The Worthington advance., 1880-10-21
jENNIE'S ROMANCE.
BY AE1OU.

"Irue ?"
"Just rs true as you live and breathe !"
"Well, never! When are you 60
ing?"
'' In the morning stage as far as
Springfield, and then in the cars"
~'' Won't that be nice? ?"
You can just believe so !"
kemember and tell me all about
Hoston."
"Oh, will"
"Wish was going"
"Wlsh you was, too.'
These were the words Of bit Of con
vtrsatlon between two Young ladies one
Sunday morning, as they stood in the
congregational Church Of Perryville,
and pretended to be singing "Corona-
tiOn,"
Jennie Jones had contidcntially told
Ellen White, when they arose to Join in
the singing, that she was going to Bos-
ton. and Ellen had expressed herself as
perfectly surprised.
In Perryville, it was great and i'm
portant event for one of the citizens to
20 rs far away as Boston. Once in IL
long while some adventurous Perry
Adams, and the village merchant went
twice a year to Springfield, but no one,
excepting perhaps Rev. Mr. Profounle,
ever went to Boston. Pcrryyille was al
isolated town in the backwootls of North
crn Massachusetts, out OF hearing Of lu-
lshed civilization, and II little world in
itself. The people were Yankees of the.
purest stamp and quality, and as con-
ceited as they chose to be.
Among the good people of Pe1ryville
Mr.. Thomas Jones was the magnate-
and to be the great man of Il Yankee
town is to he q person of consequence.
Thomas Jones had the best farm
III town, was the thriftiest of
the citizens, and held all Of
the most important town offices. Jennie
was his only child, and from her birth
had been reared to believe her father
the one bright star in Pcrryvil!e. It
had dawned on the magnate's mind that
his daughter might become q talented
lady if she could only be educated, and he
determined that she should have the best
educational advantages that money could
buy. And SO she was going to Boston
there to DO transformed from a red
haired, milk-and-watcr country beauty
into cultured lady.
Ellen White fastened to impart the
important news to her next nciehbor.
Mrs. Phipps, and long before Rev. Mr.,
Profounde completed his sermon nearly
all Of the congregation knew Of it. They
gathered about Jennie when the services
were over, and the poor girl was COM
pletely overwhelmed by their congratu-
lutiOns.
George Harrison came that Sunday
evening, as he always did, to "set up
with Jennie. The young man was
bowed down with the great sorrow of
parting, and was full Of sober thoughts.
II want you to remember me. Jcn-
ME, " he sadly said.
"Of course will y Jennie replied.
And George went home. at II, fully
persuaded that Jennie was the best
woman ever created, and apprchensive
that some Boston gentleman might en-
tertain the same opinion.
Monday morning came to Jennie, not
as other Monday mornings usually came.
There was no washing to do, no cream
to churn. She was free to act her own
pleasure, and she moved about the old
farm house sublimely sensible that q
grand era In her life was about to begin.
Her mother was fearful and sad, and
George, hiding behind the rail fence,
shed great, briny tears. Her father
alone was confident.
"I'll resk Jennie" he said "shc's
Jest like me, an she'll git along"
AS proof of his confidence he placed
IN the girls hands purse of 500.
Put it right inter yer bosom" he
said "they say that pickpockets can't
git at it there"
Jennie obeyed, and firmly resolved
that no pichpocket could get at her
treasure.
The stage came at 8 o'clock, and Jen-
ME took leave of her parents. The old
black trunk that had been her grand
mothers was lasled on the boot, and
the journey for Boston began. At the
postotfice, Jennie's boon friends had met.
and, while the stage-driver was waiting
for the mail bags, there was an oscula.
tory leave-taking. Then the numbering
coach drove off, and the happy girl left
Perryville behind her.
The sun had shown its monday to the
city of Springfield when the fair traveller
reached there, and was set down at the
depot. There never was a 17-year-old
maiden before who saw Springfield in
such brilliant light as she saw it. To
the country girl it was something like
paradise, but it was not ]'oston.
The eastern-bound train came in, and
Jennie dutifully obeyed her fathers in
structions to take the rear car the mo-
ment that the train stopped at the depot.
there were but two or three vacant seats,
and she chose the one nearest the door,
A multitude Of forebodings and wonder
ngs filled her mind. She thought OF
the possibility of all accident, of the rate
OF speed that the train would run, of the
route, the great Boston beyond, and lit
tie Perryville left behind. Mentally she
ran over her fathers many injunctions
IN regard to board bills, car fare, extor-
tlonate hackmen, and especially about
pickpockets.
Once on time she had read in the
weekly Gazette story of lady's ad.
Fenttare with pickpocket, wherein thu.
parsonage was described as modern
Claude Duval, handsome, black-whis-
kered, and wearing an immaculate suit
OF black and o silk beaver. The story
securred to her mind, and instinctively
@ne looked about the car for one who
should have the appearance that the sto.
ry had named. She started the next
moment. In the seat directly before
her sat gentleman, tall, noble looking.
and dressed in faultless black. A long
and heavy black beard hid his mouth.
and from beneath his lat curly wealt],
of raven hair was thrown carelessly back.
'>' Jennie lost no time in arriving at con.
clusions. Nothing could have been nor.
notice her. She felt of her pocket-book.
aud resolved that she should keep it at
all hazards.
The train started, and Jennie felt a
little less perturbed. The dark gentle.
man took from his pocket copy Of the