Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-04-24

wreck for want OF chart; vet what man
ever lived who knew the chanrels and the
qnicksands OF q woman's mind2
Sam set himself to work to make his
rival ridiculous; he demonstrated poor
Henry's ignorance, and played on his cred
ulity; he ridculed him to his face and care
fully beguiled him into all kinds OF false
positions; all OF which reused Miry's In
nate perversity and kindDess to take the
side OF the weakest. and she gave Henry
so much encouragement that even her par
ents were puzzled.
Il do declare" said father Calkins, as
h. sat down by the kitchen fire place one
chilly May night. and pulling of his big
boots prepared to toast his feet at the em-
bers. "Almiry beats me. mother. I'm
blamed ef she amt a-siitin' to Hen Pine
now. : true s yc live! an faint good two
months back could ha' swore she was
bound to hev Sam Peters. Jeethunder
women folks Is wuss'n the weather; you
can't guess on EN-"
"we-e-ell." droped the tired and sleepy
wife, II do'no as kcer. Henry's got
means; she won't never want for nothn'
ef she takes up with him. A bird In the
hands wuth . good deal, pa, and Almiry
Is poofy keen, now ] tell ye."
That's so; that's so rejoned the old
man. ''But Sam Is dreadful likely; he's
smsrier'n any steel trap; fort no" (Which
is Yernxcular, dear reader. "for what |
know hell be n jedge or suthln' afore
he dies. and Hen Pine won't never be moth
In but an everlastin' fool to the day after
never"
We'll. Almiry II tune him. bet ye. pa.
He won't know his souls his own ef that
gal marries him
"Lordy, Jeroosh, hain't you lived long
enough TO know YOU can't in no way break
in fool? They're Jest like Parson Pow
dcr's donkey, that went all ways OF Sun-
day except the way TO the mes,in'. Id
rather take my chance with 4 fel.r that
has got suthin' inside o his head than one
with nothin' but what was inside his pock-
ei. blamed sight"
"Meobe so. mebbe so, Jehlel: but IT'S
kinder borne In on my mind that Miry will
take Henry, nevertheless and whatsoever
Amt she gone riding over to Colebrook
with him this blessed night, jest for noihin
but becos Samwell asked her to 20 TO the
lectur over'n the 'yille?
That Amt nothin' she'll get SO ALFRED
sick o Hens stoopid GRIMM ways afore
long, III bet You a red cent she'll take to
sam fln'lly."
ITS dreadful onsartain, anyway" sigh
ed Mrs. Calkins, a. she took up her tallow
candle and went into the bedroom, quite
too sleepy To- discuss the matter. while
pa" turned the current of his thoughts to
the new litter OF pigs. Almira and her ways
being quite too much for his brain.
But ii Is certain that so stupid did iIoary
Pine show himself this evening. such an
unspeakabl- bore and donkey, that Mlry's
heart failed her. aud she was almost in
clined 10 put sharp and sudden end 10 his
probation; besides. sam va. on his dignity.
and piqued her wsyward fancy nightly BY
his curt and masterful manner oward her
and Henry both. She began TO feel a crr-
taN respect for him, a consciousness that
he Was the strongest; and with one class OF
women this /. long step toward surreu-
der; much as they like to rule. there is
keener iascinaiion In discovering their
ruler.
Perhaps she might have been euraged.
perhaps rrembled, had she seen, herself un-
srrf. s~.- 49, 49,, ,s....
the mex, morning. They were bG2, itHssfi,s
ing corn 10 the long lot-s bit OF meadow
land at the extreme limit OF the farm-aud
when their bags were empty, and the drills.
levelled over their golden sprinkling of
seeds HeErv was turning bis face home
ward when sam stopped him.
Look here, Hen; hold on I've some
thing TO say To ye."
"iiayy'' responded Henry, with an air
OF idiotic astonlshment, but turnin. back on
his tracks.
Don't yawp so. Jest want ter say that
| know what you're snakin' around this
here humsted for: an you can't come It,
now tell ye."
What be yew A-talkin' abcutf" put In
the naturally astounded Henry.
Why. I'm talkin' about Miry Calkins &.
Maybe you think you're soin' TO git that
gal; but tell ye you ain'i, not BY long
shot,''
"well! whose troop do you ride in p
inquired the other. with fine sarcasm.
Not your'n, anyhow. Hen Pine-and |
amt jokiu'. you eau swear. I'm goin' To
marry Almiry, ef any living man docs; so
you'd jest as good haw out o the road siore
you're kicked OUT
Mighty Moses how yew talk :" gasped
the alarmed youth.
"Taint all talk, sir. BE you goin' 10 quit
without haulin, or aot?''
81 do know" answered Henry. sullenly.
his native obstinacy asserting itself In place
OF coursge-'-I do knows I'm goin' to be
walked over In this fashion. guess I'm as
good as you be, aud I've got a sight more
chink.'
Darn your dollars who wants EN-: Nj
ry Amt that sort; she'd ruther marry a
man than pocket book"
She amt nobody's fool, now tell ye,
Sam Peters. See ef she wouldn't heap
ruther settle down on our farm than go a
tin-peddlin' long o you Ho, | guess
shan't haw out o your road not much. No
slr.''
Look a-herc!" calculated sam, growi n .
savage. You'd better hear to me, Hen
Pine Ef ketch you hangin' raound Al
miry any more, III make you so'st you'll
wisht you was further, pretty quick. A
bumble-bees' nest won't be nothin' TO il.
Now this say an swear; ef you don't 90
easy, you'll go hard jest You rec'lect that. "
Sans handsome face grew dark and his
fist clnched involuntariy as he spoke
and with an uneasy chuckle. which he
meant TO have made defiant, Henry went
of alone. resolving to persevere in his de-
votion to Almira. and. besides that, to tell
her all about this small Interview with his
rival.
But Sans keen wit warned him that this
would be Henry's first move, aud that
luckless wight got no chance to speak To
his adored all day. aud was even liged
TO see her drive OF to the village with her
mother. quite ignorant of Sans audacity.
Now it was Henry's duty 10 fetch the
cows from pasture at light, and be set %
early to-day, that they might be back BY
sunset, and his chores ali done when Mira
returned. intending to ask her for a walk
after supper, and put his fate to the touch
as we'll as bring Sam to confusion. But
he reckoned without his host. Sam took a
short cut across the hill. drove the only
Alderney heifer. the pride and delight OF
Miss Calkin's heart, out OF the pasture into
a moving lot where an old barn stood, aud
shut her up, setaking himself to clumI
of hemlocks which overlooked the road,
till Henry came sauBtering along. and
letting down the bars, began to call the
crestures out OF the lot. They came or
after the fashion of cows. as IL time was nc
matter and speed unknown or impossible
aud perhaps Henry would have driven
them horue without missing the Alderney,
had no, Sam, who was something OF q
ventriloquist. thrown his voice across ths
/ further hillside, and uttered Q faint Moo
| 90
Henry started, looked, started towart
the sound, then back to the cows, and aftel
| rubbing his eyes and counting over ths
| SLOW procession filing past him, seemed ID
become aware that Miss Betty vas no
among them. Another distant low con
vinced him.
"Dsrn it ALL" Sam conld hear him NUT