Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-02-20

| II ain AFRAID or no man, and IL your uncle
has anything agin me, he can out with 1t
and prove it. III write and ask him, since
you are so psrtickerler Berthldy though
beln' of age | can't see why he has any
thing to say about it."
To which Berthida, sobblng, replied
that her uncle's word was her law. and
was kissed at the gate as usual, this con-
| versatiou having taken place on a Sunday
| evening on the way from church.
On Monday morning old Mr.. Flint, GO
ing after breakfast, into the little room
which he called his office, and where he
transacted his business as notary public,
| found lying on his desk two letters already
left for him that morning, and opening
them found that each asked him for some
| thing.
One was from neighbor named Perkins,
who desired TO borrow a horse of him.
The other from Farmer Hoskius, asking
for his niece Berthilda's hand.
| Mr.. Flint was not In the habit of linger-
| Ing long over any decision. He regarded
the fact that Bcrthlda had had an offer as
a sort OF miracle not likely to occur again.
and he had an idea that women always
| liked TO get married.
Hoskins was well to do and respectable.
She should have him, If she chose. She
had been good girl to him, and he really
| felt an affection for her.
| As for Perkins, he should not have his
horse. lie had ovcrworked the one he
had borrowed Of him last harvest time, aud
the poor brute had died in consequence.
Lend Perkins his gray mare indeed He
! would give him piece OF his mind for his
! impudence. And he would settle that bus
mess before he attended to Berthilda's of.
! Ter.
SO he drew his blotter toward him,
seized u pen and ink. and Indited this pep
perry epistle
SIR don't wonder you wrote and
( hadn't the face to come and ask me tor
| what you wanted, like man. Let you
have her, indeed, When every one knows
| you killed the other one with over work.
| and only sent her home to be buried A
pretty idea that. indeed She was just a
rack OF bones when you got through with
her, aud, Judge. half starved as we'll as
/ worked To death
Youll promise to take good care OF her
no doubt. You may II you get her; but
you'll only do that by stealing her, and as
suppose you're quite capable OF that,
shall see TO my locks. FLINT.
This finished, he wrote more briefly to
/ Mr. HOskIus;
DEAR SIR cant see anything In the
way OF your having what you want, You
eau come over If you like and talk jt over.
Yours, FLINT.
Having done these, hc put each into an
envelope aud sent them oil.
Poor Berihiida scarcely dared TO raise
her eyes to her unclc's face that day; but
his manner 10 her was unusually kind. and
she had allowed herselfto hope much from
It, when, she sat at her knitting in the
evening, Peggy, the sole domestic, beck
oned mYsteriuuSly 10 her t:um the door
and having thuS beguilrd her into the hall,
informed her that Mr.. iIoskins wanted to
see her al the gate.
To the gate Berthilda went In a state OF
nervous agitation which made the blue rib
bon bow in her hair quiver Ike a humming-
bird, and there she found Mr.. ilo,kin> so
red in the face with rage that the color
was prrceptibc by the moonlight.
And hi, greeting wa this;
Beriht.dy, II old Flint was anybody :
uncle, but yourn. Ia 90 in and pummel
the breath out Of him. I've Il miuter do it
now
"Oh dear" sobbed Berthildl, what is
the NATTER:
Hes writ me letter that was Jest
chock iull OF insults from fust TO last '
said Mr. Iiosk!uS. said | writ cause
was afraid to ask him for you; said every
one knew that | killed Abiga, Araminty
with overwork, and starved her to death
and sent her over 10 her mas to be buried
Now Abigail Aramiuty died Of the con-
sumption that was id her family. and /
spent lots In doctors stufl and If She was
buried from her mas that was the old
ady's wish. And Aramiaty she would 20
there TO die. And | did all mortal man
could. and hired helm. and | WASH. no.
wise hard on Abigail Aram!nty; and your
uncle. he's a liar. ana If he'll come ont
her. I'M wrinr his necL ~. a. mueb ,s
I lin do 10 Ken from s.vipg words a man
hadn't orter say after he. lined A cburcn
never was so mad in NV lite. I'm burst
iny with rage; and he SAYS I'm a thief
ana he's no doubt I'm steal Won If f can.
ana 30 viii, It's ie,t this. Berthild,-
von com. alone with M moi, ana get par.
son speer 10 marry us. or there's an end of
il. II, ali up between Ms. You cboos.
hetvixt old Flint and me and Of Won cboose
him. whv ain, undpr no ohiiDations tn
YOU no longer. aud IN make a ielIy Of him
In three shakes Of a sbeep's tail
AZ these words Berrhilda tremhlad more
than ever The fountains thar yvare Il.
her head overlooked and ran our of :,
ewes adown her cheeks
.Oh- oh OH - sbe sohbed ..yyas aver a
moor woman in such trouhl.p on oh =,
..Choo.e - ,ri.d UoskIns. and darrad
ri aim so mad | don't keer much which
sav Won choose ia rather like m he at
liberty To 90 for old Flint and mash him
nv iingo. nad,r
| why don't ( diey- sobbed Rerthilda
But oh. Silas. I can't leave IrncIe Flint
like that. [, wouldn't be decent. =
Then here goes said Silas Hoskjns nstsk.
ing of hi, cuf,.
At this moment a long. lath-like aour-
strobe past them and began TO hammer at
the door
The servant onened il. and Peter Perki,,s
voice inquired Tor Mr. Flint.
| Mr.. Flint Al once apneared in the entry
..Well, what do you want hereer was his
| salutation.
wall. Mr.. Flint" said Peter Perkins.
\ .seein' YOU was so 'bligiu' and neIphborly
| about that gray mare. kinder reck0ued rd
Jest step In and lead her over tonight. You
| see sit in INV hay Tomorrow, and there's
a rain e comm up along the eend of the
weeA or amt no prophet"
so YOU do mean to steal hrr?' said old
| Flint s.I,ye seen imnud.nca h,f,ra I'm,