Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-03-07
Mr.. NAV departed for Canada. He be.

| from h. N occasionally written In q cordial.
| friendly spirit, but containing no lover
like expressions. He told her all about
his new home and his life there. and des-
cribed the country graphically. and In
| quired after the old friends he had left be-
hind. Ethel wrote back to him 10 just the
same friendly spirit; but she knew not
whether he still consideped she belonged
to him.
Troubles closed IN around her a. the
years went on. Sickness came. Roger.
the hope and pride Of the family. was laid
to rest beside the dead and-gone Strongs
| In the shady and peaceful churchyard.
! His mother followed him Ia few months
and Ethel alone remained to comfort the
poor old father. whose later life had been
50 full Of work 80 hard and cherries.
| II Ethel's besft ached. no one knew Il.
/, Ii her woman's tenderness craved a hus-
bands love or the sweet caresses that
might have kept her young and buoysnt no
! one Suspected Ii. There were moments OF
| depression when she felt inclined to say
that Goo had dealt hardly in MANY WAYS,
vet her filth Ia him never wavered. Mel
! ther did ier feet fslter. a. she administered
to the wints OF the frail old father, who
lived In ele light OF her smile.
! Four years had gone BY. One balmy
evening Ethel sat in the shady arbor,
sewing diligently Her father dozed in AT
arm chdr at the open window, within
view, While a thrush, singing on a bough
above Ehcl's brown head, burst out into
gush q song that filled the still air with
melody.
Ethel"
Ethel boxed up. Her old lover. bronzed
and bearied. stood before her. She had
heard footsteps. certainly. brt supposed Il
to be onl' one of the men. Down fell her
work as she rose up, full of bewildered
agitation
Are you quite wellT' he asked.
She put her hand into his, answering she
knew net what. Mr.. Nav sat down beside
| her.
lie tsld her how well / e was prospecting
that Csuada would have to be his home vet
for years perhaps for life. He inquired
into all her home changes and trials the
substance Of them he knew .bu. the details.
Then Tor a little while they sat in silence.
And he. looking into the face that lost It's
early bloom and brightness only 20 gain
more spiritual beauty. could yet see little
TO give him hope In those steady thought
/ fnl EYES.
''Yoa have changed much. Eihel?'
Al. | suppose so. Time and sorrow
+ chang us all" she added, sadly.
/ "wiIl YOU be my wife now. Ethel?"
She only replied by a Il, of trembling.
/ Oh. II she might be But there was no
( hope.
He had come that way to ask the ques
( riou, he said; not choosing 10 trust TO
letter; speech was more eloquent than
written words, more persuasive. He had
waited for her all these years; but his pa
/ tience was exhausted now.
/ And you surely will not say nay to me
/ againl" he urged. "You surely cannot
| be :" cruel. Ethel"
She shook her head pitiably and pointed
/ to her sleeping father. II am all that j.
/ left 10 him Henry. While he lives must
i he a, hand to comfort him"
He NAV live for years. lie IS only
Y sixty tive or so
True. lie may live for years. Hi.
\ health il good now"
( Would he come out with US, DO you
think
I 1T would be impossible. To take him
7 from the home Of hi. lifetime would XIII
/ him tie will never leave Il; hs must live
I aud die in it."
mang' NJ. May a-Ged II" 3nt6ftih2n s6he
II shall never care for any one but YOU.
/ | shall never marry. You are denied To
T me, but no one else will ever win regard
4 from me. or call rae wife"
DO you understand. Ethel. that this Is
/ the last time that shall be able 20 put the
/ question to your
"Yes-I suppose IL Is. OF course Il IS.
/ It's very good Of you to come again"
He spoke a little further then. Canada
was the country OF his adoption; at least
it would he for years to come; he had his
house and home In II. but he must have 3
wife. And Ethel gathered more by her
I own instinct than by his spoken words.
that il she still declined TO be that wife, he
/ would seek another.
Mr.. Strong opened his eyes and put on
his spec.acles 70 see what tall, hne man
va. in the arbor talking 20 his daughter
Henry May went IN to- say few words OF
greeting and then returned TO Ethel.
''Ir j. to be, then. Ethel. There Is no
. hope"
.'it must be. Heaven help me-"
Fare YOU we'll my best and dearest
Fare you well forever"
A convulsive sob broke from her aching
heart. And he pressed his last kiss upon
her lips.
Never again-as Ethel thought. and as
he thought. But curious to say, Mr.
Strong himself, came to the rescue.
Whether he hal heard aught of what
passed between them In the arbor. or
whether his better nature rose up within
him Ethel never knew. She heard her
: name spoken hastliy.
Yes father"
is Mr.. May going:"
''lIe is gone, father: he is now passing
out the gate"
Call him back. Say would speak a
word TO him
And the departing steps were soon re-
turning.
A curious look of hope like ray of light,
shoue on Henry Mays face. Did instinct
give rise to IT,? Mr.. Strong. looking at
him attentively, stretched out his hand to
take that of the engineer.
"will YOU tell me what yon have been
telling Ethel?"
And the tale wa. toll All his hopes,
all his plcaIiLg, and Ethei's snswer.
Says il would kill me to go to Canada,
does she thinks l could not die away
from nv own home? well. l dou't know
Ihave alwavs had a wish to see Canada Q
cousin Of mine went out there In early life
and made his fortune. | could not be sep
arated from her, you know, Harry May
but don't see why should not live as
long there as here
The tears were in the old mans eyes,
though he spoke in q quaint. joking tone.
Ethel stood with clasped hands and parted
lips, hardly daring 10 believe what she had
heard. Her lover caught her TO him with
a sob OF emotion, and pressed the aged
hands with gratitude so fervent that Mr..
Strong cried out for quarter.
"You may get your wedding gown
made child. Ard the sooner we start
amer that the better"
"Oh. father. father. with burst OF
joyful tears-'how shall We ever thank
your
BY taking loving care OF him." whis.
pered Henry May.
So. after all. this was not TO be one OF
the worlds sacrifices. But, alas! many
such take place daily.
"A country which has no natiODal
literature. or literature too Insignificant TO
| force its way abroad, must always be, to