Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-03-02


this relation go no further, and now go
to thy sleep"
Not till she was in her bed did Eliza
beth give way to those wild choking
sobs which she had stifled by mighty
effort. Life stretched before her long
and sterile blank. The light and the
glory had utterly gone from it.
Next day she rose pale and haggard
and went about her duties as usual.
Her father made no reference to the
conversation, but no was restless. He
knew that on Fifth-day evening Thomas
Ellsworth paid his usual weekly visit,
This was Fifth. day, and the old man
evidently had something on his mind.
SO had Elizabeth, fearing she knew not
what.
Toward sunset Ellsworth entered the
lane on horseback. He was dressed as
usual with much care in the latest
English fashion, and with the usual
black silk stockings. As he entered
the yard the old man went out and ad-
dressed him:
"Thomas, thee can turn round and
go home and stay there. I do not wish
more OF thy visits"
The young man was taken aback by
this language, but lost neither his pres
ence of mind nor his courtesy.
Friend James," he said, may /
ask why thee treats me thus? l have
not deserved it." Thomas, though of
the Established church, adopted out of
policy the plain language with his
Quaker friends.
"I will tell thee why. Thee comes
for my daughter. Thee shall never
have her ;" and here the hot-headed
nature Of the old man got the better OF
him and he burst out: II shall never
give her TO q wording who thinks to
get my money to spend on cards and
wine, and" he added, looking scorn-
fully at the shapely limbs of the young
man, "on black silk stockings Get
thee zone. Neither she nor l want to
see thee again"
A faint cry from an upper window
led both of them to look up. There,
prone across the sill, lay the fainting
form Of Elizabeth. The old man with
an imperative gesture of anger hade the
youth depart. Looking hopelessly at
the house he turned down the lane and
never WAS seon TO enter it again.
But did he thus give up the chase
All that is whore q dreadful mystery
comes in. Watched and lectured by
her father, dogged by surly John Hat.
ton, Elizabeth sank into apathy, the
roses faded from her checks, and at
last she was worried into consenting TO
n marriage with this persistent suitor.
A year passed, when one day John
rode up to the old mans, prey to some
excitement which changed his whole
features. His father in-law looked at
him with amszement.
John" he said, Ehat is the mat
ter what aileth thee?"
Matter" be hissed, matter-take
thy daughter back. I want no false
woman for my wife,"
But he had not learned the temper Of
the man he was talking 10. With q
blow thst would have done credit TO al
arm OF thirty his father-in-law felled
him to the earth.
"Take that thou foul speaker, and
may the Lord forgive me my anger.
But none shall speak such lies of my
children"
"a lie. is it r said John, slowly ris.
ing, greatly cooled by this most incon-
sistent action of the old Friend. "Then
what does this mean p and he spread 3
crumpled piece of paper before his
father-in.law's eyes.
It was with difficulty the old man
could read 1t, although it Was written
ir a clerkly italian hand. It read:
"Will thee not meet me, dear Eliza
beth, by the spring in the woods after
sunset tomorrow As We pledged
each other our true love, let US keep
our pledge in spite of the one man who
stands in the way, no matter how near
he is 10 thee. Thy own THOMAS"
1t was not dated. The old man saw
what it referred to and said
"This was written years before thy
marriage, when / drove Thomas Ebs-
worth from the house. But she never
met him, as I watched her hourly for
days afterward."
" Perhaps So" said John, "but IL
may have been written within month. !"
As he spoke he backed of TO q respect
ful distance as he saw . dangerous
light in the old mans eyes.