The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-10-18
OUR STORY TELLER.
JANE ROSS'S LOVER.

JANE ROSSS LOVER.
"Oh, if only had a carriage like that, |
and dress like that, and house like |
she has-and, and all the rest of it
how happy should be-" said Jane Ross,
as she leaned over the old stone fence
ut the west end of Uncle Caleb's farm,
and looked after Mrs. M'Mahoney
Aliddlebury's carriage, as it rolled
away along the dusty midsummer road.
"Don't believe you d be a bithappier,"
said Peleg, her lover, looking into the
tin can in which his dinner had been
brought to him, as he sat upon the
grass.
"Oh, Pelegp' said Jane "But you
are just that way; you don't seem to
understandlanything above the common"
81 know its all fine," said Peleg,
every fine; but this is what / mean.
1t amt worth much. You are as happy
in dad wagon goin' to town of holiday,
and as healthy and lot prettier, |
think, than if you had your hair
scratched about, and bob-tail down
your back, and thingumyjig tucked up
on your skirt, and a great long train
dragging behind you"
"Much yon know about it, Peleg,"
said Jane, scornfully. "a body must
feel so splendid, and-and contemptu-
Gus dressed So"
Contemptuous? ?' asked Peleg.
Yes-I-mean," said Jane, Gas if
you were better than common folks"
should call that contemplate" :"
said Peleg. "If / knew more, or aoas
better than most folks, 1 might feel
tickled and / shouldn't calkerlate to
plan out to be poor, unless l lost my
health or my senses; but just because
had money enough to buy all the finery
i shouldn't get sot up. The wickedest
and the ignorantest can do that, and do,
Jennie Ross, can tell you. For my
part, look at the man or woman, and
respect them, and not their coats OF
their purses. AS for happy, why Jennie
a farmer is the happiest man in crea
ton"
"But / don't think a farmers wife is
the happiest woman" said Jane. "Did
you ever read Maud Muller, Peleg?'
No, 1 didn't; is it prettyT said
Peleg.
It's touching" said Jane.
"Ahw said Peleg
"Mrs. NJ Mahoney Middlebury gave i
to me-" said Jane, beginning to lool
very solemn. "She said that it woult
teach me lesson, and it has,"
"Ahp said Peleg.
al know it by heart" said Jane.
"'Maud Muller, on a summers day,
Raked the meadow sweet with hay;
Beneath her torn hat glowed the wealth
OF simple beauty and rustic health.
Singing, she wrought, and her merry gee
The meck-bird echoed from tree to tree"
That's jest the picture of you, Jane,
said Peleg, innocently.
So Mrs. Middlebury said," sobbe
Jane; "and you know while she wa
in the bayfield, the judge came ridin
"well nowp' said Peleg, interested
"And he asked for drink"
"Of cider?" asked Peleg.
go From the spring that flowed
Through the meadow across the road"
said Jane.
"Ahap said Peleg, eating cabba&
with his knife.
"And she was ashamed of her o.
Clothes" said Jane, "but he talke
away Jest as sweet as could be-"
And he courted her, and she a
cepted of him?" asked Peleg. "It
the way in songs, mostly"
"No," said Jane.
a." At last like one who, for delay,
Seeks vain excuse, he rode away
"Oh, dearl oh, dear!-
:" He welded wife of richest dover,
Who lived for fashion as he for power;
"and she
6" Welded man unlearned and poor,'
and-and all sorts ofawful things ha
pened;" and Jane began to cry bitterl
Peleg had dropped his tin kett
"Out with it, Jane," he said. {"
you mean it, or is it hystericsP P
" mean, we shan't be happy wi
each other. l can't be farmers wife
said Jane. al feel Just like MAJ
Muller. have longings for somethi
better than have ever known A
Mrs. MMahoney Middlebury wants 1
to go and live with her as pet and Co
panion,' she says. And / am goir
Peleg; and you'll find somebody me
contented to work, and all that, than
Peleg turned on her fiercely. "Nt
said he, "Pve done with women-do
for good. amt fool, Jane, and I al
learned and I've got coarse red paws, a
earn my bread by the sweat of
brow, but I've got feelings fine enough
see that when all you value man fol
what he gives you, there amt bit
love in your heart for him. The "
l loved you, Jane-oh the way 1 10y
you. I'd have given you all / cou
God knows. To have you comforta
would have been my pride-but-bu
didn't think you jest-jest- Oh, w
a fool / am to feel SO about such
man" and Peleg dropped down on
grass and hid his face in his hands, &
said no more to Jane.
Atnight he was missing from the s
portable; and in the morning VIII
true to her promise, Mrs. M'Mahol
Middlebury came to the farmers no
to take Jane away with her from
house that had sheltered her orphan
fancy in kindly Christian charity,
Caleb took Jane aside for a moment.
"Peleg has gone off, gal," he s;
sternly, al dunno where. If it's
perdition, yOu have to answer for il
the judgment seat. Jane Ross, he ha
no mother, and no woman had any
on him but you. That hold is loo
and the good Lord help him."
And with these words in her ear
Ross drove away with Mrs. M'Maho
Middlebury, whose latest whim it
been to make pet of the fresh,
country lass, whose admiring eyes
followed her so fatteringly whent
she trailed her silken robes, or 10