Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-01-24

mHu, Ill pouring ram, ana III tnc race
of furious northeastcr, for the Went
worths
Looking back at David's lighted win
dows, he thought, with pardonable tri
umph, that for once he had stolen a
march upon his rival ; but his triumph
changed to perturbation when he finally
stood, ii mud d-bespattered and drenched
individual, ringing the Wentworths
door-bcll. His spirits rose, however,
at sight of the cozv library, where Mr..
Wentworth, i'll dressing gown and slip
pers, sat before an open wood fire, and
Miss Ella, seated on cricket, was oc-
cupicd in popping corn. The latter
with Il blush and smile of welcome.
"Please excuse papa and me. We
were having one of our old-fashioned
evenings.
"Delightcd to see you, my boy ="
chimed in Mr.. Wentworth, adding, with
uncomfortable solicitude, "And where's
Mr., Whipple p
Il really don't know what Davy is
doing with himself this evening" re-
sponded Ernest, seating himself on the
other side Of the fire, and wishing Mr..
Wentworth in the Arctic regions. 81,
for my part, couldn't reconcile myself
to leave town without spending my last
evening with you these words ac-
companied by significant glance at the
young lady.
"Your coming is perfect godsend-
perfect godsend y was the hopelessly
brisk response. 81 don't know any
thing duller than September storm. l
wish your friend was here but never
mind, we'll make an evening of it..
Accordingly the hospitable old gen
tleman rang for fruit and wine and
cigars, and gave full freedom to his gar
r,llous tongue. Ernest was in des-
Jokes succeeded one another, while he
was obliged to laugh and answer and
take hopeless notes of the freight
CLEANS netted in the brown curls op-
posite, the downcast eyes, the snowy
hands busy with the tassels of a CO.
quettish silk apron, and the tinny slip
pers resting on flower in the hearth
rug.
Periodical glances at the clock told
Ernest that it was half-past eight, then
that it was nine. He formed the second
desperate resolve of the day and began
to talk about his travels. He gave a
long and intensely prosy account of his
life in Paris, using all the French he
could think of. Mr.. Wentworth had
never travelled, but evinced polite at
tention Ernest, with unhagging zest,
went on with Germany and Italy. His
host nodded with waning interest.
Ernest was about to attempt Russia,
when a snorc delighted his ears.
The young lady nervously resumed
her corn-popping. vainly trying to hide
a smile The fire was dying down.
Ernest hastened to assist her, seized
the tongs and raised a heavy log ; as he
raised it, brand fell out upon the
hearth, and broke in pieces, sending a
shower of fiery sprays over the pretty
figure on the cricket. Each uttered a
suppressed exclamation. Miss Went
worth shook her curls hastily, and
Ernest shook the little silk apron and
much-berufled skirt. He shook it 50
vigorously that a letter dropped out of
the pocket and lay before him, address
upward; but he did not heed the letter,
for somehow he had mistaken the young
lady's hand for her apron, and still
held it, though the sparks were only
black specks. He was in the midst of
an incoherent but earnest speech, say
ing something about wanting the ri ght
to protect her from all the troubles of
life as he had protected her from those
flying sparks, when the letter caught his
eye. Miss Ella Wentworth, D.,
Massachusetts, in David's handwriting,
Enthusiastically. That one glance showed
him also that it was drop-letter and
stamped September 26.
Ernest hesitated so noticeably in the
middle of his speech that his listener
glanced up at him in surprise, and
caught his glance at the letter. She
picked it up hastily, with a rosy blush,
and an exclamation that caused the old
gentleman's drowsy eyes to open wide.
"Ahem! | believe" he observed,
with the extra dignity sleepy persons
often assume, "that | lost what you
We're last saying-about the Swiss
patois, wasn't it?
Poor Ernest 1t was hard work to
sit and hear the history of the old gen.
tlemans speculation after that :; and
many pleading glances were sent toward
the flushed, downcast face opposite
him. At last, at eleven, he rose hope
lessly, to go. He fingered and fingered
finding continually last words to say
till the utter futility of delay discour
aged him in seeking the door but here
the old gentleman, suddenly radiant
with new thought, detained him.
"Dear me Why, Nell, l had almost
forgotten what we spoke of at dinner
Mr.. Walch, we want you and youl
friend Whipple at Christmas-time, yor
know. You must give us few days
Nell here is going to be married about
that time, and you must both come tc
the wedding without fail. l dare say,
he aided, struck by the blankness OF
Ernest's face. "that you've never
happened to hear of it before. Well
we'll, good news Is always welcome, ISM
it? Now I shall depend on you for /
week at Christmas. Don't forget to i'll
vite your friend. Good-by and goo(
luck to you, my boy ~ and the hearty
good -wisher followed him out upon the
door step to give a final hand shake.
A half hour after, as David was pac
ing his chamber feverishly, his doc
opened and drenched and mudd,
figure presented itself, and remarked
historically, as it dropped a soaked
cloak on the floor.
"WelI, old fellow, we've come ou
even again. Neither of us won the race
neither won the wager, and neither ha
won the LADY,
| The "Mates" i'll the United State
| NAVY who are obliged to nav for thei