Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1884-10-23

| ing some wonderful little piece of village
news, which. strange to say, Miss Quinby
had not heard, and which she swallowed
with great eagerness.
For many long weeks there wasn't Q
glimpse Of brightness anywhere for Huldah
The burden OF labor which she used to bear
so cheerfuly when the thought of Jack
cheered her soul seemed intolerabe 10 hei
now. How long life looked stretched out
before her young eyes, and so dull, and
eventless, and bleak, and cold. In a veal
Jack would come again, and then he would
be married to Del. They would have mer.
ry wedding. and all South Harbor be invit-
ed, she among the rest. But she could new
er see the marriage, never Outwardly she
was the same as ever. She went to singing
school with Mr.. Simmons and sang merry
May in voice that had no sound of heart
ache. But she rejoiced that her mothers
headache prevented her from going 10 Sue
Stevens party. and that the state of the
baby's disposition rendered it impossible for
her TO go on the s!eighing party with Mr.
Simmons. That gent!eman's attentions
though they were so modestly and delicate
~ offered, were not welcome. Still when
he asked her TO marry him, one spring night
when they were returning from evening ser
vice, she caught glimpse Of Del Stevens,
who was just ahead, wearing the India scarf
which Jack had given her. and came near
saying yes. GU, of sheer desperation.
Why should she not marry him? Mr.
Simmons loved her. and looked so gentle
manly, far more so than Jack Long. with his
sailor-like roughness and rustic wavs. He
was studying TO be physician. and her posi-
ton in life as his wife would probably be
much brighter than ever Jacks wife would
be likely to attain. for Jack would be cap
tain to the end Of his days. II would prove
to Jack. as well as to his gossIps, that she
cared nothing for him. And then the girls
were arcad, envying her his attentions, even
Del Stevens. who. forgetful of Jack, was
continually inviting him to fliri, with her
coquctti,h glances and haitering ways But
the difference was she loved Jack and did
not love Mr.. simmons. II would be doing
him great wrong 10 marry him under such
circumstance. So she tod him that She
did not love him, but she wep; grea, deal
over II, and seemed so sorry for him that.
in spite Of her decided nay, he took hope.
and was not utterly dovncaSt. Love is ever
hopeful, finding fair skies somewhere be-
yond the cloulel years
Il was October again al South iIarbor.
and Jack Long was coming home Del
Stevens had the Port drr-,mlker dpme>,i-
Gated at her house. and lluldah could hclr
nothing bit wedding bells by day and night
wedding bells that made strange dscor-
dance on the mellow autumn ar. and
filed her heart with pain. Bat ,ar had
learned 10 be patient now. life wa, worth
living after all, even without Jacks love,
even though he was going to ~ married 4,
another.
Il ws> Aft, rosy twilight. TAr hAsye>;
moon had tot vet ARISEN from htr bui i'll tac
sea, but star sll,tered lika a rtnr-dtop on
the fading cheek Of the sunset lIullah ht.
tcen On an errand to the store. and was re-
turning hy the shore road. II vas long and
lonely, but some fascination about the sea
tempted her TO take II. The iiGht-Aou-e
lamp threw H. gh1>tiy cimmer ON cluster
q. strange salIs. In tha morning THE hlr-
hur hll h,cn cl"lr. Sh- wondered, with 4
sudden Thrill ct heart, II jacks vessel might
ma be there among the rcst, a, hi Wa eN-
prcted daily now
But 1t ) nothing 10 m- whether lie Va,
come or not Del il going 10 be his wliy,
and there's nae room for twa.' o, Jaca,
Jack - >h- said, un on, ;iou,ly giving voice
70 her thoughts
Bur for all that, She climbed rock which
Stood By the vaysde, and was sfrliuas Tier
IVES TO discover the vessel through the gruw :
Ing darkness.
.'lou are mistaken about Del being JlcA :
sweetheart, lluIdah," sniff well known
yn,r,. fhDuph 4, uas snn,,Nha. chs o.,pl ~