Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-07-11

III IhO MANU- Vi DSlHS ON6T utLlOnSJTd-
tive.
"a good childP Why do you ask
that, MegP There's not a better in all
Lancashirem
" Have | ever vexed you or given you
sorrOwP Tell me, mother"
NO." said the Widow Neale slowly,
"only--it vexes me that you will not
marry; an old maids no good, and you
know that two of the best men in Rys-
dyk worship the very ground you tread
on this day. call no names and say
nothing. A woman must answer for
herself. ] wish you were married, Meg.
I've saved up good penny for your
dowry; you know that"
YES" she said, her lips quivering.
Whatever was the reason you did not
have Matt Erickson?" her mother went
on querulously YOU'D been q proud
wife now, and he here hale and hearty"
With aquick gasp Meg threw up both
arms, and then buried her face in her
mothers lap, sobbing vehemently, Will
the latter sat aghast, frightened at the
storm she had unwittingly raised. At
last she touched her daughters hair
softly.
Don't, Meg" she said, "I did not
mean i'll"
But Meg only drew the wringled hands
about her neck, and let Der tears flow
unchecked. At length she looked up.
cit was l who drove him away-Matt
Erickson" she said. 1--WE had little
quarrel, just few idle words about
ribbon, and l told him in my silly anger
| would have no more to say to him
while the stars shone. And now they
do not shine for him, for he is blind
blind. Oh, mother, l cannot live, l
cannot bear it,"
"Yes, you will live, child" the widow
answered, quickly. "Your father was
brought in to me dead-killed in those
mines wheh you were scarce three years
old, my Meg, and am alive yet"
but this is worse than DEATH" she
cried, passionately. "Mother, do you
hearp He who was my plighted hus-
band is blind, in far, strange country
| must go and bring him home, home 10
Rysdyk."
She had risen from her mothers arms
and stood before her in the moonlight,
pale, resolute, with her hands clasped
rigidly. "Give me my dowry, mother,
and let me CO." she said. "Do not deny
me this thing. am we'll and strong,
and, if | do say it, am quick. witted
| can make my way; shall come back
safely. Let me go, motherm
"It is not your place, Meg. Let some
one else 60"
"Who? Tell me that! Has he father
or brother or uncle? Who is there to
go?"
"But-it's not right maidenly to off
after lover, Meg. What will the folks
sayP And-would you marry blind
manW
Maidenly! 1t is maidenly to do
right" said Meg, her brown cheek flush
ing. "What do | care for the folks
I'm not a young girl to drop my eyes and
be shamefaced because folks will talk.
They always talk. And as for marrying
lit is not of marriage / ann thinking
now; it is of bringing Matt Erickson
he WHOM | drove away with my i'll
doings-back safe to his own country"
She hesitated moment and then went
on: but I'll not play false with you,
mother. He'll not ask me to marry
him. But l shall know. IF he wants
me. after all that's passed, he shall have
me, and I'll take care of him till die. :"
Their talk lasted far into the night.
But with it we have no more to do, nor
the details by which a little money was
made to &C a great way. For, after
many tears, the widow consented that
Meg should take her dowry and spend it
as she chose. If they had been more
worldly-wise they would have known
how to accomplish their purpose through
the agency of others. AS it was, they
saw no other way than for Meg to do
herself the thing she wanted done.
Oh, that weary, weary journey! Why
was the world so wide, the way so long?
Meg kept up brave heart until the
boisterOus ocean was crossed and she
had made her way as far as Buffalo,
where she had been told to take the
steamer for Marquette. 1t seemed to
her that she had travelled the width OF
the whole wide earth already since her
foot first fell upon the soil of the strange
new world.
"Is this Lake Superior, sirP" she
asked of policeman, as she left the
cars and saw the water of Lake Erie
stretching away in the distance. "And
can you tell me, are we near Ishpem-
ingpon
Superior is away up north, hundreds of
miles from here-Ishpeming. Never
heard of such a place. But here's your
steamer, if you're going up that way"
Her heart sank like lead. Would she
ever, ever reach the end? All day, and
day after day, she sat silently in the bow
of the boat, gazing steadily forward!
1t was like u new birth when, after
many days, the steamer entered the
beautiful Bay of Marquette, and the fair
young city rose before her astonished
eyes, its white cliffs cleaning in the sun,
its green shores sweeping downward to
the waters edge. She was near her goal
at last.
For Ishpeming was about fifteen miles
away up the railroad, and thither she
went by the first train. How rough and
wild it all was! And how the charred
and blackened pine trees lowered aloft
like grim giants. and pointed their
CHASTITY fingers at her as she swept
through their solitude!
"Can you tell me where to find man
called Matthew EricksonP" she asked of
the depot-master, trembling from head
to foot.
=" EricksonP EricksonP Blown up
in the mines year or so ago, wasn't
he? He stays at Sam Ayres'. the En-
glshman's, believe. Just ye go around
that corner, ma'am, then turn to the
right and go up the hill-or stay! Let
me lock up and I'll go with you. Ever
been in Ishpeming before? No? l
thought you looked like stranger in
these parts"
He left her at Sam Ayres' gate, having
opened it gallantly when he saw that
her cold fingers were unfit to do her
bidding. A kindly-faced woman came
to the door and bade her welcome.
Meg's story was soon told.
And you have come all this long
wav to take Erickson home apain pn her