Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-11-04

But when the farmer was gone Ernes'
Reynolds took strange liberties with TN
Jewel he held in charge. He slipped rib
bon through its ring and hung it over hls
own heart.
The next day he had it valued by jew
sler and bought piano with the sun
named, but the cross rested still on hit
heart, as the bill for the sweet-toned instru-
| ment was paid.
1t would be vain task to describe
Essie's pleasure when the piano was
| brought to the sitting room. She cried ane
smiled at the same time, and her earnes'
| hanks brought the moisture to the old far
| mer's eyes.
But the pressure of poverty was coming
| closer and closer upon the farm. Acre al
| ter acre was sold to meet actual daily
needs, and the wolf drew very close to the
| door of John Trowbridge's house. witt
stern pride be hid his wants from his neigh
bors, but Essie knew of privations and
self-denials that wrung her own tender
heart.
| Like burst of sunlight there came t.
her two offers. One to be organist at the
| village church, and another to take class
| of music scholars in the seminary, five
miles from the village. Twice week
a carriage would be sent for her and
| The salaries were more than double the in
| come from the farm. Neither John Trow
bridge nor Essie knew that DR.. Reynolds
| by quiet unsuspected influence had brought
| about this happy result. No one knew
| that he had driven the principal of the sem
mary over on an evening when Essie was
pouring out her whole soul in music, and
held him spell-b und for two hours on the
| farm house porch
| 'Bat they nid know that strong armed
| Irish girl could be paid to do the work Of
the house out of Essie' income, and that q
| trustworthy man was found to take the
| farm work on shares.
| John Trowbridge began to realize that
there were women of some value in the
world who possessed but small share ol
| bone and muscle for actual hard work, fol
scholars came all the way from l., the
market town seven miles away, the farm
house. Concerts were given for charitable
purposes, and Essie was engaged at goodly
sums to play. Strangers came to the vii.
lage church to hear the wondrous voice and
playing of the young organist.
And while the comforts of the farm were
multiplied by Essie's generous expenditure,
| while the rooms gradually lost their bare,
dismal look by additions of furniture and
ornaments, while flowers blossomed on bar
rem spaces and the farm itself was more full
| ly stocked, Essie was ever the same.
The same respectful love for Harry 8
father, the same gentle, shy woman, mod
est as violet. Yet not the same as
the months sped by and the sorrow
of widowhood lost something of its KEEN
est pain.
John Trowbridge wondered little, when
IA III sk1 Coz holo
year why Earnest Reynolds was so much
interested in an old mans rheumatism
He had always an attentive PHYSICIAN and
friend Harry Trowbridge, but of late he
fingered long whenever he called and often
dropped in unprofessionally.
Essie learned to know his step and her
shy eyes would brighten when she heard it.
Harry had told her of many noble traits in
the doctors character, and in the vii age
she had heard. of his gentle charities,
his conscientious discharge of every duty,
his ennobling influence where pain and the
shadow of death crossed his daily
path.
Ever shyly distrustful of herself. she did
did not dream of winning the love of this
hero of her husbands boyhood, this gener-
GUS friend of the afflicted, this honored
member of nobls profession.
She had given her first love, trne and
warm, to Harry. But the daisies had bios
somed twice over Harry's grave and the
gentle heart was touched by other int1u-
ences. June roses were blooming and
Harry had been dead two years when one
evening Essie sat at her piano with her fin
gers calling forth melody full ofsweetness.
| It was neither glad nor sad. and not
so loud but, as that John TrowDridge
could hear the voice of DIR. Reynolds, as
that gentleman spoke in deep, heartfelt
tones.
When he had heard all, the old man
said:
$50 to Essie, Ernest, and tell her the
one wish of my heart will be granted if,
when / die, leave her in the happiness OF
such love as you bring to her. 1t has been
nv great sorrow that her short married life
| tied her to an old man who was so poor a
companion for her. believe Harry him
self would bid you God speed"
And Esse, when the love plea was whis-
pered, the message delivered, bent her head
to hide the happy tears.
You will let me love you, the doctor
pleaded. ssYou can love me ~
Only the little hand nestled closer in his
| own 1Of answer. Dut -ltcI d llttlG GlIu6
the sweet clear voice asked:
"You will let me keep my promise to
Harry Ernest? ! could not desert father
now"
81 only ask to help you in your care for
him. My home shall be his. And if he
will sell the farm he will have an income
that will take away all sense of dependence,
while we can still give him love-
"It seems so strange to think you love
mer' Essie said, alter they had talked
long.
"Little one, loved you before Harry won
you, but l starved my heart for yours. Do
you know what have worn there, Essie,
for many long month. See"'
And while he loosened the ribbon and
put the diamond cross into her hand, she
learned for the first time the true story of
the purchase of that article of fatniture,
called at the farm Essies piano.-Nes0 Yoik
Neacs.