Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-12-03

Wh1u Dhe was yNly elRnbeent ana ln0
had never heard from him since.
The summer that he went away he
had never been more devoted. Emily
saw him every day. He talked Of Civ
ing up his sailor life because he could
not bear 10 leave her, he said, and was
looking for a situation in some mercan-
tile house in the city. Then all of a
sudden he disappeared Withoutone word
Of good-by. He left no message behind
him. He wrote no letter of explanation.
His grandfather, with whom he had al
ways lived, for his father and mother
died in his infancy, merely said that he
bad gone on another foreign voyage. In
less than a year nfterward the old man
died. There were none Of theAshtons
left in Bloomyille, and people ceased TO
talk Of Joe. For two or three years his
name was scarcely mentioned. Then
there came a rumOr that be was with
his uncle, q rich old bachelor in the
West Indies Some sailor from the
port had seen and talked with him
there, but still Emily heard no sound.
She had up to this time believed him
dead, Other lovers sought her favor,
but all in vain. She should never mar
ry, she said. She preferred to remain
as she was. She was too busy to in
dulge in any vain regrets, for great mis-
fortunes had come 10 the family, and
she was obliged to teach school to keep
her mother, Aunt Debby and herself
from actual want. In the first place
the bank at the " Port, - where all their
possessions with the exception of the
rocky little farm upon which they
lived, were placed, failed. Then
the crops failed entirely one
year, the best cows sickened
and died, and, in the midst of it all,
Mrs. Rollins fell i'll of a fever which
lasted two or three weary months The
farm was mortgaged in order to pay the
Doctors bill, and since that time every
thing seemed to go wrong.
"Bless me-" said Miss Debbv, sud-
denly rushing into the room, "two men
are a-oomin' through the gate bringin'
somethin' that looks like another man
ez like as not somebody's got hurt. -
| And she flew to open the outside door.
"Man hurt, got run away with, Deb
by, m you'll hev to take him in, seein'
this is the nearest house," said Mr..
Harding, one of the neighbors, who,
with his son, stout lad of eighteen, was
carefully bearing limp and seemingly
lifeless body. ...-r. ,.a -.
"Good grashus he's dead, 1 kin see
by the looks of his face that he's a
corpse" exclaimed Miss Debby, while
Emily hastily led the way to the best
| bedroom.
"Lor', no, he's out of his head
though, and dangerous, I'm afeard. It's
the stranger that came to the hotel ter
the corner day before yesterday. He
brought wild horse with him from the
city, =" said Mr.. Harding. tom, you
stay here with the wimmen-folks, they
might git scarf, you know, turning to
his son, "while I'll drive after the Doc
tor as fast as can" ".H"
Emily regarded the man with a
strange, half-romantic interest. His
features, though bronzed to such an ex-
tent that she believed him to be of a
dark-colored race, were singularly hand
some. He was, apparently, about thirty
years old. A dark, curling beard
adorned his chin and half concealed q
rather obstinate, determined mouth. A
quantity of loose, dark hair fell over a
broad brow, which was, nodded after a
different pattern from those of the slow,
unambitious young farmers and rough
sailors whom Emily was accustomed to
see. His eyes were tightly closed, the
jet-black lashes sweeping his brown
cheek. Upon one of his long aristoeratie
looking fingers glistened brilliant dia-
mond in an odd setting. Emily, who
was as full of romance as a very young
girl, and who had been reading Eastern
poetry, thought that he looked like an
Eastern king. Aterrible bruise reveal
ed itself on the left temple, and being
placed on the back of his head, he turn
ed it quickly with a moan Of intense suf-
fering.
"TIe don't b'long nowheres round
here, but, somehow, he looks dretful
familiar, don't you think so, EmilyP"
said Aunt Debby.
"Ifancied that there was when first
glanced at him, replied Emily, "but OF
course It was only fancy. 1t is evident
that he is gentleman,nQ
eyes, some great gentleman" said
timid, little Mrs. Rollins, regarding the
diamond ring with sort of awe.
Miss Debby hurried to make fire on
the. hearth, while Emily proceeded to
bathe the strangers head very gently
with cold water. This seemed to soothe
him for time, for he became immedi.
ately quiet, then he commenced to NUT.
ter incoherent words, and to make
startled eXelamations. G ahQR
mo, no, she won't see me! she won't
speak to me! 1t is too late!" he cried,
looking Emily full in the face with his
wild, burning eyes BHpt t@
The Doctor came busting in, bearing
his huge medicine chest.
II don't think you can do any thing,
Doctor, the mans in a dretful way,
Completed like 2 furriper, ant hePr
said Aunt Debby.
"What is itP Got his head brokeP''
inquired the Doctor.
:. No matter, it wasn't good for much,
It led its owner into the wrong track, u
said the patient, regarding the Doctor
fixedly. Then he commenced to rave
and mutter again. HIs
"LOr', did you hear what he said
about gettin' onto the wrong trackP''
whispered Miss Debby. "Like ez not,
he's a burglar, regular cut-throat. /
amt sure It's safe to heV him in
the house, If he Is a-dyin', but,
lor', he's human bein', 'n' we must do
all we KEN"
"Too many people in tho room,' ~
growled the Doctor. ''Aliss Emily, you
come and help me with these bandages.