Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-09-12

they are right who call thee pretty. "Say
could'st like the squire well enough to wed
him,"
! "Eh?' cried grandma. Sure you're moi
wsnderingg"
esquire Turner asked me for this lass oil
ours tonight. OF all women in the world
there Is but one he loves ss he should hi.
wife, and that Is our Agatha"
81 dreamt of golden rings and bunch
OF white roses on Christmas Eve" cried
grannie. 81 knew the lass would be
lucky"
But / put my head on grandfather
shoulder and hid my face. The truth must
out, knew.
"Wilt have him. and be a rich lady - said
grandpa.
And when he had waited for an an swer,
| burst out with Mo- aud a sob together
shes frightened" said grandmamma.
NAV. We must all wed once In our lives,
my child"
Then grandpapa talked to ne. He told
me how poor they had grown. and how
kind the squire was, and I had but to mar
| ry him 10 make my grandparents free from
debt and poverty their lives through. II |
refused and vexed the squire. heaven only
Knew what might happen.
shell never ruin her poor grandpa" :"
/ eN'btH
An! 1t was hard TO bear-bi,ter hard !;
but now there was no help tor t. took
the ring from my bosom and laid It on my
palm. and told them IL was Evan Locke's,
and that had plighted my troth to him.
And grandmamma called me a decetful
wench, and grandfather looked as though
{ his heart would break.
Oh. would have done anything for them
anything but give up my true love.
That night kissed his ring and prayed
heaven that he might love me slways. In
the morning 1t was gone. ribbon and ali,
from my neck. | looked for IL high and
low, but found no sign OF il. And began
4, i.ar the loss OF that dear ring was a sign
,, "-"'' never marry Evan Locke.
ihe days passed on, and he ne,,r came
near me.
'oh. It was cruel In him" thought, ito
hold such anger for hasty word he had
hr"r"t@ - W. ~s,~ta II ha ,,usf know
! loved him So
And grandma would scarcely look at me
know why now. and grandpa sighed and
moancd. and talked Of the work-house.
And thought should die OF griei among
them
One day grandma said to me. Iii seems
that your sweetheart is not over-foud Of
yos or Over-anxious TO see YOU
Why not:' said |.
Where has he been this month back 2"
BUSY, doubtless" said |, with smile,
though thought my heart would burst.
Perhaps you know all about IT," said
grandma. You're gong with him, may
be
"wheFer' said /.
She went to the kitchen door and beck
oned in q woman who sat there-Damc
coombs, who had come over with eggs.
Il heard you rightly" she said "l on
told me Evan Locke ani his mother We're
making ready for a voyage"
They're going to Canada Ny son. a
carpenter-aud a good one. though | say
it made the doctor a box for his things
The Old lady breads the new country. but
she goes for the doctors sake. There's
money 10 be made there, they say. That's
what takes him."
81 told you so" said grandmother.
IL don't believe H. said |.
They've sold the house, aud gone 10
Liverpool TO take ship, and you may ind
The truth for yourself il you choose to take
the trouble" said Dame Coombs. I'm
no chatterbox. To tell falsehoods about my
( neighbors.' And she went away In wrath.
And still would not believe il until |
! had walked across the moor and had seen
/ the shutters fast closed aud the door bar
red. aud not a sign OF lite about the place.
/ Then | gave up hope. | went home all
| pale aud trembling, and sat down al grand
mamma's knee.
''lt's true" said |.
And for the sake OF so false a lad you II
/ see your grandfather ruined and break his
/ heart, and leave me, that have nursed you
/ from 4 babe, a widow
looked at her as she sobbed, and |
| found strength 10 say:
Give me whom you will, then, since
my own love does not want me-
And then | crept up stairs and sat down
on my bedside, weak as though ! had
tainted. would have thanked heaven for
iorgetfalness just then. but IL wouldn't
come
The next day Squire Turner was In the
parlor As my accepted lover. How pleased
he was. and how the color came back into
grandfathers old face. And ganny grew
so proud and kind, and all the house Was
aglow, and only sad. But l couldn't for
get Evan-Evan. whom had loved SO
sailing away from me without a word.
| suppose they all saw | looked sad.
The Squire talked OF my health, aud
would make Ele ride with him over the
moors for strength.
The old folks said nothing. They knew
l
seemed to think there was aught wrong.
Once she said TO me:
What ails ye. miss! Your eye Is dull
and your cheek pale, and your Draw grand
lover canra make ye smile. le are na
that III, either"
mo, I'm well enough" sad |.
She looked al me wistfully.
"Gin ye'd tell me your all, might tell
you a cure" she said.
But there was no cure for me In this
world. and couldn't open my heart to
simple Jennie. SO the days rolled by, and
| was close on my marriage eve. and gran
ME and Dorothy Plume were busy with
my wedding robes. 1 wished ii were my
shroud they were working at instead.
And one night the pain in my heart
grew too great, and went out among the
purple heather on the moor, and there
knelt down under the stars and prayed to
be taken from the world. For how can
live without Evan said.
spoke the words aloud. and then start
cd up in alright. for there at my side was an
eliish little figure, and heard a cry that
at first scarce thought earthly. Yet il
was but Scotch Jenuie had followed me.
'.Why do you call for your true love
now?' she said. "Ye sent him frae ye
for sake o the young Squire"
"HOw uaft you 1OiiOW anu Watcu me!
But she caught my sleeve.
"Dnna be yexed.'' she said. Just bide
a wee. an answer what | speer. It's for
love Of you. for I've seen ye waste like the
snaw wreath In the sun sin the Squire
wOoed ye. Was 1t your will the lad that
loved the ground Sc trod should have his
ring again!"
What do you mean?' said l.
III speak gin loose my place" said
Jennie. II rode with the mistress Ia
young DR.. Locke's place past the moor
and there she lighted and gave him a
ring. and what she said know not, but
IL turned him the tint o death, and said
he, There's ma a drop o true bluid ia a
woman. gin she is false And he turned
TO tht wall ab' covered his eyes, an your
grannie rode home. There 'tis all ken.
Wull it dOg'
"Ay, Jennie" said 1. Heaven bless
you'll"
And mad wings on my feet could moi
have come to the cottage door sooner.
| stood before my grandmother trem'
bling snd white, and said: "Oh, don't tell
|