Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-10-16

DuL thClC was odu huO WlNNluA iOOh III
the gray eyes, as she turned her face
toward the western horizon.
"It's outrageousI" cried Papa Gale.
''Shamefull" echoed his wife.
'It's killing mel" sighed Miss Eunice
81 am really faint with ennuip' CHR
ruped Miss Agnes.
'It's deucedly unfortunatep p chorused
the young men.
'If something would only happen!"
continued Agnes.
81 tell you whatg" cried the elder of
the young men, addressing Miss Eunice,
in particular.
"Well2" interrogated that young lady,
with listless attempt at interest.
''Let's write letters to our friends, en-
close them in bottles, and throw them
overheard. They're no doubt consider
ably worried over our long absence, and
as it's impossible to tap the cable and
telegraph them a message, we'll make
old oceans waves our letter carrier"
"Pshaw, Rob-" retorted Miss Eunice,
Struggling her shoulders. ''How senti-
mental you are AS though letter put
into bottle and thrown into the sea
| NOulh ONCl ICuSu
'1ve read somewhere, y said Rob Car
rington. THAT ship-wrecked sailors
often send messages to their friends that
way. "We're about as bad as ship
wrecked, why can't we9"
Let's ask the captain!" said Eunice;
and she walked toward that officer, who
was moodily pacing up and down the
bridge.
The others followed.
"Yes, Miss" answered the captain,
when Eunice had asked him about the
possibility of the bottles being washed
ashore. I've no doubt they'll each land
somewhere. The steward will furnish
you with bottles if you desire to make
the experiment"
There was something novel in the
idea, and every empty bottle on ship
board was soon brought on deck.
Everybody, young and old, began to
write letters-everybody except Elsie
Annabel
No waiting kindred anxiously ex-
pected her return, and the only real
friend she had ever had, handsome Guy
Chalmers, was lost to her.
Two years before she had engaged
herself to the young artist, but they had
quarreled, and separated in anger, as
lovers will.
She was too proud to-ask his forgive
ness, and he was too stubborn to ask
hers.
Gradually they had drifted apart, and
finally lost all sight of each other.
Elsie sighed as these thoughts of the
past surged through her mind, and she
sighed-a bitter, quivering sigh.
Papa Gale was rich pork merchant,
and, in his rough way, was kind to her.
He paid her literally for the service
she rendered in polishing up the some
what neglected educations of his two
daughters, but they were selfish and ca
PRECIOUS, and her lot was not, by any
means, happy one.
The steamships deck now rang with
joyous laughter and merry jest, as the
passengers prepared the messages that
they confidently hoped would be waited
shoreward.
All sorts of letters were written, read
over laughingly, placed in their frail re-
ceptacles, and cast into the sea.
Even the sailors became interested in
the experiment, and sent out messages to
waiting friends, or anxious sweethearts,
in dear America.
"Have you written your message yet.
Miss Annabel" asked Agnes Gale, halt
ing for moment beside her maid, as she
leaned over the rail and watched the
tightly-corked bottles, as they bobbed
up and down.
"My message2" cried Elsie, with q
guilty start, for she had just been think
ing of Guy Chalmers. "Ah-eh-really
I have no one to write to-"
"No one2" persisted Agnes.
"No!" was the low answer, and Ell
sizes eyes dropped.
"That's too bad" said Agnes, com.
miseratingly. "EveryEody is sending
out message. If were you I'd just
write something and send it off at ran
dom. You could sign your name and
address, and perhaps someone would
find it who'd be anxious to know who
you are and would write. That would
be romanticw
'I've no taste for romance" answered
Elsie, but she nevertheless procured {
bottle, and after moments thought
wrote on piece of paper.
'IN MID-OCEAN, ON STEAMER NANTIc,
Aug 12.-An accident which happened t.
our propeller has delayed our voyage, anC
we are nine days out from Liverpool. Th
Captain says we are just half way between
that port and New York Everybody il
well.
"ELsIE ANNABEL,
"Care of John Gale, Esq,
"Walnut Hills, Cincinnati Ohio"
| She placed this simple message in
, bottle, corked and sealed it, and tosseC
it overheard.
The bottle was particularly long
/ necked, bright green in color, and he
inexperienced hand had smeared tn
whole top with red wax.
, She stood watching it long time, bu
finally it disappeared, and with a wear.
, sigh she turned and went below.
The Mantle ultimately reached New
: York, and Mr.. John Gale hurried bacl
to Cincinnati, to attend to his pork.
Rob Darlington aud his cousin, Arthu
/ Stevens, bade the Misses Gale farewell
) and secretly promised to correspond wit
7 them.
| The Gales had been home nearly
month, " hen one morning hired hacl
} came slowly up the long carriage roa(
which wound through the rich pork
7 packers extensive grounds, and, when
| finally reached the house, the doc
opened, and young man leaped light
to the ground.
| He inquired of the servant who an
swered his ring for Miss Elsie Annabel
| aud the man showed him into the bacl
parlor.
| Elsie was considerably surprised whe