Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-03-07
M,isfellansous. g
Love and DUTY.

The glow Of the setting snn turned the
yellow hedge blossoms into drops OF mol
ten gold. As two lovers stood at rustic
gate, and talked. as lovers will talk. OF
every subject under the sun. except the
one that filled both hearts with content so
ineffAble
Henry Nav. as steady and Trustworthy a
civil engineer a. ever held q staff idlv
switched the blossoms with q willow rod /;
aud Mr.. Strong's pretty daughter made
the air musical with her silyerv laugh, or
grew suddenly grave, according TO her
mood or 10 the glances he cas-, at the
bliihe young girl.
Mr.. Nav was rising rapidly In his pro-
fession. The rrm 10 which he was attach.
cd wished him 10 go out TO Canada to
superint"nd works OF theirs Of great i'm
portance that were already In progress
there. II would be a rise To him and a
lucrative ore. But he was determined not
To go out without his wife. the pretty
Ethel-at least II he could by Any posi-.
biliy induce her TO 90. Nothing would
have pleased her better. To marry and 20
out there with him wa. her daydrearn /:
bat she cherished /, in secret. for her duty
as she considered. obliged her TO remain
at home. When with him she would treat
the matter lightly. jsst to hide the pain
and doubt s, her heart.
The decision Is no longer In nv own
hands. Ethel, said Mr.. May. his tender
tone grave and earnest. Robertson, who
has been In C,nadA experimenting. As you
know. Is down with sickness, and when
he Is able to travel Is coming home.
must go in his place: no alterr alive is lett
me. ] ought TO be off wit hin a week; but
II may take you with me, can be allow.
tS sa Eve e eesy my s me- dspSFtpss R5 90" month
Her face was now graver than his: the
dlmpfes had left the damask cheeks-the
smiles the sweet aud delicate lips
Give me until tomorrow morning -
sighed Ethel. lining 4 pair OF beseeching
eyes TO his face.
80 shall il be. he replied In a sad tone
But, Ethel. seem to know whs, your
answer will be. How is il that other girls
give up home. parents. friends, for their
loves sake; while you cling 10 everything
ard every one rather than to the man you
have professed to lore above all the
world"
Il cannot tell" Ethel's voice quivere d
as she spoke, and 3 few hot tears fell from
her downcast eyes. Pam sure do-care
for you well enough to go 20 the ends OF
the world with you; I dol do. But you
know that nv father and mother cannot
spare me-
.Umphl' returned Nr. NAV. loosing
sway from Ethel aud her pleading face.
No one admired flial devotion more than
be did; but he thought II might be carried
a., in this case. unreasonably far. Other
parents willingly give up their daughters
why cannot yours do likewise. have a
good position 10 offer you, Ethel"
Il know it," sighed Ethel But, Henry,
they do not withhold their consent with
out just cause"
Ethel" came The call at this moment,
10 a feeble. treble voice from the house
and Ethel hastily picked up the blue
| trimmed hat that had fallen at her feet.
II must go, Harry; my mother needs me.
, Won't you come up to the housef"
Not this evening, Ethel" he replied.
! bending down until his dark moustache
touched the rosy cheek. "But l will be
here to- morrow to hear my fate. "Whsl
time shall comeF'
Any time. l only want tonight to
think 1t OUT
There Ito think it out. knew the
decision lay with yourself alone. Ethel.
A good night TO you. my best and sweet
est; aud may your thoughts and dreams
be propitious to me!'
"GOod night. Harrv," she whispered
| and he might have read the desparing love
in her eyes.
Choking down rising sob. she ran
across the green lawn. anxious to respond
to the call of her mother. Never wa.
there a more dntiful daughter than Ethel
Strong. Misfortune had fallen on lel
home. and she thought her duty lay IN
striving to tighten it.
Between one and two years ago. soon
after Henry May had become engaged to
Ethel, Mr.. Strong was overtaken by q
heavy blow. In an evil hour he had be.
come security TO a very large amount fol
| Q friend: friend whom he nd always be-
| lieved to be the soul Of honor. The friend
| absconded, and David Strong was called
| upon to pay. 1t ruined him. He could
| only raise the money by mortgaging his
| farm deeply; the farm which had been in
| his family for generations and which was
to descend to his son after him. The once
numerous household was discharged, one
inferior servant only being retained; the
once plentiful housekeeping became pool
and scsnt. This was obliged to oe. Mr.
Strong took 70 toll out Of doors almost ..
n laborer; Mrs. Strong and Ethel had To
do most Of the work within.
II was . terrible trial; and it told ter
r.bly upon the old couple. From healthy
people, growing rather elderly. they sud
denly changed, losing strength and spirit
aud now, they were bowed. worn anc
broken looking like very old man snf
woman for whom the grave was waiting
How could Ethel leave them?
Mrs. Strong eat In the best kitchen, knit
| ting, as Ethel entered. The sitting-room.
had been much neglected since their failer
fortune; to sit here saved trouble. She
had . meek. feeble kind of face. and hel
| voice Was QuerulOus.
"Where have you been. chi,dg'
I '.Only at the gate beyond the lawn
mother" answered Ethel. brightly; fO
this dutifui girl threw all the sunshine up
on the house that manner and cheer.
speech could throw.
with Harry MayT
"Yes. mother" "A.
Mrs. Streng sighed. She regarded IN
young man with sort Of resentment be
cause he would carry Oh Ethel. Perhaps
misfortune makes people selfish.
''He is at last going to Canada mother
II II impossible that he can put Il 81
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