Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-03-09
" Show me where to find her. then and

Show me where to find her, then, and
l will go to her." said Sir Evan, with a
strange culver of lip and voice.
The mother was about to call the
daughter, when one of the boys, hastily
opening the door, pointed to the room
where Ellen was busily taking off the but
ter from the churn. She was arrayed in
a plain gray linen dress, clean and neat,
and the curls, that had hung so prettily
about her neck and face at the wedding.
were fastened back with piece Of bright
blue colored ribbon; but the dropping,
tall, lily-like figure and the modest gray
eyes were the same, and the expression
he thought so angelic when she gathered
the broken primroses was still the same
also; indeed, as he gazed upon her, he
thought her more beautiful than ever.
She looked bewildered at the fair face of
the young man, and he took her hand,
saying: q have accepted your invita-
ton, Ellen. You see l have returned.
though in good sooth your eyes would
speak a warmer welcome if I had come
with my tattered coat and my fiddle'
Ellen stood speechless in establishment;
for she saw, indeed, he was no other than
the strolling musician-for that hazel eye
had left tender regret in Elem heart for
which she had often child herself; and as
it flashed across her mind who he was.
and how she had stuffed his pockets with
bread and beef, she fell on her knees,
crying: Forgive me, sir; oh, forgive
me. [ knew not, indeed, you were any
| other than what you seemed"
Forgive you, Ellen! Yes, my fair
girl; you have more need Of forgiveness
than you think, for you have stolen my
peace Of mind away. Will you restore it
to me? Will you be my partner now
again-for all my life long?" He raised
her from the floor as he spoke and drew
her tenderly toward him; and she laid her
face upon his bosom and wept tears of the
purest joy and gladness as, amidst his
caresses, she promised to be his through
life. Ere he led her back to get blessing
from her parents, he took from his bosom
a bouquet of the latest primroses of the
year and fixed them on her breast, whis-
pering: "These flowers must always be
sacred to us; for it was when you were
gathering those of mine, so rudely broken
and scattered by an ungentle hand, that
my soul went out to you in the fullness of
its first affection"
So Ellen became the wife of Sir Evan,
and through life proved herself true
wife, loving mother, and a benefactress
to the poor and lowly. Sir Evans mother
never had cause to regret having given
her sanction to the marriage; for she be-
came very proud of her lovely daughter
in-law, whose charming character was
daily astonishing her more and more.
They are old now and the elder lady has
passed away; and the young generation
are grown up to manly sons and beautiful
daughters, being loved and wooed and
won in their turn but none Of them are
happier with their lovers than Ellen is
with Sir Evan; and IN the spring he never
appears before her on any morning with
out bouquet of primroses, which she
places in her belt as she had done long
ago to those he had first given her. The
family all know the story; and they have
heard how chagrined the naughty Marga-
ret was when she learned who she had re-
fused to dance with at the wedding by the
river side, and whose flowers she had
broken so rudely and cast to the winds;
and the most valued painting in the castle
is the fair Ellen in her white dress and
blue ribbons, and sunny, ripping, golden
brown hair, with a tender look, half glad,
half regretful, gathering into her bouquet
the broken primroses, and hazel-eyed,
handsome gypsy gazing at her with pas
sionate admiration.