Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-07-18


after pause, You must not consider us
Ia the least, darling. l want you TO do just
as you feel In regard to II. OF course
twenty thousand dollars Is great deal To
Jour father. He could pay OF his debts,
and settle down contentedly for the rest
OF his life; but he will not require yon to
sacrifice yourself. Only men. you Know,
do not quite understand q woman's heart,
even after q lifetime's study. and he
thought you would he delighted with the
chance Of good husband In conjunction
with your good fortune. and he OF course.
cannot imagine any possible drawbacks to
II. But shall not blame you, my child,
II you find 1t impossible to accept your
aunt's proviso; and If you decide to give
up the monev and yodr husband, shall
understand why you do Il, and feel for you.
do not like to blame yoar Auut Hepsibah
now that she 10 dead, but Il does seem rath-
er cruel for her to restrict you In this way.
1t looks little like revenge. She never
forgaye your father for Interfering In her
early love Affairs
Bot why should papa have to give up
his money. even IL do miner" | said.
II suppose It was to influence you the
more. But now, dear. do no, trouble your
self any more tonight, just put 1t out Of
your mind entirely. You will have plenty
OF tine to think Of IL before You decide.
Good night. my precious, good night" and
she kissed me tenderly many times.
| retired also, but not to sleep. The day
which had begun SO bright ended In a
pight of misery. Yet who shall say there
were lot guardian angels lowering near.
though could not see or feel them In the
darkness. "Oh It was worse than cruel"
cried, "for Aunt Hepsibah to revenge
herself upon me. when never injured her
In the slightest degree" And then | re-
memb9ed her history, which helped to ex-
plain tie will.
wher young girl she had loved Alfred
King the son OF poor minister. He hada
refined. scholarly mind, but no faculty for
pushing his way Ia the world. Her father
and bro'her objected TO the match, and did
everything they could to break 1t of. A,
last her brother Charles, my father. got
hold OF some scandal which was attributed
TO hin though afterwards It was proved
false and reported IL to his father, who
shut his doors henceforth to Alfred King.
He also forbade his daughter to have any
thing To do with him; and alter long
while. when she had become perfectly in-
difiercn; 10 every one, she was persuaded
to marry very wealthy man twice her
age. She never iorgave her brother for
the part he took in the whole affair. but
alter he; husband died she was left a child
less widow, In a great big gloomy house
In Chicago. She sent for US 10 come aud
make her visit. She took quite fancy
10 me. was then q child OF seven or eight,
and my father was very much pleased.
About eight years before she died she had
a letter from Alfred King. who was dying
with consumption In California, begging
her to cone to him. II she had ever loved
him. She went Immediately and found him
In poverty, entirely dependent upon the
e1eriioBs OF his only son. young fellow
OF seventeen. His wife had been dead some
years. Aunt Hebsibsh made his last davs
and happy, and promised to
adopt his boy. and treat him In every way
as her own son.
On her return from California. fresh from
the trying scenes she had jus, been through
with the love Of her youth renewed. she
made her will. leaving all to Alfred Kings
married him. never ifid spsrt Tor me-, II |
tege OF hers. She was extremely reticent
upon the subject. All we knew OF him
was, that he distinguished himself In COL
lege as a fine scholar, and that she had
taken him abroad to finish his educa-
ton. They were travelling In Europe
when she died. No ~ I'll was found but the
one she had made eight years before. We
had become resigned 10 The fact that she
had ignored us entirely. and now, behold.
what an appalling appendix
Probably she had been In hopes that |
would be In love with some one else by
the time should be eighteen, aud so have
q struggle something akin TO hers. Through
the she would wound my father
Il will not take q cent OF her hated mon
ey. She cannot buy me for her hateful
protege," cried to myself, while the hot
tears ran down my cheeks. But then
thought Of father, and how much good the
money would do him. o. IL could only
give up mine, and be allowed 10 keep his.
AUNT Hepsibah! Aunt Hepsioah. how
could you:" cried bitterly, as If she were
there 20 hear my reproaches.
After awhile l became more quiet, aud
thought that perhaps oy daylight the case
would not look quite so hopeless. Anyway
l bad till September, and perhaps before
then something else might happen which
would secure me from my fate.
The summer glided swiftly by, however;
only too swiftly. Ny trouble was ever be-
fore me. There were fishing parties, pic
mics, rides, croquet parties, clam bakes,
something going on constantly, but il all
failed TO conjure awayO my sceptre. Mr..
Wentworth was q great acquisition to our
smal! village society. He was constantly
engaged SO it was the middle Of August
before be began my picture. l was daily
getting more nervous as September Az
preached. My father, however, took il as
a matter Of couoDe that should marry Mr..
King.
Like him?" l overheard him say to
mother. one day, "why Of course she'll
like him. He is an honest, upright. manly
fellow, rm told. What more could any
girl ask? II she is getting any nonsense
into her head about that young artist. she
had better get 1t out as soon as possible.
don't want her to disappoint me 10 this,
and she won't II she's the girl take her to
be-"
This at last opened my eyes. Mr.. Went
worth! Alas, my heart told me il was too
late. The hours l spent sitting for my
picture were the only ones of peace and
happiness had. Mr.. Wentworth talked
most Of the time while painting, while
listened In silence. He spoke Of tho PIC
lures Of ,he masters which he had seen in
Europe. And sometimes he would repea.
poetry or tell me some ancient legend. He
was always kind and thoughtful of me.
and quite often he watched me with sad
expression in bis eyes. Once he said.
Miss Mabel something is troubling YOU"
One day-it was the last Of the month,
when my picture was nearly Completed
he broke out, quite impatiently.
Il don't see how 1t is," he cried. Il
cannot get it all.'
Get what p | asked.
"Why, l want the expression that l
caught the first day saw you; at the pic
mic, you know. have never really seen it
In your face since. Where has it gone? ]
remember you said you were so happy that
you could not help thinking Of il. Now,
couldn't you think Of the same happiness
for few moments, and let me see ii can
get the same expression again.
lifted my eyes, they were full Of tears.
Where had my radiant happiness gone?
He dropped the brush instantly, aud came
towards me.
Mabel. what is it?" he said tenderly.
What have ] said to cause these tears1 l
must know what is troubling you. Do
you think have not noticed the change In
you-how pale your sweet face has be-
come. and how sad yO0r eyes! u has
panied me more than | can tell you, for
love you, Mabel. love you" he cried, pas
dnnotoi,. sslnva VIM an ulllch that WONl6