Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1877-03-02

s.
ant bit of love in your heart for him.
The way | loved you, Jane--oh, the
way loved you. I'd have given You
all | could, God knows To have you
comfortable would have been my pride
-but-but didn't think you Jest Jest
Oh, what fool am to feel SO about
such woman" and Pcleg dropped
down on the grass aad hid his face IN
his hands, and said no more to Jane.
At night he was missing from the
supper-tablc; and in tho morning when.
true to her promise, Mrs. M'Mahoucy
Aliddlebury came to the farmers house
to take Jane away with her from the
home that had sheltered her orphan
infancy in kindly Christian charity, old
Caleb took Jane aside for moment.
"Pelog has gone off, gal, " he said,
sternly, Il dunno whore. If it's to
pcrdition, you have got to answer for it
at the judgmeut-seat. Jane Ross, he
hadn't no mother, and no woman had any
hold on him but you. That hold is
loosod and the good Lord help him.
And with these words in her ear Jane
Ross drove away with Mrs. M'Mahoney
Mlddlebury, whose latest within it had
been to make a pet Of the fresh rossy
country lass, whose admiring eyes had
followed her so hatteringly whenever she
trailed her silken robes or lolod within
her pretty carriage where those eyes
could see her.
Mrs. Middlebury took her pet to the
city, and rushed with her to the modstes,
and to the hair-drossers, and to the shoe
makers, and to dancing-school foyerish
with the hope of making her new dol
gorgeous; and Jane did for IA while feel
happier than she had over felt in her life.
Months passod-lour, five, six, seven
then suddenly she awolse one morning
thinking of Peieg found that she could
not drive him from her mind rcmen-
bered his kindness, his rustic wooing,
bis true love; his agony when she
deserted him and wept. Remembered,
too, the kindly country folk, whose
hearty welcome had no counterpart in
the'circle in which she moved and the
breezy riverside, and the green woods,
and the field, and Peleg again at work
there in his shirt sleeves. Remembered
the meeting house, and tue whi;e-baired
minister, and Polcg again holding the
hyun-booS for her with his large hand.
"Oh his dear, dear, rough red hand, +"
sobbed Jane. ooh the kind, good
hand" And as Peleg had thrown him
self on the grass, so she flung herself
upon the moss-soft carpet of her boudoir,
and wept aloud.
That day she wrote note and
sent it by stealth, since Mrs Middlebury
would have objected severely, to old
Uncle Caleb. She asked two questions
ia it; one was, "NNhat is Pcleg doing
now p the other, "IIas he forgiven
me p
The answer came one day. 1t ran
thus:
JANE Ross Perhaps you arc sorry
for what you have done You had
ought to be. I've never seen ny son
Pcleg since we parted. He's thrown
himself away. Gone to sea, or to Ggbsib
Indians, most like I've heered Of one of
bis name doin' that don't expect him
back no more; and lis only as a Chris
tain that ! can even try TO forgive you.
What Pclcg does we neither of US will
know most like, until the end of all
things.
They tole me story, when / was
child, Of a man that warmed frozen
snake in his bosom. When | think Of
you, Jane Ross, am minded Of that
snake"
Jane was III for days after this note
came; but once better, she flung herself
in reckless sort Of a way upon her new
life for comfort.
Little came of it There were more
dashiug girls. who eclpsed her; there
were beautiful girls, who made her feel
plain and coarse. Men she admired
never looked her way; men she dete5ted
followed her like her own shadow.
Mrs. Middlebury, firing Of her pet.
would have rid herself of her elegantly
and commercially by marrying her 10
one Of these men, old enough to be her
father, and fashionable club-room sot.
And again Peleg, wholesome and fresh,
with breath like new-mown hay, and !
eyes that turned upon a woman kindly |
and pareiy--ob, such eyes how rare
they afe--eyes that a woman can meet |
unblushngly, with no shame in meeting
thom--Pelog arose before her, and the
lines she quoted, those sad true lines,
rang in her ears once more
"For Of ell sad words OF tongue or Pen.
The saddest are these, II migh have been."
Poor Jane grew thin and care-worn |
between thought aud corscts, remorso,
late hours, and chicken salad.
So the day Of Mrs MWahoney Mid
dlebury's graudest party came. More
dress, more show. more composition,
more assumption Of European absardities,
more Of that nov unbearable attention
from the elderly edition Of Champagne
Charley probably; and Jane. with the
smile Of society on her face,
was ready for it all But her heart was
heavy, and her head ached, ana her soul
was empty; and Rcmorso gripped her
tight with his iron hand, and Whispered, |
Peleg, Peleg, Peleg in her roso-leaf
ear.
The guests were gathering, when
signals from the colored
chambermaid lurod the hostess into The
hall, and in a moment Jane was beck
oned out:
Here's a dreadful contre Temps"
said Mrs. Middlesary William i.