The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-06-30

that dreadful idea that was trying TO
force itself upon me.
waited tilE the three years had ex-
pired, and then, with what anguish Of
heart DO words could tell, / wrote to
Jack again-my fourth letter begging
him, imploring hIm, TO answer me, if
but to tell me he was weary of his prom
ise and wished to be set free; and then,
making a super human effort over my
self, | waited, waited, month by month,
for an answer, though ! knew that It
must be at least six months before one
could come.
| had given up expecting one in the
/ interim, and was too proud to send to
his relatives-distant ones, whom ! had
never seen, and who had probably never
I beard of me. The thought had taken
root now and grown to feeling of GER
! tainty, but waited for my answer.
( Three months-six months-nine
months passed away. and hope was dead
/ within my heart. They said had grown
much older and more care-worn. Mad
anne said / worked too hard, and the
sharp business woman became quite
motherly in her attentions TO me. But
would not take any change, for work was
| like balm TO me; il blunted my thought;
and knowing that ! was daily growing
pale and thin, l still waited.
/ | knew the girls used to whisper
I together about me and think me strange,
/ but no one knew NV secret-not even
| Madame, who had more than once
| sought my confidence; AMI so twelve
months passed away-four years since
/ Jack had left me.
! 1t was NOT to a day, but very nearly to
the time when he had partrd from me,
| and it was almost two years since | had
heard from him. was trying hard to
4 grow patient and contented with my lot,
for Nine. Granger had gradually taken
| to me, and trusted me, making me more
and more her right hand, when one Rlor-
Ious spring morning, rs | was coming
out of the break fast-room TO go upstairs
to work, she called me into her little
snuggery, where she sat as a rule and at
tended to her customers letters. for she
had an extensive clientele and CARED on
business in large private mansion in
Welbeck street.
'Grace, my dear" she said taking
me in her arms and kissing me, sit wor
ries me to see You look so i'll. Now what
do you say to fortnight in the coun-
try?"
A fortnight in the country! and at her
busiest time, with the London season
coming on.
thought ofthat, and then, as glanc-
/ ed round at the flowers and Inhaled
their scents, the bright fields near Tenn
| plemore Grange foated before my dim
ming eyes, feeling of suffocation came
upon me, and the room seemed to swing
round ! believe that for the first time
in my life | should have tainted, so
| painful were the memories evoked by
her words, when a sharp knock and ring
at the door echoed through the house,
following instantly upon the dull fall of
letter and the sharp click of the letter
| box.
1t was like an electric shock to me, and
without a word | darted into the hall,
painting with excitement and my hand at
my throat to tear away the sitting SEN
sation
| But it was letter. ] could see it
through the glass in the letter box, and
seized it with trembling hands, inspir-
ed as it were by some strange power.
Jack! dear Jack at last" | gasped
as | turned it over and saw it was
strange, blue, official looking letter,
formally directed to me.
Even that did not surprise me. 1t was
from Jack, knew, and tore open the
new envelope.
Yes, knew it! The inner envelope
was covered with Australian post marks,
and, ignorant as ] might be of its con-
tents, was raising it to my lips to cover
it with passionate kisses when ! saw it
was open.
Then a mist came over my mental
vision for moment, but only to clear
away as, half stupefed. l turned the mis-
sive over and over, held it straight for
moment, and then with sigh of misery
and despair, / stood mute and as if turn
ed to stone.
"Grace, my child In mercy's name
tell me-"
1t was Madam, who passed her arm
around me and looked horror stricken at
my white face and lips. The next mo-
ment dimly remember she had caught
the letter-his letter-my letter-from
my hand, and read it aEsld: "Mr John
Bray wood. Markboro, r. county Mel
-boilrne," and then in her excitement, the
great official sentence-like brand upon it,
"Dead'
That was the beginning of my first
and only illness, during which Madame
tended me like a mother, even giving
up her business afterwards. and retiring
to live with me here in this quiet street,
where she died and left me well-to-do, as
you see. ] have grown old since then,
but am not unhappy, great as was the
trial, and it has led me into " hat. | hope
has been a useful life. And, besides!
why should | sorrow, knowing as | do
that which came to me years and years
after-that Jack died with my name up
on his lips-died true to her he loved,
and am but waiting till We shall meet
again. GEO. MANvILLE FEM.
Improvement in Sheep.
a marked improvement is noticeable
| In the nnalitv of sheen w hich Comes O