Bernard; loved you all the time.'
MY darling! And you let me think
you did not care for me. Why did you
send me away without the least glimpse