The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-06-01

take the first train to the city, look after
few things there that needed attending to
and then take the next steamer for
Europe. But before he went away for
years, maybe, he would do two things
viz: peer in through one of the windows
that opened from the parlor out on the
piazza, and take farewell look of the
woman who was driving him away from
his native land, and then go down to the
beach, and in the bright moonlight Sc
lect a shell to carry away with him as a
memento of Bramble Beach, and the
only romance of his life.
Therefore, when the music stopped,
he glanced in upon the merry throng.
She was on the opposite side of the room
talking to Charley Parker, but looking
straight in his direction. She evidently
saw him for she said something to Park
er, left that gentleman and came toward
the window through which he was sur
veying the animated scene. He saw
her and, not doubling that her errand
was some new scheme for his discomft
ure, and having all he desired of such
sport earlier in the evening, he turned
and disappeared in the direction of the
shore.
Reaching it, he sat down upon the
sand, and watched the waters lying be-
fore him like a vast heaving expanse of
shimmering silver. For some time he
sat there, lost in the calm beauty of the
scene, but at length recollecting his er-
rand, he shook off his abstraction and
rising commenced his search for SHE'LL
Near him, and half buried out of sight,
he discovered large and very hond
some specimen. Digging it out of its
resting place, he examined it, and was
about to retrace his steps to the hotel
when a sudden thought struck him.
Pausing, he took a pencil from his pock-
ct, and wrote upon the inner surface of
the shell; and as the words were formed
beneath the magic of hic touch. he read
them aloud:
MAMIE-You will not let me tell you
the story of my love for you; but my
heart Graves some expression of what it
feels, and so must write its secret here,
and give il to old ocean, in the fathom-
less depths of whose broad bosom 1
trust it will be hidden forever. To NOR
row | go away. / have looked upon
your face for perhaps the last time in
this world. In future / shall try to for
get it, or least only remember it as a
part of a dream of beauty that, at some
time or other, held possession Of my
slumbering senses. cannot say good
bye, for my heart is too sadly wrung
with sorrow. No other woman can fill
the void caused by the loss of YOU
Goodbye, my love, goodbye. JOHN.
Then he lifted his arm and trhew the
shell far out into the swelling surge.
There, l have told my love- Now
farewell hope, and welcome resigna-
tion," and, turning, walked back to his
hotel.
Next morning, when Mamie Wilber-
force stepped out on the piazza radiant
in the glory of her fresh young beauty,
Charley Parker hastened to her side
with look of mock selemnity upon his
handsome face.
HNow you've done it," he said, in a
tone of extravantly pathetic reproach.
ITO think that you should have been
the one to deprive the Fidelia of so
many benefits. wouldn't have be-
lieved that woman's wiles could work
such dire disaster in so short time
"Why, what do You mean Mr. Park
err" she queried, with some little asper-
ity both of tone and manner.
Simply this: John Burroughs with
all his efects-why couldn't he content
himself with taking his defects? they are
numerous enough everybody knows
departed this neighborhood on the 6
o'clock train this morning, with the in
tention-expressed to the night clerk
ofmaking prolonged stay in Europe
Now we, the members of the Fidelia
Sociable, hereby arraign you, Mamie
Wilberforce. spinster, as the guilty
cause of his singular. abrupt, and very
impolite desertion from our midst, to
gether with the entailed loss thereby of
many advantages TO said Fidelia Socia-
bic. Not that We shall miss the pecu-
liar John. On the contrary, we prefer
his room to his company. But his pos
sessions-those parlors, that wine, and,
in the words of Captain Cutie, that
'baccy,' when shall We see its like again,
Now, prisoner at the bar, having heard
all the counts in the Indictment against
you, what do you plead, guilty or not
guilty?"
During this rigamarole variety of
emotions had animated Mamie-shame,
remorse, vain regret, and, lastly, indig-
nation at the luckless Charley, who, by
mis- unmanly slurs, so effectually placed
himself beyond the pale of her esteem
that he was never again able to receive
at her hand anything but the most dis
tant civility, despite strenuous efforts to
re-instate himself in her good graces-
Indeed, sir" she said icily, Il fail to
comprehend your meaning. Please ex-
cuse me. Good morning" And
haughtily turning, she moved away,
leaving the crestfallen humorist, stand.
ing in the center of the piazza, and STAR
ing after her in the bankest amazement
He never got it, but is still bachelor,
and the author of an elaborate, vigorous,
and effective essay in which he merci
lessly attacks ''that most of detestable of
practices, i'll natured jesling."
But that ended it. Charley confded
in all his brother and sister Fidelians,
in the hope afexciting sympathy. They
in their turn; heard him through,
smiled oddly, and profting by his re-
ception, avoided meeting similar one
by holding their tongues, but yet, in
hundred of little ways. plainly indicated
to Mamie their Disappointment at her
course. 1t wasn't what others thought,
however, that caused her to grow thin
and pale, and, when she was sure that
nobody was looking, sometimes sigh,
as if all the brightness had gone out of
her life. She was learning bitter les
son: that trifing may be carried too far,
and faithful hearts grow sick at hope
deferred"
Despite her eoquetry, she had really
cared for John Burroughs, and had al
ways thought he loved her. A desire to
tease him, and also an absurd fear that