Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1890-08-16

seemed 10 nave cauSnC Unelr COlOr from
the red glow in the west. She carried
her Bible in her hand, and with her shin
ing face she looked at the moment, in
her prim dark gown, like sort of trans
figured nun.
When they reached the door step the
young man said good night and hurried
back to the beach.
"Its Jason, ma am, Ann explained, as
she came into the house. II hadn't seen
him for most three years, an that's what
made me late We used to be friends, !"
she added, shyly.
Nearly every afternoon for the next
fortnight Jason joined her at Owl Rock.
Ann during these days went about her
work with a preoccupied air.
did you ever think, maam, she
asked one morning, as she was dusting
the dining room, THAT you'd like to be
a missionary"
younger days vague aspiration in that
direction.
oh l think it would be beautiful"
said the girl "Jason's been tellin' me
about an island he's been to; they were
shipwrecked there; that's why he was
gone so long, an the people are all
heather. l told Jason it was a shame
somebody didn't go out there an
teach 'em. Do you 'spose a sailors
wife would have any chance to do that
sort of work, ma a'am? You know some
times the ships stop there for water.
Before could answer her John called
to me from his sanctum, and the subject
did not come up again, but guessing the
trend of AIMS thoughts l began to
school myself to the thought of losing
her.
A day or two later, however, the girl
came back from Owl Rock alone.
Hes gone, ma am, she announced
gravely.
"Gone!" cried. "Why, Ann,
thought you were going to marry him. !"
Ann shook her head.
"No, m; l can't. He's too worldly
minded. He smokes, an always when
he's ashore he wants to wear-starched
buZsoms.
But what of that, Ann, if you love
him ?" | said
11ilH Nilll Dt3il W IulNCl. IL s'o
pretty, sensitive chin. "That's Just it,
ma am: l love him too WE'LL" she said
brokenly. Il don't dare. I'm afraid
he'd be a stumblin' block to me. "
There was nothing more to be said.
Jason had sailed that afternoon, and
there the matter rested.
We had expected to go back to town
in the fall, but John became so infatuated
with this "calm retreat" that we decided
to take the house for another year, and
to our supreme satisfaction Ann agreed
to remain with us.
Meanwhile Cousin Helen had made lis
another visit and Ann, though she still
grieved that any one so good and lovable
as Miss Helen should be guilty of wear
ing tlounces, became again her ardent
admirer. In fact, so great was Helen's
influence over her that she eventually
prevailed upon her to wear a white
apron and a linen collar The improve
ment made in her appearance by these
simple adjuncts was delight to the eye,
and though at first she wore them evil
IDENTIFY under protest, regarding them
still as "vanities of the world, " her love
for Helen finally conquered all scruples,
and the apron and collar came to be re-
garded as an indispensable part of her
toilet.
Jason had gone on a ten months
cruise, and as the time drew near for
the ships return Ann grew restless and
absent minded. She went oftener to
Owl Rock, and more than once she be-
came so absorbed in watching the far off
sails as to forget when 5 o'clock came.
This went on for several weeks and
then one morning she blushingly in
formed me that Jason was home again.
But you ought not to let him keep on
coming to see you, Ann, l said, "if you
are not going to marry him.
"But perhaps l can do him some good,
ma'am," said the girl, gravely. He
hasn't any folks of his own, you know,
to help him.
Poor deluded Ann! A week or two
later, with much hesitation and embar-
rassment, she succeeded In telling me
that she had renewed her promise to
Jason.
And you are really going to marry
him, Ann?" 1 exclaimed, sorry chiefly
on my own account.
"Well, you see, ma'am, he's agreed to
give up smokin' an'-an'-"
"And starched bosoms, ventured to
add, hoping to help her out.
"Well, no m, said Ann, IN waver-
ingvoice. "Maybe I've been too yieldin',
but seein' I've taken to wearin' starched
collars it don't seem more'n fair for me
to give in to his wearin' starched buzz
sons.
Consequently a few weeks later we
lost our faithful Ann