Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1877-09-27


her hand. and he began seriously to con
slider the advantages OF rich wife.
His profession hitherto had been . fall
ure; his one thousand pounds were nearly
spent; his three sisters were all on the
point OF marriage, a condition which might
seriously modify their sisterly instincts;
aud his mother. whole annual income
would not support him month-would II
not be the best plan TO accept the good
fortune so evidently within his reachs
Elizabeth was handsome and inclined 10
favor hun; and though she had the repu-
tation of being both authoritative In tenn
per and economical In money matters. he
did not doubt but that she would finally
acknowledge his power as completely as
his own mother and sisters. SO he set
himself to win Miss Braithwait and be-
fore Christmas they were married.
True, he had been compelled TO give up
a great deal more than be liked: but he
promised himself plenty of post-martial
compensations. Elizabeth insisted on re-
tainlng her own house, and as Steve had
really no house TO offer her. he must needs
go to Braithwsite Hall, As the husband OF
ats proprietress. She insisted upon his
removing his Office To Braithwaite, \ small
village, offering none OF the advantages
for killing time which = large city like
Leeds did; and she had all her money
scruplously settled upon herself for her
own use, and under her absolute control.
Steve felt very much as though bis wife
had bought him; but, for little time, the
ecla, OF having married a great heiress,
the bridal festivities. aud foreign travel,
compensated for the loss of his freedom.
But when they returned TO Braithwaite,
lie showed him a far more prosalc side.
Mrs GaAkill's economical disposition
soon became particular offensive to Steve.
She inquired closely into his business,
ard did not scruple To make anpleasAntly
witty remarks about his income. She
rapidly developed too an authoritative
disposition, against which Steve daily.
more and more rebelled The young
couple were soon very unhappy.
n,j,ruih was that great transition Was
| taking place In Steve's mind; and times
| OF transition are always times Of unrest
I aud misery. The better part Of his nature
Wa. beginning 10 claim . hearing. lie
| had seen now all that good society could
/ show him, he had tasted Of all pleasures
money eau boy. aud he was not happy.
! She had no eaEE and no dissatisfaction
/ with herself There was her large house
/ 10 oversee. her gardens aud conservatories.
4 her servants aud charity schools, her toll
/ 1T and whole colony OF Pct animals.
| Her days were too short for all the small
| iul.rr.t, that filled them; and these inter-
e>ts she would willingly share with Steve
/ but Ia him they soon became intolerAble
! bor-s.
Under some circumstances he might
have found his work In the ordering and
investing OF his wiic's large estate; but
| Elizabeth was tar too cautious a woman
to trust it In uutried hands. Her father .
agent was her agent; he- banker mAn.
sged all her investments; her park aud
| farms and garden were all under the care
! oi old and experienced servants. who
looked upon Sieve Tereiy as "Missie $
| husband"
la the second year OF his marriage he
| began 10 have some thoughts which would
have as,onished his wife, could she have
thought IL worth her while To enquire
what occupied his mind in the long
moody hours when he paced the shrub
berry. or sat silent, looking out OF the win
dow. But Steve WAS now ready for any
honest thing that would take him out o
the purposeless, dependent life which he
had So ioolishly chosen Tor himself
One day, greatly to his surprise, Eliza
beth said to him:
"Stsye. | have 4 letter from cousin o
my mothers who lives In Glasgow. Sh,
Is going 10 Australia, aud wants me tS
buy her house. She says II Is grea
bargain, ana | wrote 70 Barrett 10 go ant
see about IT. have = letter this morning
saying he Is too Ill TO leave his bed.
wonder II you could 90 and attend TO 1t ?
Anything ior change. Steve showed
avery proper business-like Interest, aDC
said:
Yes. he should be very glad 10 GO
Very we'll should think you know
] a Il atN..
Ing, aud all that sort Of thing. will trus
the Afair To you, Steve.
so the next morning Steve found hiiasel
on the CAledonian Line, with one hundred
pounds in his pocket, and a yeritsble piec'
OF business on hand. The first ixent!
I miles out OF Leeds he enjoyed Sith th'
abandon OF bird set free then he begsf
70 think again. At Crewe he missed
train, and wandering about the station. lei
into talk with the engineer Of the next one
who was cleaning and examining his ell
gine with all the love and pride = mothe
might give 10 favorte child.
The two men traternized al once. an'
Steve made the trip over the Caledonia
line in the engineers cuddy. He was
iiue young fellow, lone OF seven" he said
all machinists and engineers; he was onl!
serving his time. learning every branch 0
|
who masie engines, and he hoped TO do 81
some thine.
In spike Of his soied face and oily clothes
Steve recognized hat retiueme Mt that come
with education; and when his new frient
called upon him at the Queen's Hotel, h'
would not have been ashamed OF his ap
pearance. even In his most fastidous days
Mr.. Dalrympie. am gsid TO see you.
said Steve, holding out both hands 10 him
Il thought you would be, sir; 1t Is no
often am mistaken in my'likings. vii
90 with you now ~ see my fathers works
II IL suits YOU"
Never had such place entered StepheI
Gaskill's concep' ion; the immense furnaces
the hundreds Of giants working arount
them. the claDe OF machinery. the mighty
struggle Of mind with matter. Of iDtellec
over the elements was \ revelation. HI
envicd those cyclops Ia their lesthern mack
and aprO,.s; he lOnged To lift their mighty
hammers. He looked upon the crsitsmei
with their bare brawny arms and blscken
ed hands. and felt his heart glow with sd'
miratiou when be SAW the Gsighty vOfS
those hands had fashioned. The tears vsr'
Ia his eyes when Andrew Dalrymple and
he parted At the gate OF the great walled
in-yard.
Thank YOU" he said, you have don,
Inc the Yrsatsst possible service. l sh.l
remember It."
That night Steve formed . strange bel
noble resolution. First OF all, he desesst
himself 70 his wife's business, and AccOt,
plished it in . manner which ELECTED Nr
Barrett's warm praise, and made Elissbcti
wonder whether she nigh not spare he
agents fees for the future. Then he haG
long confidential talk with the owner o
the Dalrymple Iron and Machine Works
the result OF which was the following let
ter to Mrs. Gaskill:
My DEAR WHE:-I shall not be st homs
again for 1t least two years. for l have be
gun IN apprenticeship TO ThoWas Dslympls
here rs an iron master. propose " lsarr
the process practically. / have lived tOl
long upon your bounty. for have lOs
your esteem rs well as my own, and d
noS 10y but what have deserved the l0si
PieoSe God, will redeem my wasted past
and with His help make . man Of myself
When | am worthy 70 be your husband
you will respect me, and until then thinl
| kiudlv n uOsgIhla nf