Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1877-08-09

] Gtt sense ltlio me- ou ltb Jdht utN lNs
head giner'illv. Twill be vast better for
! you ef ye do"
what air you "a talkin' about, Hosy
| Long? retorted Mary Ann with an air of
| genuine astonishment.
"Oh, nothin'. nothin' much, nothin' per-
tikler, only T was you | wouldn't be the
| one to get ath'art o Jake's bawse, not ef
I'D jist have you know, sir" snapped
Mary Ann. the quick color rising, angry
and brave in her glowing cheeks, I'D jist
have you TO know that Jake Hazards moth
in 10 me. nor | Amt going to cotton TO no
man because he's masterful. | guess !
can be masterfu myself, II I'm mind to.
so there" With which shake out of her
flag, she slammed the door In Hosy's face,
and that detected being bewailed himself
plaintively enough.
ooh, Lord I've gone an done 1t now,
ef never did afore. ] hope to glory'n
goodness she won't never tell Jake. I'm
darned to thunderation ef don't believe
she will! "Oh, Jeerus'lem,"
Aud lIosy betook himself to the fish
house, scratching his sandy poll ruefuIy
as he went but resolved to say nothing to
Jake, and TO deny everything he might be
asked thereafter with wholesale aud per-
sistent denial.
Yet after all he had done Jake an uncon-
scious service, for Mary Ann was fully aud
fairly brought to ask herself if what she
had just now said in her sudden anger was
really the truth Suppose Iosy told Jake
what she did say, and he took it for grant
ed that she really did not care for him at
all? II was a small point to rankle In
Mary AIMS mind, but 1t was the point Of
wedge. She cooked the big blue fish for
supper with her usual skill, and while its
,rfa al. r
! flesh were being disposed of with sundry
| fatiering remarks both to fisherman aud
| cook. she fretted inwardly a little, while
| she was pleased enough with the commen-
| dations
But Marv Ann was not metaphysical
| there are some benefits after all in want
\ Of an education II you do not know how
/ To analyze your emotions, and take your
| "lnwardness" to pieces as a botanist does
a flower. YOU are spared much futile spec
ulation into profitless subjects. much soul
/ wearying and unhappy consciousness, and
! may live and die even a- "A blossom in sim
/ pie trust and peace Mary Ann went about
/ her work with no special sclf-torment ar
/ .er the first uneasy idea Of Jake and his
/ possibilities had entered her mind. II she
/ thought OF him little ofteucr and remem-
bered what Uncle R'yal had said about
them Hazards" as family, and how
| Aunt Semanthy had echoed a. es they re
| dreadful reliable folks, alters was; Gran
| ther Hazard was one Of the smartest men
| ever you see Good for n fshin' bout up
TO ninety year old; spry as "A cricket didn't
I hev no sickness so to speak duTin his life
time. m died OF a shockanum palsy TO The
| last" Why all this was what she knew
| before. so she thought no more about it the
next day. but hurried her work over. and
q y. i.ns Il Il
/ her face inland toward a hill where wild
| Strawberries grew thick aud sweet ffhere
was a long walk before her across the fields
I and the sandy lanes were too heavy 70
| choose path when the short turfiav crisp.
| ly Ia the lots. so she stepped over the low
| wall Of loose stone. and thereby came with
! In the range of Jakes vision Just as he
| dragged his boat up the beach having
been across the bay ~ the lighthouse. He
| overlook her soon with his long strides.
aud Mary Ann was glad enough 10 have
| company. With a certain native tact j axe
forebore to intrude his passion on her no.
| ticc till the basket was filed with fragrant
| berries, and they sat down n moment for
| rest on a fallen tree. Neither of them con-
| sciously admired nature, but yet they felt
a serene calm that hung over the view
spread out before them, the gently heavng
| beryl sea. the still blue heaven. the distant
| and nceSsant murmur OF the white waves
| tapping the shore. the dull green fields
| bordered with tawny sand. and far away
| the lighthouse tower and the sailing ships
| that driited to or from the wide horizon all
| these stole into their senses and kept them
/ silent for a while, but Jake's heart burned
within him. IL was not his way to put oil
a crisis, to mince matters, he was full Of
curt courage and resolve, and now he had
/ hn.ipes. ~ al IN i'm, ~
with Mary Ann, he neither could nor would
! delay IL, so he broke the silence somewhat
abruptly:
MARY Ann" said he .,"I suppose you've
seen quite spell that Ike you fust rate.
I've spoke Il loud enough in actions. but
know folks has got to use words some
times ef they want answers, and DO want
one the wust way. Will you marry me,
Mary ANN
The hot color rushed up TO the girls
face. She was startled and traitorous
echo in her own heart startled her more
than Jake's words. She had a bunch Of
sweet fern in her hand. and she began to
pull the odorous leaves of one by one. as
an excuse for keeping her eyes cast down.
'Will yon? Say :" repeated Jake.
'We-ell, | dono Jake. han't thought
o such a thing"
The coquettish nature was uppermost
now. Her lip cured az the corners with
wicked little smile, her eyes sparkled. and
her voice grew arch.
Time you did" retorted Joe. ''Irve
been hangin' round We this two years, 5
though the sun rose nd sot in your face,
nd | can't stan It no longer. | want to
know suthin' for sartin, Mary Ann
"Well-you see," slowly pulling the fern
leaves, Il don't-know-I haven't made
up-my mind yet-about marryint'
Make it up now then"
Mercy TO me, Jake Hazard. What an
idea-no sir; | amt a going to hurry for
nobody. can live 'thout getting married
| guess. ef you can't
Il didn't say couldn't" growled Jake.
81 don't calkerlate to die for nobody. but
shan't marry nobody but you Mary Ann
Tucker, and | want to know eff I'm going
to do that
Mary Ann gave little laugh. 1t was
not heartless. though II seemed so to jake,
who was in dead earnest. 1t was merely
an outlet OF the inner excitement she real
" felt. and she spoke it with a certain lev
ity. II don't see how you're going to
know when told ye l hadn't made up my
mind.''
We'll how long is 1t goin' to take ye to
do III! ventured the wrathful lover. who
longed to shake her soundly for her
naughtiness. thoroughly misunderstanding
her. as men will misunderstood women till
the day Of judgment, especially If they
are in love with them.
Il don't know that" she answered.
Jake controlled his rising rage manfully
We'll. them" said he, rising and looking
down at her. II give We notice, Mary
Ann, shall keep askin till find out; on
less I'm oniucky enough to b'lieve you
don't want to know Yourself"
She laughed again, but made no answer
They walked silently down the hill togeth-
er. and parted at the door. Mary Ann
meant to have asked him i'm to tea for she
was about to prepare that 5arbarous dainty,
a strawberry shortcake for supper. Aunt
Semanthy. having brought down from her
farm pail OF cream the day before. But
Jake had unwittingly deprived himself of
the feast; and even If Mary Ann had not
been disturbed to ask him, both luscious
berries and unctuons shortcake would
have been gall and bitterness to his lips,
Tor he was terrihly disapDOinted. Per.