Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-07-24
THE BESSIE MINE.
BY LAURA B. MARSH.

Agnes Hale stood in the entrance OF
her cabin home and looked up at the
everlasting hills, which crowded like
jailers around her, and something dia-
mond-bright gathered in either eye, and,
strangely enough, obscured with its
shining all the mountain scene.
A tall, resolute- blocking man leaned
impatiently against the outside wall.
$" can't see, Agnes, why you must
always throw cold water on every enter
prise of mine which happens to carry US
beyond the Maine State line
1t surely has not been cold water.
Frank, only tears the wife replied.
with pitiful smile.
Well, as to that it is a proverbial
fact that man would prefer a hose
turned on him any day THAI crying
woman
"oh, Frank, don't speak SOL You
don't know how dreadful this life is to
mel If only my mother or one of nv
sisters were near; but only Bessie and
me all the day longl And Bessie isn't
well, Frank. {"
II hope you don't expect to have all
your relations tagging at your heels
wherever you go. Now, Agnes. do
make up your mind that some privations
must be endured in new country. /
can't, for the life OF me. see what great
discomforts you have here; but. as for
me, | should have been hampered by
'two-up' Eastern notions every time /
stayed in your glorlfed New England. 4"
but we were so happy there, Frank
our first home, where baby was born,
and where everything, from the mint
growing by the kitchen-door to the
swinging of the garden gate. had its as
sociations. Why, Frank, l think even
of my splendid iour-box, back there. and
OF the cunning little cupboard you made
for me over the kitchen sink And the
sad, little woman turned her ewes, with
the far-away, home-sick gaze of Priscilla.
back to the vine-wreathed home. the vii
lage streets, and TO the mother left be-
hind.
And, as for me, the man returned.
II think of that dirty, smoky blacksmith
shop where I've hammered away for the
last ten years, and no prospect of change
until took my voyage across the Styx.n
Il think of that, too; but, oh, Frank,
l remember the row of big naples out
side the door-their leaves must be turn |
ing by now-and | can see you at your
work, and remember how used to think /
no one ever could be so handsome as nv |
blacksmith singing over his anvil.n
The man laughed then.
Agnes, l verify believe this fever to
go back has put you out of your head"
de drew step nearer and put strong
arm down around her slender waist. at
the same time singing, in rich baritone.
9 snatch of an old song:
Some time III take you back, Kathleen.
To where your heart will feel no pain:
And when the fields are fresh aud green.
III take you to your home again"
She sighed, and shook her head.
Nothing can ever be fresh and green
up here among the rocks. The freshness
u even going from Bessies cheeks. o,
Frank, try not to be home-sick, but it
VIII always keep hurting me, like my
tooth"
She turned hurriedly awav with her
broom to prevent burst of tears.
'Well, now, Aggie, girl, do try and
hold out little longer, and the Bessie
mine, up there on the hill, viii pan out
10 such degree that-talk of green
helds'-we'H just naturally be in clover
up to our ear-tops. You'll 90 back TO
zee the folks, with diamonds hanging
al around you, like a South Sea Island
princess or the beli-wether Of the Ute
tribe
Agnes Hale smiled patientlv for she
loved the enthusiastic miner, and really
meant TO do her part liz this new enter
prise. But the time was growing into
the second year now, when the Bessie
had promised these things and still she
kept her treasures whatever they might {
De-hugged close to the bosom of her
Mother Earth, only now and then drop
ping a CLINT of gold in the vein to urge
IN the toiling miner.
More times than she could count. Mrs
Hale called 70 mind her husbands iov
over this color in the stone.
"Aggie, I've struck it at last!'' he {
would exclaim. joyfully, throwing down
lis dinner-pail, as he rushed cxcitedlv
INTO the cabin. There's the 'stuffpn
md he would point with trembling fin
gers TO the saffron-colored streak. '
Agnes would look through the magni-
wing glass at what, to her inexperienced
syes, seemed more ordinary stone than I
my she had seen, and vet all the time
eel the tugeings of hope within her I
hope that she disapproved of. Her sad !
leart was like unto obstinate ears that