Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1877-09-07
AsHTABULA, OHIO, FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER 7, 1877


ed none of us, in reality; but it was
Marcia's arrangement. The doctor
prolonged his visit, and we left little
Rose there with him, and a lame
ankle. What a time it was, in the
clear, bracing December weather.
All life seemed a mere frolic; and
sleighing and skating, singing and
dancing, watching the high heavens
OF stars, sitting in the twilight by
the fire, up to see winter sunrises-
we forgot it was ever going to stop.
1 passed through it in state of ex-
hilaration amounting to light-hesd-
edueSs. | have since understood
that my behaviour at the time was
a credit to me. But an intoxicated
man has as much remembrance of
himself as | have of what | did on
any one fixed moment of those sew
enteen days. l lived inside a gigan-
tic bubble full of sweet colors, sweet
tones, sweet smiles, which only
broke and dissolved INTO worthless,
lifeless air when / found myself
tramping over the fields in driving
rain to my pig-sties, without my um-
brella, which | had left at Waterway.
Of course for some days, l was in
all the fatness Of despair iu which
people are apt to find themselves
after a fall from any great
height of exubersnt spirits. /
could recover my umbrella; but how
was to recover my old equanimity
or peace, or gain in its place
that crown of content which belongs
to the consciousness of the accepted
lover? ] was a child crying for the
moon. Ny cousin Marcia's cousin
Rose was just as far beyond me.
What right had |, with my little
farm, my narrow means, my quiet
lie, TO think of this beauty, this
beauty of wealth and culture. /
was in the shadow. All the lands
and title-deeds in the family had
gone on Marcia's side. l had my
two hands and my few acres. Why,
/ could not allow a wife for whole
years outfit the price of the silk and
lace and pearls Rose wore at Mar
cia's wedding. If she had no mon
ey of her own, as once she limited,
she was used TO other peoples mon
ey. l must put that life, that peo-
pie, out of my thoughts. As-as-
well, as the best way to do it, |
went back 10 Waterway for that
umbrella.
Ny aunt was so sorry that DIR.
Wilder had taken it by mistake, and
left that morning with Rose for
Breutford-her leave was more than
up. The Burbanks of Brenoford
were very particular people, and her
position-my aunt had had trouble
to GET it for her, she was so young
aud pretty-as governess there, al
lowed no trifiiUg.
Governess! Why 1 thought
Yes, l suppose so, said nv aunt,
enigmatically. l told Rose she
must let you know she had no for
tune.
Told her!
You have been apart from us so
much, Allan. and your side of the
house has always married for love
and grown poorer, aud ours-rell,
outs is like the old farmer, it goes
where money is.
Well, then, why has Rose no for
tune?
Oh, Roses father, said the good
woman, ran through with every
thing, like a winnowiDg machine,
aud when he died she had nothing
but her wits and some of her moth
er's old fnery. Why, my dear,
Marcia had to send her her dress
and veil Tor the wedding. It's
great shame, so pretty aud sweet as
she is. He was graceless scamp. l
told him how it would be, said my
aunt, leaning back among her cush-
ions and folding her jeweled hands.
Why don't you take her 70 live
with you, aunt, in Marcia's place, L
said boldly.
Iu Marcia's place! As if anybody
could take my daughters place!
Aud when l lave been looking for
ward to beng alone ever since Mar
cia had lover, now that the thing is
done 90 and undo, it! My child!
That proposition lost ma a legacy.
But little l thought of legacies
then. My one Idea was that now |
could 90 TO Brentford, and call for
my umbrella. How differently peo-
pie are made! here was my aunt
longing to be alone, and here was I
Certainly the officer at the Station
told me Tue accommodation had ten
minuies start, but the limited ex-
press over hauled it at the Junction.
The tickets were a half a dollar
more by the express. The express
was Just leaving, and when it lett it
took me with it; aud it did over
haul the accommodation, but in a
very sudden way. To be concise,
;asL rounding a bad curve, the ex-
press engine and the rear accommio-
dation car telescoped. One mo-
ment's too long delay, occasioned by
some woman stoping to kiss all her
relations, and couple of miles farth-
er it was all over. Fortunately the
rear car was empty and an old one,
going to pieces easily, and beyond it
| few bruises and the shock, nobody
was hurt; but the trains were off
the track, the cars were off the
trucks, and there was general wreck
and ruin, splinters, and smoke,
steam and snow. 1 pulled myself
together and fastened forward, to
see Rose before me, leaning on my
umbrella. The quick, eager way in
which she held out her arms TO me
to be lifted down from her place
where the coucussion had thrown
her, made my heart bound.
Oh, / am so glad to see you!
Where did you come from? l have
been so afraid the wreck would take
fire! she cried. Her tone seem i To
say, But now there is no danger.
Perhaps, as l lifted her down, L
held her the fraction of an instant
too long. Then she only acted like
piece of sugared ice.
WALL soid IOokiDo, of her and