Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1883-11-22


father, who had hitherto denied me
nothing. thwartcd me now. He said he
should be glad to see me comfortably
married for special reasons. but not to
Terrence. whom he called several hard
names-''spendthritt" and fortune
hunter among them.
1t was in vain Terrence protested,
and vowed his intention Of giving up
racing, etc. for nv sake. and becoming
a steady member Of society. Ny father
would not hear, and, Terrence's hot
Irish blood rising at last, both parted in
anger.
That night | shed the first bitter
tears | had ever known. With one
wrench | seemed to have left girlhood.
with its careless pleasures, behind me
forever, and suddenly entered woman
hood, with full sense Of its duties and
cares, its pleasures and pains, and the
bitter sweetness Of its passionate love.
Five or six weeks passed slowly
away. Terrence left the neighborhood,
forbidden by my father ever 10 see me
again, and settled down to new and
drcary phase Of existence. no longer
cared for the rides and walks used to
take and enjoy SO much life had. as it
were, lost all its zcst for me. and daily
| became more morbid and passive
Our old housekeeper. who had been
nurse TO mother, guessed what had
happened, and pitied me She tried to
rouse me from my grief. and made me
come with her to the kitchen to learn
from her cooking, ETC., III which before
l had been lamcntably ignorant was
passive in her hands did what she
told me, like one in dream as the
days dragged on their weary length. I
still brooded over my lost love.
One morning my father did not
come down to breakfast as usual. and
when, some hours later, we entered his
room. We found him dead The doctor
said it was heart disease, and death
must have come quickly and painlessly.
A Mr.. Asbourn, rich city merchant
and friend Of my fathers in school
days, was found BY my fathers will
TO be my trustee and guardian. This
gentleman at once sent me by post
chaisc 70 London, 70 remain in the care
Of his wife and daughters while he re-
manned here, in Devonshrc. to settle
all my fathers affairs At last i; was
found that my poor father had invested
his whole fortune in some bubble
company that broke. and We lost all.
When all debts were paid the triing
balance of one hundred pounds was left
to me. No sooner did Terrence hear
of my loss otfortune than he fastened
to me, to repeat the story Of his love
and clear himself Of any mercenary
motive.
But the course Of true love never did
run smoothly Except yours, Freda but
then, you are an eXception), and Mr..
Asbourn's eldest son having chosen to
fall in love with me, pcnnilcss as | was,
persuaded his father to forbid poor
Terrence III the house. Mr. Asbourn
was coldly courteous to my lover, say
ing that as my father forbade our union,
he thought it his duty to do the same.
Terrence stormed and pleaded in vain,
and finally left the house in temper.
found myself now in a most unpleasant
position. Mr.. Asbourn it is true, was
kind to me, and when asked his advice
as to some way Of earning my own hv-
ing, told me not to think Of such thing
for the next six months, but to make
myself comfortable where was, and
,t
fathers death. His son, however.
literally prosecuted me with attentions.
and his wife and daughters were for
ever wounding me by some reference to
penniless dependents. SO the time passed
on until between my love for Terrence
and the happy home shared, was
nearly driven mad.
Terrence and | had several stolen
interviews at this time, and was more
convinced than ever of the fervency and
depth Of his love for me. Several
times he urged me to elope with him,
saying that as had no relation whose
consent | could ask was most GER
tainly free to please myself. To this
however would no, agree not because
l doubted Terrence, but because had
certain strict notions as to the amount
of duty owed to the man my father
had appointed my guardian.
One day, at breakfast, heard a good
deal of consultation about new foot
man whom the Asbourns had just en-
gagged and heard one Of the girls say
Such strikingly handsome man for a
footman He will give US quite grand
appearance tonight at the Towards
ball for I'm sure every one will notice
him."
1t happened that the new footman and
l did not meet that day, and early in