St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-02-24
A LOST LOVE.

love with Priscilla Jan the very first
time, and as he was not the kind of
man to waste much time in counting lie
chose this way of proposing.
Priscilla wore gown of muslin, and
at the belt hung two scarlet pockets, as
was the custom in those olden times.
Ruben having penned declaration one
afternoon took the opportunity (for he
was timid man) of slipping the note
into one of these pockets when she was
not looking.
Then he took his leave and waited
patiently for an answer. But none ever
came.
Poor Ruben was not one to risk his
fate second time, and he ceased his
visits to the home of the Jams. After
while he went away to England, and
Newport knew him no more. BE be-
came rather celebrated as scientific
man. The bashfulness of youth gone
by, he became grave, gallant gentle
men of the old school, and he had his
admirers even among our sex, but he
never fell in love, and he never mar
ried.
At siXty-two years of age he took it
into his hand to see Newport before he
died. In those years it had become
fashionable watering place. There were
one or two great hotels and plenty of
cottages. The sea view was as fine, the
sea air as bracing, the girls as pretty as
of yore, but they did not wear painted
muslins with peoples Oh them, nor out
side pockets of embroidered silk.
Ruben Van Note strolled along the
sighed over the past little. Then he
StrOlled UP the street to the house
of the Jan family. 1t looked very
much as formerly, only the trees were
large and the ivy vine quite covered the
brick stable with the pigeon houses on
the roof. All its windows were open
and woman was busting the shutters.
When she came out upon the porch to
shake cloth he spoke to her.
Does the Jan family live here yet?'
he asked.
The woman gave long, slow shake
OF the head and said:
days ago-Miss Priscilla JAM was
her maid. She was getting on in life
sixty years old, and a delicate body
always, but / think she would have
lived long while yet if she hadn't had
an accident. Her carriage was upset
by tipSy coachman, and she was hurt
and shaken. The shock to her nerves
killed her, the doctor said. That's her
miniature when she was girl, over
the mantel, if you'd stopin and look"
Reuben stepped in and saw Priscilla,
in white and red, smiling at him from
the chimney-piece. 1t was good like
staggered back and seated himself on
the sofa.
"And she never married?" he said,
speaking aloud unconsciOuSiy.
No, sir, said the maid, believing her.
self addressed. "She never married.
Such a pretty girl, you'd never believe
it. She had offers, but they did not suit
her. Once she told me, sitting Just
there, sir, where you sit, the Christmas
after her parents died, why they did
not. She was fond of young gentle
man once, but he came and went and
never said word, and, as she believed,
and cried of nights, but told
no one, and she lived single
until she was forty. Then one day.
when she was up In the garnet, she
found pair of red silk pockets in an
old box. She had missed the pockets.
They used TO wear 'em outside, sir,
which seems funny now. She had
missed them, and never guessed where
they'd gone, but somehow they'd been
dropped into the box that was carried
up garrett that very night. She'd not
seen them for twenty years, and she
took them out and turned them over,
and letter fell into her lap.
ut was sealed, and 1t had her name
on it, and when she read it she found it
was an offer from this young gentle
man. An offer, sir, that she would have
said yes to, and thankful.
''She knew then that, being bashful,
he had slipped it into her pocket, and
it had been lost with it, of course.
Il cried at first, Martha she said,
but afterwards L was glad, for l knew
how we had loved each other. 1t was
too late to answer it, even if / had
known where he was; but L hoped
some time he might come back, and
now. Martha she said, unless we meet
in heaven And Iput the little pock-
cts, with the letter in them, under her
head in the coffin, as she babe me. Sort
Of like story, isn't it, sir?''
cit is very like a story" said my
great-uncle.
He sat looking at the picture for
awhile, and the girl went on. The
property was left to charity, all but a
legacy to herself. and there was to be
an auction next day, and she was clean
ing up for it. And then she begged
him to rest himself as long as he pleased
and went about her work.
When she had gone Ruben Van Note
took the miniature of poor Priscilla Jan
from the mantelpiece and put it into his
bosom, and walked away.
Doubtless the maid wondered long
whether that respectable old gentleman
could have been the thief, or whether
some other had come in at the open
door in her absence.
But Priscilla's pretty face lay against
Ruben's heart until it ceased TO beat,
and have no doubt that if lovers re-
new their vows in heaven these two
hearts have met there; these two whom
hn fraaohnrnnc Of no lot