The Worthington advance., 1882-08-03
MY LOVE TEST.
From the Hartford Times.

Jack was poor fisherman and poor
fisherman's daughter. We could give
each other nothing but love, yet his
was to me the greatest wealth the world
could hold, and for three weeks were as
happy as any foolish lovers can be-
Then the first shadow fell on my life.
Itwas alovelv evening in early autumn.
and Jack had taken me out with him on
the water. The red sunlight was tinging
the white sails, as the boats beneath,
lying at their anchors, rocked
to and fro with the heaving of
the pillows, and the fishermen calling
cheerily to each other the result vf the
days labor. Jack alone was silent. He
gave some strong, hard pulls, that placed
us beyond reach of their voices which
rang Tar over the sea from the rocks that
lined the beach, then rested upon his
| oars and turned his handsome, sunburnt
face to mine. He had such All easy gen.
tlemanly way about him, 40 different in
every respect from the rough compan-
ions with whom l had lived since nv
childhood, that I often wondered how
he cared to lead the life he did.
"Jennie," he said, "my mind is made
up. I can't live this way any longer; so
lm % Eolng i1; away"
II know" he added, with smile, at
the amazement in my face, that yon
think me foolish, and will do all in your
power to prevent me, but"
II shall do no such thing" interrupt
= ioH
ing Son fS %s be %ns% snsr1 40 ye" g2 he pleaded
"and I'll tell You all about it. You see,
dear, though love water like nv life
Pm too lazy here to 10 enough to keen
you and me alive. It's no use to say
anything more about it, except, indeed"
with his pleasant laugh, "that l leave
| for the city tomorrow
My face fell dismally.
1.-The city! we may as well say good
me there"
shall remember all my life the look
he gave me, from his beautiful eyes, and
my own fell before his gaze with d hot
flush.
''Is that the way you trust me, Jen-
nie?'
answered him never word, and we
rowed home in silence. There was
sudden GOODNESS between us when we
parted. which | knew was all my fault.
| ! would not let him kiss me good by, SO
| he left me half angrily in the dusk, and
| went out into the world. returned to my
! simple duties with heavy heart He
| never wrote me letter to tell me how
| he got OIL, but now and then I'd get a
| line like-"Havc courage, dear, little
| 00r~ I1,, Io
myself because l had doubted him
words that he was true to me. But the
| shadows deepened around ME; my faith
er died leaving me quite alone in the
! world, and it was now, when I most
needed his comfort and aid, that Jack
left off writing. O, the weary, weary
days. Then when l was about despair
ing, help. that / least expected, came tc
me: 4 lady in the distant city, where
had been but once in my life, heard Of
! me in some unaccountable way, and
allowance if would be companion tc
and must be willing to submit to hel
| every whim, but as my patience had
been tried already, and still was not now
out. l went, and
How strange it all was. arrived
there in the evening. 1t had stor ned
all day, and the night was cold and dark
| Was It a bad omen1 wondered? Mrs.
HathaWay's carriage was waiting for me,
| and seemed to be in q dream, as / was
driven to her beautiful house / did not
see her until had my tea in the room
that was to be mine-perfect fairy land
| with what ! had been accustomed-:an
| fixed my hair anew, the wavy, golden,
brown hair that Jack had praised so Of
| ten. Then, with flushed checks and rap
idly beating heart, was led by i liver
led footlnan to the drawing room to meet
my mistress. She was stately lady, with
proud, handsome face, which, although
not old, was surrounded by masses OF
soft, silky hair, white as snow, and wore
heavy Black silk, that rustled when
she came towards me. Was this the in
valid that had come to care for?
Miss Harmon"
started as heard my name pro-
nounced, and felt the cold, light toucI, OF
Mrs. Hathaway's lips upon my own.
You are tired, my dear. and cold; sit
down and rest yourself"
Her voice was very kind, and full Of
pity; for l VS. shivering violently, al
though my cheeks burned and obey
ed her without word.
"Jackl"! She turned away from me
now to another part Of the room, and
my eyes fell for the first time upon a
gentleman standing before Il cheerful
fire with one hand in his pocket and the
other outstretched to the blaze. "Come
here, and let me introduce you. Miss
Harmon, my son." lie turned his head
gave me careless nod, and did not
move; but had seen him, and my heart
seemed to stand still. I did not faint,
though l could feel the color leave my
face as IN icy chill ran over me. Then l
was myself again; yet not myself.
Jack" his mother went on, "is Avis
in the library? wish you wonld bring
her in here, that she may meet my Young
friend"
Even though lie stood in the shadow,
I could see his face light up with his old
rare smile, and then whistling nerrily
he left the room.
''Avis is my nice," Mrs. Hathaway in
formed me, and we waited his return.
"She is an orphan and an heireas, 50 you
must pardon her if she isa little peculiar
She has been humored all her life"
'She says" Jack put in at this point,
with low, rich laug gh, "that she can't
come; she is busy reading, and would
like Miss Harmon to come to her.
20 no, no." began easily. It was
the first time l had spoken and my own
voice sounded strange to me. ''1 shall
not like to disturb her. Any other time
shall do as we'll"
"You mad better come," Jack answer
ed coldly, with no sign of reconciliation
in his face. "since she has sent for you.'
Then with bitterness l remembered my
station, and meekly followed him.
Miss Avis Hathaway was like her
name, slight and fair, with low, cooling
voice and merry red lips that parted Of
ten in soft laughter. She rose, half Ian
guaidly, as we entered, and extended to
me her pretty white hand. After thai
the two hardly noticed me. and l
sat apart and listened to Jacks torment
ing voice, as he tried to prevent he1
reading and make her talk to him. So
the days went on, aud grew into weeks
the weeks into months, and yet no
words of explanation passed between us
Though we were often thrown togethe I
alone, he was the same utter stranger to
me as at other times, and gradual
~ hocame al nroud and Indifferent AS