Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-02-10

woman never can keep secret, and
Fred Breese ought 10 have known il: but
1t had never occurred to him that women
differed IN this respect from men. tie could
Keep silent. and he saw no reason to sup
pose that any other person could find il
difficult to do So
One day in August, 1874, Mrs. Hepworth.
| VINO for the first time was passing the sum
mer months as well rs those of win er in
the South. walked more rapidly than usual
from the village postofiice, and upon en-
tering the house went straight to her room
in apparent agitation. Half an hour later
she Joined Miss Middleton on the piazza.
and presently said, Ruth, | want 10 tell
you a story
Pray do, answered the younger gen
tlewoman. Il haven't had a story all to my
sell >I,c" was child"
But mine is a sad story, and there are
! other reasons why YOU may not like il. or
me Tor telling it. We shall see however -
lhere was young man once, as grand
man a God ever made. He loved wo-
man who was worthy OF MIN and who loved
HIM in return; but in a tit OF unreasonable
anger. one day she sent him away discard
ed. The young woman was very poor al
though she had been rich. and her nece.-
sites were sore. The man knew her needs
and took great pains TO provide for them
In such a way that she should never know
or suspect whence the help came. He
threw in her way the only profitable work
snc knew how 10 do. hut this was not all ,
nor half. When he parted with the woman
he loved he forever surrendered all idea
of renewing the engagement. He was con
vnced that he was unfit to make such a
woman happy. and, like the hero he was
he sacrificed his own life tn hers There
was was way in which he could restore
the woman's fortune; but IL involved long
years Of toll and privation and sutferin.
10 accomplish 1t he must give his titue and
his means, and risk his life itself In a climate
which at certain seasons is dangerously
unwholesome."
Mrs lepworth was looking over, not at
Miss Middleton as she told the story but
Neverheiess hhef the gfGyf on It'll 5 Of t5 teaGs n
bravely breasted the difficulties and the
dangers of his task. 1t was his plan to
work out the terrible problem under an
assumed name. and tren. without her
knowledge. to convey the redeemed estate
TO the woman, record the deed, and disap-
pear forever from her world, poor, friend
less. aud a wandercr.
Year after year he toiled and suffered.
He lived meagrely and worked increasingly.
He was sick many times, ana alone always,
with neither man nor woman to give him
greeting and no companions but the negro
laborers he employed.
Finally his work was done. The estate
was restored to its former fruitfulness.
The rice fields were repaired and leased
for a term of years at a rental which wonld
place the woman he loved not only be-
yond want, but in well-nigh atiiuent circum-
stances. The deed to her was made aud
recorded The agent was instructed 10
/ give copy of it to the woman, but to con
| ceal the gyer's real name always sand the
man sailed to-day for China. The agent
| was a womau-the sister of the hero-and
after the manner of women she failed 70
keep the secret of his herosm.'
| Mrs. Hepworth left the piazza and retired
| to her room. Ruth sat still for half an
| hour. aud then went to her friend.
| ''Will the agent help the unworthy wo-
man to pursue purpose as relent!esslv as
the man has pursued his?' she asked.
What is the purpose:"
ITO spend every cent of the income from
the estate in search for the hero; to bring
him back. and show him that he has tanned
the wild beast"
1T would be useless. He has hidden hi:
sister goodbye, and, d,upon sailing, changed
his name again, that search might be vain
and the gift effective