The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-04-08

Y-uUtnlnB llho ou III Ino Wollu'
They're the way TO be healthy, wealthy
and wise. And it's the early bird picks
up the worm. And early sow, early
mow." -y,E.tf fr-fr'
But it was not Enoch Marrish who
that night put in practice the wisdom
of the ancients. He knew that he had
put his plow into furrow from which
there was no backing, however crooked
it might be. Whatever happened now,
he must not let such a lie as he had told
prove to have been told in vain. And
there was still many q chance against
him. Stephen Harlow was no con-
temptible enemy, ready torun his head,
like Tom Blackthorn, against any post
that stood handy. Nor was Patience
simpleton, to be taken in by any COM
mon SANDER. There was the post,
which even the most hurried soldiers
would find time to use. There would
be letter to Patience, surely; and one,
no doubt, to his employers besides. The
latter could be easily dealt with. He
could write to Messrs. Preston and bid
them send letters for Stephen Harlow
under cover to himself; or he could go
to Millport and tell his own story, if
need were, without the Blackthorns
being whit the wiser. But letter to
Patience herself was another thing, and
must be dealt with in another way.
And how to deal with that chance took
him all night to consider. For he was
slow, though sure.
Patience Backbone had no reason
for wakefulness. She trusted Stephen
even as she trusted herself and more.
Had he met with any accident he must
have heard; and then he was not the
sort of man whom accidents befall He
was lucky. and he was strong. Yet
something like people call PRESENT.
ment when it happens TO come before
misfortune troubled her; and she was
long in falling asleep and quick in wax.
ing. The morning light and freshness
sweep away presentiments like the cob
, webs they are, and so they did hers.
Stephen would be over by breakfast.
time, to be sure. But he was not oveI
by breakfast-time. ...
She was getting really anxious. She
did not make even pretense of break
ing the neck of her mornings work,
but, throwing shyness and certainty Of
village gossip to the winds, went to the
village and TO the blacksmith s, whittier
the letters came to be called for.
as there any letter for Leys Croftp"
she asked the blacksmith's wife, who
carried on all the retail trade Of the
parish, and was postmistress besides.
"0h, yes, Miss Blackthorn Some
thing special, no doubt, as you've come
Yourself after them? And how's Mr.
Harlow, miss; and when's it to bel
Yes, there was one for Mr.. Harlow
and there was one for you"
"rll take them now, please" said she
"And welcome, Miss-only Mr. Mar
rish was here but now, for his own let
ters; what lot he do have to be sure
three all TO himself this very morning
and one from London, too, only fancy
And ninepence to pay. 1t ought TO bC
worth getting, miss, to make Farmer
Marrish pay out ninepence without sC
much as word. And Mr.. Marrish, HI
|. said as he was going up to Legs Crof
he would take up yours and Mr. Har
lows letters too. All, Miss Blackthorn
/ Mr.. Harlow's not bit like Mr.. Marrish
lie don't mind a ninepence not he
And to think of q gentleman like tina
being Eli Harlow's boy, that / mine
playing in the mud beside this verJ
door, and watching the horses shod
while his father-but forgot, miss; FL
Harlow'd be your own father-in-law |
r he was alive. And young StepheI
, don't forget old friends, not he. "Tis {
bit Of come down, miss, as / always d.
say II, for Blackthorn TO marry
Harlow; but when young man come
back with a silver lining in his coat,
does make n difference to be sure. And
after all, don't know as there's an
other man in the parish fit for you
, Miss Patience, unless 'twer youn,
! Scramble at Marshead, and he's swee
on Martha Willet; / know for fact, h
had his arm round her waist only las
Sunday fortnight, after evening service
on the common. And so as | Away
do say WOOL fI H....I|
And so on; and as much more a
! Patience did not choose to stay for.
was something new and little odd
for Farmer Marrish 10 make calls s
early in the day, making himself
: letter-carrier besides. However, II wa
kind and neighborly, and nothing s
very extraordinary after all. She wishe
she had not come down, to be talke,
to, and at, and over. And she wishe
Il still more when Enoch Marrish cam
full upon her just outside the village
so that he must guess where she ha
been, and why.
'T've got your letters; / thought
might save you the trouble" said he
II expected an important one myself
and Il struck me you seemed bit VOL
ried, II there's anything | can do"
She bit her lip with ungrateful vexa
ton. "What fool I've been," though
she, ito be taking on about nothing, s
that everybody could see! I'll neve
worry again,-no. not II Stephen stay
away week without word. Than
you, Mr.. Marrish. Il was very kline
But, indeed, had no trouble--none Q
all" She took the letters with an al
OF Indifference that enraged him,
was so palpably assumed. Two letters
One for Mr.. Stephen Harlow, fror
Millport; one for Miss Blackthorn.
r She opened the letter--she glance
{ at IL. Enoch MarTish watched her IL
. tently as she crumpled IL up and put