Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-07-21
pilgrimage Of lost soul beyond the


borders OF the styx.s
So / speedily put myself behind the
counter, which comfortably hid more
than half my tall, gaunt figure, and was
so glad Of the shelter that found my
self becoming interested in these de-
spised parcels piled up before me. I de-
tefmincd, if could, to make my mission
"a success, SO that and other poor weary
women might have this refuge to fly to
in these gale seasons of misery.
The successful grocer, who had not
been very well pleased with the open
ingratltude for his bequest, took heart and
frightened up when he saw me giving an
air of smartness to his goods He extri-
Gated himself from beyy of young and
fair ones, and came generously over to
help me. In sheer gratitude l began to
prais his young colt that was pasturing
in field adjoining our garden, and he
remained with me. Shortly after, when
he found that queer feeling in his head
agreed with the same discomfort in my
own poor Uranium he brought chair
behind the counter. and in a low tender
voice he deailed to me the interesting
diagnosis OF his pet malady.
On the ether side of me the minister's
son, who was home from college,an suf-
fering from that period of egotism which
comes to young men Of his kind, remained
during the eutire evening, to show his
contempt for the young, the fair, the
frivolous. A few old married friends,
whose wives were sick or away, lowered
about the grocery counter, SO that it
really did happen that was surrounded
by men The evening was passing pleas
antly enough.
My dark corner was we'll patronized,
and every woman who has to do with
church entertainments will understand
my qualification and relief when / found
it was nearly ten o'clock and all was we'll.
AT this time letter was put into my
hand by one of the little post office mes
sengers-we always made q feature of the
post Office at our festivals, where pink
and parti-colored missives. with doves
and o,her doting designs upon the envel-
ope, were distributed at extravagant rates
of postage. | had just been favored with
a liberal offer from customer, and elat-
ed with my bargain, proceeded to put up
my bundles, not giving much heed to the
ove-letter from the neighboring booth.
Truth to say, felt q little tingling of the
blood at the idea OF the mockery that
might be conseaied therein by one Of
those witty village youths, and the letter
lay there for full half hour, when some
body said,i the most commonplace way,
so Jack Hunter is back from China'
In q momont every thing was black
before me. 1 dropped my hands and my
eyes to the counter, and when this sudden
dizziness was gone, saw upon the little
tawdry envelope Jacks scrawlng hand
writing. Here was the little Inc I had
coveted all these years, and this is what
my half blinded eyes made out:
II came home because l was mad to
see you--because all these years, and
your old perfdy, couldn't kill my love
for you. find you just as expected to
in space small enough to be filled out
side and inside with, men. You are as
beautiful and fascinating as ever, and as
fond of admiration. hear that you are
about to be married to the grocer at your
elbow, who so engrosses your attention
that you do rot care to look at the pass
ers-by. God help him, and God bless
you! 1 have had my lesson. Now l
shall, perhaps be satisfied. Good-by."
Five minutes after that was running
home, without my hat, and with his note
crumpled up in my hand. The people at
the festival no doubt thought that NAM
ma was taken suddenly i'll. They could
not have fancied l was running after
Jack, because he had been there at the
church for an hour, anu l had been to-
tally unconscious of his presence. Dear
Heaven! how could it be that l didn't
know, that something didn't tell me that
didn't feel he was near me?
But didn't. went on talking to the
grocer about remarkable operation for
an ulcer that he had undergone, when
Jack must have been only a few rods
away! l ran down the road, my heart in
my throat. Fortunately the village street
was deserted. Every man, woman. and
child were at the festival, except those
who could not be out at all /; so ran on
unchecked, a dim fear gaining weight
with me that Jack had not unpacked his
trunk, and was off to China again within
the hour. But when reached his house,
which was next door to my own, I saw
Hill olIlIusS ouG Oh lllS UdlCOuV SluOh1uS u
cigar, with his feet perched upon the
railing. But his face grew very pale in
the moonlight, and his feet clattered
quickly down upon the porch when he
saw me run in at the gate. The cigar
fell from his lips, the ashes tumbling over
his broad white waist-coat.
"Why, thank God" he said, ''this must
be my own dear little girl. Nov, see
here, Jenny" he began, scoiding, min
ute after; but he kept tight hold of me,
and trembled fully as much with happi-
ness as l did,
Nothing can persuade him that l am
not a desperate hirt, as beautiful as an
angel, and lrresistably fascinating. |
have not the least doubt that half the
village are laughing at Jacks ridiculous
devotion and jealousy; but the we'll meant
endeavors of his friends and family to
convince him that I am e plain, faded,
unattractive and neglected old maid, he
laughs to scorn as conspiracy of envy
or jealousy. And how can | wonder at
his delusion? Mamma says Jack has ter.
ribly aged during these years of loneli-
ness and exile, and looks older and not so
comedy as our neighbor the grocer; but to
me he is still the handsome, alluring, in
every way adorable Jack. He is walking
up and down the little balcony next door
at this present moment. and hidden by