Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1885-10-24

| age church to hear the wonderous
voice and playing ofthe young or
ganist.
And while the comforts Of the
farm were multiplied by Bssie's
generous expenditure, while the
rooms gradually lost their bare,
dismal look by additions of turni-
ture and ornaments, while flowers
blossomed on barren spaces and
the farm itself was more fully
stocked, Essie was ever the same.
Thesame respectful love for Har-
ry's father, the same gentle shy
woman, modest as a violet. Yet
not the same as the months sped
by and the sorrow of widowhood
lostssometlling Of its keenest pain.
John Trowbridge wondered a
little, when the piano had filed it's
recession whole year, why Earn
est Reynolds was so much interest
ed in an old mans rheumatism
He-had always been an attentive
;pbYsic ian and ad4nevers eglected
fat hero sshllsde ear frien Harry
4 5TroWbrid ge, 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 doc
tors character, and in the village
she had heard of his gentle charit-
les, his conscientious discharge of
every duty, his enrolling influence
where pain and the shadow of death
crossed his daily path.
Ever shyly distrustflll of herself,
she did not dream of winning the
love Of this hero of her husbands
boyhood, this generous friend of
tho afflicted, this honored member
of d noble profession. ;.
She had given her first love true
and warm, to Harry. But the dais
les had blossomed twice over Har-
ry's grave and the gentle heart
was touched by other Influences
June roses were bloc ming and Har
ry had been dead two years when
Que evening Essie sat at her piano
with her fugers calling forth a
melody full IF sweetness. 1t was
neither glad nor sad, and not so
loud but that John Trowbridee
could her the voiceof DR.. Reynolds,
as that gentleman spoke in deep.
heartfelt tones.
When he had heard all the old
man said:
$50 to Essie, Earnest, 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
my greaE sorrow that her short
married life tied her to an old man
who was so poor companion for
her / believe Harry himself would
bid you God speed"
And Essie, when the love plea
was whispered, the message deliv=
erea, sbent hes head5sto hide the:
happy tears.
"You will let me love you," the
doctor pleaded. ''You can love
mem
Only the little hand nestled clos
er in his own for an answer. Eut
after a little time the sweet, clear
voice asked:
"You will let me keep my prom
Use to Harry, Earnest? | could not
desert father now"
81 only ask to help you in your
care for him. My home shall be
his. And if lie will sell the farm he
will have an income that will take
away all sense of dependence, while
we Can still give him love-"
"I5 seems so strange to think
you love me-" Essie SAID, after
they had talked long.
little one, l loved you before
Harry won you, but | starved my
heart for yours. Do you know
what | have worn there, EsSie, for
many long month. See9n
And while he loosed the ribbon
and put the diamond cross into her
hand, she learned for the first time
the true story ofthe purchase Of that
article of furniture. called at the
farm Essie's piano.-New York
News.