The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1886-04-03

when the crops are secured, we
will go back to old Ryegate, and take
look once more at the green hillocks of
Vermont.
"And mind you cancel that mortgage
and make me free man." said John
Wallace, now young lawyer in Peoria.
I'm thinking the lad intends to
marry, and wants. to show clean
record, T" said his mother, laughing.
But Robert Wallace and his wife
never saw their Scotch friends in old
Reygate, nor the green hills Of Yer
mont. Before the crops were gathered
man and wife were cut down by the
harvester Death, and their neighbOrs
laid them side by side under the trees
their own hands had planted. ..
John Wallace, the son, with whom
this story has to do, with that restless
ness common in Western life, had gone
still further west, and finally located in
Denver; and there he prospered slowly,
IS young lawyers in new places gen.
orally do.
Annie Harvey was ailing.
"a breath of sea air might do her
good, - said old DIR. Goodwillie; and to
the seashore she went.
The little steamer Rose Standish
carried her load of passengers safely
through all the windings of that
crooked channel which leads to the
dock of ancient bingham.
Mrs. Helen Sake and her invalid
charge, Annie Harvey, were glad to
accept the offered aid Of a gentleman
fellow-passenger, who placed them in
q carriage, which conveyed them over
the beach to Nantasket.
The sea air wrought wonders in An
ME Harvey. Before three days had
passed she was flirting outrageously
with young Perkins, of Boston, whose
mother had learned from Mrs. Sackie
by sharp cross-questions the undoubted
respectability Gid est, in dollars and
cents) of her charge.
Miss Harvey had also condescended
to smile graciously upon her fellow
passenger in the Rose Standish, Mr..
Wallace, of Denver. But when that
gentleman invited her to ride, she was
engaged for the same pleasure with
young Perkins and his mother. Let
him make what advances he would,
Perkins was continually in the way;
and yet Perkins was, to use the plain
bat expressive language of John Wal
lace. .'an Internal fool" still none the
less troublesome for that.
But John Wallace was in love for the
first time in his life, and he was not
a man to let trif1es or simpletons stand
long in his way if he could help it. So
he persevered in his wooing, and at
last thought he might venture to pro-
pose to that most tickle lady, Annie
Harvey. 500 .ast9
Moreover, his business demanded his
speedy return, for he was yet too poor
to afford any long vacation. He found
Miss Harvey on the veranda, busy with
crochet or some other feminine en-
ployment. He invited her to ride; but
Mrs. Perkins reminded her of prior
engagement. Mr.. Wallace expressed
his regret, for it was his last day at the
Beach. That information seemed to
startle Miss Harvey, for she at once
laid aside her work, and, saying she
would be happy to ride with Mr.. Wal
lace, went to her room to dress.
Ancient Huh has, or. had, nineteen
lawful voters. Rotation in Office would
permit each voter to represent his dis
tinguished constituents in the General
Court of the Commonwealth of Massa-
chusetts at least once in his lifetime.
The wise politicians of Hull weighed
carefully the probabilities and POSSIBLE
tiles of politics, and so skillful did they
become that Boston, the concentrated
center of all wisdom, looked anxiously
for the returns from the elections in
Hull, saying, resignedly: "As Hull
goes, SO goes the State"
John Wallace and Annie Harvey
rode over the long stretch Of firm,
sandy beach from Nantasket to Hull.
They talked of the sea, of the old
wrecks, of Minot's lighthouse, and the
white waves forever dashing against
its sides; and John Wallace described
his home in far-away Denver, the little
city surrounded by its giant peaks,
which, in the clear mountain air,
seemed @ near, yet were many miles
away. The lady was silent, thought
full, reserved, almost demure. So is q
certain domestic animal when APP
preaching cream. 8
John Wallace told his. story as all
others have told it, and it fell on will
ing ears.
But said he, tomorrow 1t this
time must be on my way to Vermont
to pay debt OF my fathers. am
mortgaged, and have been since my
childhood. When that IL cancelled, /
can with honesty offer you my hand
and heart"
A little laugh followed. Ringing out
sweet and clear across the beach came
the bells of Hull. telling the little world
around that it was twelve o'clock,
They sound like wedding bells, !"
said Miss Harvey, quietly.
They do, indeedr' was the reply.
The old preacher was sitting in his
door, his coat of, thinking dreamily of
Il d. 49, - -