The Osceola times., 1878-08-24

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the ugly counter, with its sordid pound
packages for home necessity, and ] tool
1t with an i'll concealed avidity. Tn.
truth was, a kind of heart sickness seizec
me when / thought that the eveninG
must be passed In making myself gen
orally agreeable, and I felt that to wan
der about this place, distorted out of ii
sweet SAVIOR of godliness and quiet resi-
no dear TO weary soul-to wander about
among the flags and wreaths and tent.
and arbors, with q smile for one, q nod
for another-was like the pretracted and
agonixing pilgrimage of . lost soul be.
yond the borders Of the Styx.
So ! speedily put myself behind the
counter, which comfortably hid more
than half my tall, gaunt figure, and Wa
go glad of the shelter that found nv.
self becoming interested In these despised
articles piled up before me. I do.
termined, If could, 10 make my mission
a success, % that and other poor
weary women might have this refuge 70
hy to In these gala seasons Of misery.
The successful erccer, who had not
been very well pleased with the open in
gratitude for his bequest, took heart and
frightened up when he saw me giving
an air Of smartness to his goods. He
extricated himself from bevy Of young
and fair onee, and came gracioualy over
TO help me. In sheer gratitude / began
to praise his young colt that was pastur.
ing 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 poor Uranium, he brought q chair
behind the counter, and In . low tender
voice he detailed 10 me the interesting
diagnosis OF his pet malady.
On the other side of me the ministers
son. who was home from college, and
suffering from that period Of egotism
which comes to young men Of his kind,
remained during the entire 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, 80
that 1t really did happen that was sur.
rounded by men. The evening was D. -
ing pleasantly enough. My dark corner
was well patronized, and every woman
who has to do with church entertain.
ments will understand my qualification
when ! found 1t was ten O'Clock and all
was we'll. At this time letter was put
into my hand by one Of the post-ofice
meesengers-we always made feature
Of the postoffice at our festivals, where
pink and parti colored missives, with
doves and other doting designs upon the
envelopes, were distributed at extraya>
CANT rates Of postage. / had Just been
favored with liberal offer from q Gus,
toner, and, elated with my bargain,
proceeded to put up my bundles, not
giving much heed to the love letter from
the neighboring booth. Truth to say,
| felt a little tingling Of tho blood at tie
idea Of the mockery that might be con.
cealed therein by one ofthose witty vii.
lsge youths, and the letter lay there for
a full half hour, when somebody said, In
the most commonplace way.
$50 Jack Hunter is back from China. u
In moment everything was black be.
fore me. l dropped my hands and my
eyes to the counter, and when this sud-
den dizziness was gene, saw upon the
little tawdry Envelope Jacks scrawling
handwriting. Here was the little line l
had coveted all these years, and this is
what my half-blinded eyes made out:
81 came home because l was mad to
see you-because all these years, and
your old perfidy couldn't till' nv love
for you. | find you just as l expected
to, in space small enough to be filed
outside and inside with-men. You are
as beautiful and fascinating as ever, and
ss fond Of admiration. / hear that you
are about to be married to the grocer at
your elbow, who 30 engrosses your atten.
ton that you do not care to look at the
psssers by. God help him and God bless
you'll Ihave had my lesson. Now I
shall, perhaps, be satisfied. Good.by."
Five minutes after that I was running
home, without my hat, and with his note
crumpled up in my hand. The people
at the festival no doubt thought that
mamma was suddenly taken III. They
could not have fancied | was running
after Jack, because he had been there ct
the church for an hour, and | had been
totally unconscious of his presence.
Dear heaven how could II be that
didn't know, that something didn't tell
me, that didn't feel he was near mef
But / did not. l went or talking To
the grocer about remarkable operation
for an ulcer that he had undergone,
when Jack must have been only 4 few
rods awsv! I 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;
40 | ran on unchecked, dim fear gain
ing weight with me that Jack had not
unpacked his trunk, and was of TO China
again within an hour. But when 1
reached his house, which was next door
TO my own, | saw him sitting out on the
balcony smoking a cigar, with bis feet
perched upon the railing. But his face
grew very pale In the moonlight, and his
feet clattered spec lily down upon the
porch when he saw me run In the gate.
The cigar fell from his lips, the ashes
tumbling over his broad white waistcoat.
"Why, thank God" he said, "this
must be my own dear little girl. Now,
rec here, Jenny" be began, scolding, .
minute after but he kept tight hold of
me, and tremblcd as much with happi.
ness a / did.
Nothing can persuade him that l am
not desperate firt, as beautiful - an
angel, and irresistinely fascinating. I
have not the least doubt that half the
village are laughing at Jacks ridiculous
devotion and Jealousy: but the we'll.
meant endeavos Of his friends and
family to convince him that / am plain,
faded, unattractive, and neglected old
maid he laughs TO scorn a. : conspiracy
of envy or Jealousy. And how can ]
wonder at his dclusionf Mamma says
Jack has terribly aged during thess