Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-02-19
m1eelins Raaistet
THANKFUL BLOSSOM.
A Romance of the Jerseys, 1779.
BY BRET HARTE.
CopyrigAed by HoUQ1iOn, NFim& o., and pub
R&hSd By arrangement Nih them.
L |

flood Of tears. In the last tWenty-four
hours her pride had been utterly humbled;
the independent spirit of this self-willed
little beauty hsd met for the first time
with defeat. When she had got over her
womanly shock at the news of the sham
baron's death, she had, 1 fear, only a sell
fish regret at his taking of, believing that
if living he would in some way show the
w~orld-which Just then consisted Of the
headquarters and Maj. Van Zandt-that
he had really made love to her, and pcs
sibly did honorably love her still. and
might yet give her an opportunity to re-
ject him. And now he was dead, and as
she was held up to the world as the con-
ceited playthipg Of a fine gentlemaa's
masqueradiug sport. That her fathers
cupidity and ambition made him sanction
the imposture, in her bitterness, she never
doubted. No! Lover, friend, father-all
had been false to her, and the only kind
ness she had received was from the men
she had wantonly insulted. Poor little
Blossom indeed a most premature Bios
som; I fear a most unthankful Blossom,
sitting there shiveIing in the first chill
wind of adversely, rocking backward and
forward, with the skirt OF her dimity short
gown over her shoulders, and her little
buckled shoes and clicked stockings
pathetically crossed before her.
But healthy youth is reactive; and in an
hour or two Thankful was down at the
cow shed, with her arms around the neck
of her favOrite heller, TO whom she poured
out much of her woes, and from whom she
won an intelligent sort of soldering SYM
pathy. And then she sharply Scolded
Cesar for nothing at all, and q moment
after returned to the house with the air
and face of deeply injured angel, who
had been disappointed in some celestial
idea of setting this world right, but was
still not above forgiysness-a spectacle that
sunk Mai. Van Zandt into the dark depths
of remorSe, and eventually sent him TO
smoke a pipe of Virginia with his men in
the roadside camp; seeing which, Thank
ful went early TO bed and cried herself to
sleep. And nature possibly followed her
example; for at sunset q great thaw set in,
aud by midnight the freed rivers and
brooks were gurgling meiodiously, and
tree and shrub and fence were moist aud
dripping. .
The red dawn at last struggled through
the vaporous veil that hid the landscape.
Then occurred one Of those magical changes
peculiar to the climate, yet perhaps pre-
em~inently notable durngi that historic
winter and spring. By ten o'clock on that
Sd of May, 1850, a fervent June-like sun
had rent that vspOrous veil, and poured
its direct rays upon the gaunt aud haggard
profile of the Jersey hills. The chilled soil
responded but feebly to that kiss; perhaps
a few OF the willows that yellowed the
river banks took on a deeper color. But
the country folk were certain that spring
had come at last; and even the correct and
self sustained Mai. Van Zlndt came u n
ming in to announce to Mistress Thankful
that one Of his men had seen q violet in
the meadow. In another moment Mistress
Thankful had donned her cloak and pat
tens to view this f~irstling of the laggard
summer. 1t was quite natural that Mai.
Van Zandt should accompany her as she
tripped on; and so, without q thought Of
their past differences, they ran like very
children down the moist and rocky slope
that led TO the quaggy meadow. Such
was the Influence Of the vernal season.
But the viOlet5 were hidden. Mistress
Thankful, regardless OF the wet leaves and
her new gown, CROPPED with her fingers
among the withered grasses. Maj. Van
Zandt leaned against q holder and watched
her with admiring eyes.
You'll never find flowers that way"
she said at last, looking up to him impa-
tiently. go down on your knees like an
honest man. There are some things in
this world worth STOPPING for"
The major instantly dropped on his
knees beside her. But at that moment
Mistress Thankful found her posies, and
rose to her feet. Stay where you are"
she said misGhievously, as she stopped
down and placed q flower in the lapel Of
his coat. That is TO make amendstOr my
rudeness. Now get up"
But the major did not rise. He caught
the two little hands that had seemed to
flutter like birds against his breast, and,
looking up iOtO the laughing face above
him, said: Dear Mistress Thankful, dare
/ remind you of your vi words, that
there be some things worth STOPPING fOr?'
Think of my love, Mistress Thankful, rs q
~flower-mayhap not as gracious to you as
your ~violets, but as honest and-and-and
a.
Ready to spring up in a single night"
laughed Thankful But no; get up,
major What would the fine ladies Of
MOrristown say o fyour kneeling at the feet
OF a country girl-the play and sport of
every fine gentleman? What if Mistress
Bolton should see her own cavalier, the
mOdish Maj. Van Zandt, profFering bis at.
f~ectionS 10 the disgraced sweetheart of a
perjured traitor? Leave 60 my hand, !
pray you major, ifyou respect"-
She was free, yet she faltered q moment
beside him, with tears guiyering on her
long brown lashes. Then she said tremu-
lousy, Rise up, major. Let Us think no
more Of this. pray you forgive me, if
have again been rude"
The major struggled to rise to his feet,
but be could not. And then l regret to
have TO record that the fact became obyi-
Gus that one Of his shapely legs was in a
bog hole, and that he was perceptibly sink
ing out of sight. Whereat Mistress Thank
full TITLED ont a three syllabled laugh,
locked demure and painfully concerned at
his condition and then laughed again.
The major Joined in her mirth. Abe t his
face was CRIMSON. And then, with a little
cry of alarm she flew 10 his side ard put
her arms around HIM.
Keep away, keep away, for Heavens
sake, Mistress Blossom" he said quickly,
''or l shall plunge you into my mishap,
and make you as ridiculous as myself"
But the quick witted girl had already
lesped TO an adjacent bowlder. Take of
your sash, she said quickly; 'iiasten it
u your belt and throw it to me-" He did
so. She Strengthened herself back on the
rock. "Now, all together" she cried,
with a preliminary strain on the sash; and
then the cords of her we'll trained muscles
stood out on her rounded arms, and, with
a long pull and a strong pull and q pull
all together, she landed the major upon
the rock. And then she laughed; and
then, inconsistent as it may appear, she
became grave, and at once proceeded to