Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-06-09

was screaming overhead, the gypsy fire
smoldered amidst some stranded timbers, but
the sands were deserted. Toms little craft
was the only one in sight, and with the wind
dead against them and the tide falling, it
would be useless to start for some hours to
come.
owe may as well make ourselves comforta-
ble," said Tom, bringing fresh fuel for the fire.
81 am to blame for this disaster"
II don call it a disaster exactly said Lefty.
"Do you see how much our black log resem-
bles crouching camel? In this weird light
/ can half believe that we are belated on the
desert, and are bivouacking till day. It's
rather romantic than disastrous
I'm glad you see it in that light. You
would make the desert blossom like rose"
"How you fiattcr me !"
"I? We never flatter those we love-"
"You needn't take pains to tell me that you
don't love me, she laughed.
az take pleasure in saying that dc"
"That you do that you do! r
eyes l do love you, Lefty" stretching his
arms toward her, for she had risen and half
moved away. "Letty Lefty don't be angry
| with me for loving you. How could help it p
"You must" she cried; "you mustn't love
me. You don't. It's all fancy. You de-
| ceive yourself. can't allow you to love me-"
"You might as well say that you wouldn't
allow the frost to pinch you, or the rain tc
drench you. Can't you love me little
! Letty?"
"0h, don't ask me don't! 1 can't it is
quite impossible. Forgive me for saying So
You have always been friend to me-"
"And always shall be, Lefty"
"Then don't let us talk about love, nor think
/ of it, | shall never marry"
"But if you should change your mind -
/ ~ can never change it.
"Yet if such thing should happen-womer
have that privilege, you know-you will fine
me always the same.
| "But you must be sure that it never can hap
| PEN"
"Snce you deny me so much, humor thi
! whim of mine, Lefty, and promise me that il
any change should occur you will let me-
| know"
'I can safely promise that" she replied.
"Thank you."
1t is not often that lover is obliged to i'm
| pose his society upon the sweetheart who hal
refused him. One might easily conceive of i
as an embarrassing situation, but it did no
prove so in the case of Tom and Lefty the.
spoke or were silent, as the spirit moved. HI
trimmed his boat with hand as steady as if al
his wishes had been granted. They counted
the consultations and the harbor lights, watch
ed the stars set, and the gray dawn shine upor
the water, and sunrise was just beginning t
glow in tender lines of color as they reached
the town, made the boat fast and stepped
ashore.
1t was early in December when Lefty wen
into Boston on a visit. She was on her way t.
the cars, when she was overtaken by Captain
Crane, neighbor just home from a thre
years cruise.
"Ship ahoyl !" said he. "How are the folk
at Carbondale? Don't know me, Miss Lefty
Anything happened since l sailed?"
You'll find plenty of change, Captain
Crane. Even Carbondale doesn't stand still
while you go round the world"
"By-the-way, 1 fell foul of an old sweethear
Of yours in Californy"
"Au old sweetheart of mine? p
"Yes. Even sweethearts get old if you Civ
hem time enough. P'r'aps you don't remembe
Fan Everen !"
Don't remember Van Everen p
| Laurence. Wasn't he sweet on you, Mis-
! Lefty? Irun against him, just by chance.
week before / sailed he's given up the sea, h
tells me-taken to trading Guess he's marriet
money, by the look of things"
:" Married money Laurence Van Everen
What do you mean, Captain Crane? DontyoI
know that he was lost at sea in the FLYNN
Scud ?"
'Was he? Then the seas given him up too
it's mutual affair, eh? He's the substan
tialest shadow 1 ever sighted. The Flyin
Scud was lost while was off whaling, but
didn't know he was aboard. But, you see, h
wasn't born to be drowned, Van Everen WASH t
His wife can't hold candle to you, Miss Lett
begging pardon-but reckon she had soil
charms"
Lefty was in half-stunned condition all tn
way to Carbondale while Captain Crane spu
his yarns Was it anything to her that Lar
renee was alive--and married? Did she fet
any bitterness that he had given her so muc
trouble for naught, that he had forsaken her
She had promised never to marry if he died
but he was not dead. And Tom loved her-an
she? Yes, she was grateful to Laurence aftt
all she felt as if she would like to thank hil
for having Tilted her SO cruelty.
"DEAR Mr.. LoNGwoRTHY she wrote
him" when 1 told you I should never MARI
it was because had given solemn promise
Laurence Van Everen that if he died wou
remain SINGLE But he is alive, and hope yc
will pardon LEFTY ANDREWS" "
$50 the dream departs ~ sighed Tom. "Tl
lost hero returns; she is going to marry hi
after years of constancy. She need not apol
gize for loving him instead of me- 1t enc
, like novel, only am left out in the cold lii
the villain of tho piece. l wonder where La
renee has been all this while. He alwa
, had plausible tongue but if she loves him
Well, had better go West and change Il
:. scene."
! But before going West it was necessary
! him to run down to Carbondale, settle son
,, family affairs, and apprise his grandfather
his plans. 1t was a month since Lefty hi
= written her note before he could make up
: mind to see her and Carbondale. Then, :
have come, Miss Lefty" he blundered, I"
: offer my congratulations and good-byes
once"
: Congratulations ?" questioned Lefty wi
: perplexed frown.
: "Yes. You are looking worn and pale 1
q q afraid happiness doesn tagree with you.
:, Happiness doesn't agree with me? / do
4 think / ever tried the experiment" 1t "
: Toms turn to look surprised.
I, &C. received your note
e The color trembled across Letty's face,
- lip quivered, her eyes dilated. "You receiv
r. it y she gasped-" you received it !"
h "Wasn it just little unnecessary, Lett
"a l should have heard of it soon enough"
,e 'How could you have heard it if I had !
ID told you?
sr "Wouldnt it have been in everybod
/ mouth ? Can dead man come to life and
d body speak of it? But l dare say you met
- kindly, Lefty"
For Heavens sake, Tom, don't you
what meantW cried Lefty all of rose-col
Certainly you meant to break it to
m gently that you were going to marry '
~ Everen."
r "But Van Everen is already married."
40 Married What Ounce | am Let
80 Lefty can yon forgive me ? Can you love 8,
n a stupid fellow? Jove a whole month of h
10 piness forfeited by blunder Kiss /
- tty.'-Hdrpers Bdzdr.
~ ROumanian Discretion.