Connecticut western news., 1877-07-06

asleep among the bales and barrels and forgot my troubles. 4@ ...s' .f..'
 In the morning., a forlorn and deso- late little creature enough, I learned from some compassionate 1ongshore- man that the ship where Jim had been at work had sailed away with him aboard. A wild and passionate burst of weeping greeted this news, and a pitiful throng of people gathered about me--freightmen and sailors mostly, but among them suddenly appeared the quiet face of Quaker lady, who was distributing books among the sailors. They told her my tale, and seeing me utterly friendless,l she wiped my tear-stained face with her white handkerchief, and took me away. l had no friends. I was no better than a masterless dog, and worth far less. But she took me to a great clean, bare and quiet, place-an institution they called it-where there were many others as homeless and wretehed as I. And there they washed me and made me so clean and fresh that I thought the real me, was gone over. seas. with Jim, and this rOsy-cheeked child was another me, newly come into the world.
 Then one day there came a grand and stately lady, who took me away to live with her, and be her, own little little girl. The lady wore shining silks, and lived in splendid. house, and had a lad in a velvet jacket who was about as big as Jim. It was all like a, strange, bright dream if I could have only forgotten Jim. >ButI could not, -raF 1raas'g @.--...l- - -. - Jim was surplus population no longer, perhaps he was drowned; his ragged jacket; and ,crownless hat might be buried now away down under the sea. Nobody about me now wore patched shoes, or trowsers out at the knees, and nobody, it seemed to me, not even Louis, who was so kind to me, even he had not an eye as bgriht as Jim's, or a hand as warm. And so never forgot Jim, but always in my heart of hearts II seemed listening and waiting for. him.
 Sometimes used to lure Louis down to the .wharves, and always when walked by myself my steps turned thitherward, and thus it was that l never lost sight of the ships, and dimly faintly, unreasonably, looked for the return of Jim. s''--
 But it began to be years since dear old Jim went away, and Louis was a tall youth home from college-and l was-well, folks called me a young lady, and said that I would marry Louis some day. And perhaps they might have been right; but how could I beia lady-a real lady, you know with an old straw hat and ragged jacket slowed away in my heart? Even after I grew up had fits of silent fret would eat my life away. Mrs. Belden said It was because I was growing, and she took me away one bright summer to the sea-shore. Oh, the sea-shore! l cannot tell you what felt when I first saw the sea-the real sea-stretchine away from the white line of shore
 throbbing and sounding as it brimmed to the horizons edge. This was the sea, the glorified sea; the sea no longer grimy and smoky and gray with get ting it's living, but the sea translated
 purified, made holy as if after death
 The days went and came, shining ant beautiful, and every day I walked or the shore with Louis, ran races. witt the breezes, picked up shells ,or gath
 cred sea-weed, or watched the sunse
 gliding the sails of some far-flittins ship. Louis face was sweet in thos' days, and kind as sunlight, and hi voice was music to me, for he said tha
 we. were old friends now, and hat
 known each other so many years tha
 we ought to love each other always
 One afternoon we. strayed farther thai
 usual, and, the twilight deepening a
 we walked, I think we both forgo everything, save that we were youn!
 and happy, and life was glorious. Love
 The word dropped warm from his lips
 and seemed to color all my future wit
 rose tints. All my past seemed sink
 ing out of sight. The gates of paradis
 were open, and I was free to wal
 therein, if I would. Not for me tn
 barrenness, the disappointment, tha
 blighted other lives. I might mak
 mine what would, with wealth an
 love for my servants and luxury an | joy at my command. An, well + re tmember that afternoon by the sea; tn
 long line of white beach, the overhang I ing cliffs, the twilight touching tn
 water with golden glow, and glitter | ing on the tall masts, and ship lyin
 at anchor, beyond Oh, life was s
 beautiful! Oh, love was so beautiful 1 A Hghtness of heart, capricious, il
 tangible, elf-like mood fell upon m'
 born perhaps of the very overflow ( bliss. remember clapping my hand
 as I skipped along and challening Lou to race. Perhaps he had urged me tc
 consistently to respond to his affection to say when would be his wife. Wife I wanted to be no ones wife just thel , but only to love and live. 'sWould
 , answer him?' sighed Louis. E .- , "When you catch me-" responde, mockingly, fitting about the san, Away went with Louis followin, breathless. We rounded the curve the shore, and was just about sim r ing down upon the sand to wait f, l him, when an old boat, with broke {. oar, caught my eye; it lay swinging i r the shadow just where a great rot g overhung the beach. Lightly though I lessly, I stepped into the tiny crat t and waving my handkerchief 1aug e ingly to Louis, caught up the oar, al q set myself afoat. I scarcely thoug