Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-12-10

rose in his buttonhole and the tiniest
derby imaginable tilted over one ear.
Gazing langhingly at him, was just
telling my mother to look at that absurd
H.tle creature, when what was our sur
prise to STE Eta, the staid, the quiet,
dash wildly across the lawn, rush down
10 the gate, and throwing her arms
about the little fellows neck kiss him
first on one cheek and then on the other.
-------
The man, after few quiet but ear
nest struggles, managed to free himself
from her long, thin arms, and looked up
into her face, so high above him, with
pleasure surely, but without a trace OF
loveIlike ardor.
On closer inspection it proved to be
Tuch a funny, rosy, childish face that 1t
was impossible TO look at it without
laughing. Eta seemed to fad it so, for,
smiling happily, she escorted him back
to the house, her long arm linked in his
short one, almost lifting him from the
ground at every step, and presently we
heard the low monotone Of their voices
In the kitchen below.
Not the least queer thing about this
queerest of queer men was a yellow
shock of hair, plastered down in care
fully arranged scallops all around his
chubby face. Isuppose it never occurred
to him that the back Of his head was
ever seen, for there the hair stood
straight out in bristly points.
Soon Eta appeared, and blushing and
hesitating, said, "My cousin haf coined
from Christiana."
That was all, but my theory was
proved, and made use of that timeworn
and aggravating phrase, "What did !
tell your"
Days came and went, and so did the
little Norwegian, but nothing was said
of an approaching marriage. Parcels
poured in upon us, and Eta sewed stead
lily on. Each afternoon Auguste 1--WE
learned his name) appeared, apparently
propelled by the regular motion of the
big cane. Somehow he always seemed
like a piece of machinery, for his appear
ance never changed-always the snuff
colored suit, the little hat and the but
tonhole bouquet; and he seemed to go
and come mechanically, enveloped in a
cloud of smoke puffed from the big cigar.
Eta owned one thing strangely out oi
keeping with her other possessions. II
was large gold watch, attached to an
old fashioned chain, from which dangled
two or three odd, foreign looking charms
of fine workmanship. She was very fond
of it, as it had belonged to her mother,
and wore it always, till at last it seemed
almost part of herself. Seeing heI
without it one day, exclaimed imme'
diately, as | thought she must have
lost it.
She waited moment before replying
and then said slowly, II haf lend it tC
my cousin"
She then told me that Auguste was a
barber by trade, and had come to Amer
ica with money she had sent him for the
trip.
After the disappearance Of the watch
Auguste came less frequently, and as
time went on seldom appeared oftenel
thar once week. There was no more
sewing, and Eta began to look more as
of old. Little by little the happy ligh
faded from her face, and the gray eye'
became sadder by contrast, perhaps
than before.
A time came when weeks passed with
out sign of the little Norwegian, bu
one day letter arrived for Eta in tn
same crooked writing. Some time late
in the day, going into the kitchen,
found Eta leaning on the table, the let
ter crumpled in her cinched hands ant
her face buried in her arms.
l touched her gently on the shoulder
but got no other response than the low
stifed sobs which shook the poor, thil
body from head to foot. At last sh
raised her sorrow stricken face, and lift
ing her eyes to mine said slowly, will
her lisping accent, II haf to go way;
haf sorrow, great sorrow"
She would tell but little of her story
She was to have married her cousin in
few weeks time, but he had tired of her
and that day letter had come fro1
him, first begging her to forgive hin
and then telling her that he had sold he
treasured watch, and by the time sh
got that letter would have sailed on
vessel bound for Norway.
"Shall you, too, go homer" I said.
Slowly and sadly came the answer
"No," and felt that with the utteranc
of that little word she gave up all hope
and renounced forever all thought {
the happiness she had been picturing fo
herself the last few months, as she ss
sewing steadily, only pausing now an
then, with a little flush in her pal
cheeks, to softly steal hand into he
pocket and touch the letters she alwaJ
carried there W
Next morning Eta could not be fount
In corner Of her room stood a iittl
hair trunk labeled with Norwegia
, address and filled with the garments
recently finished. 1t was corded up ar
. sent to Christiana; it may have reache
{ its destination or it may not, its fate
a as uncertain as Etta's own. The po
{ woman, tired, disappointed and hor
9 less, had vanished ..iait ...,at night, takiI
/, with her little else than her sad, 81
d thoughts. :.
. I often picture her with her stoopl
4 shoulders and pallid, tear stained fa'
every vestige of love and hope gone Of
7 wandering away into the night and q
q ing up at the stars, SO serene and
:. away. as she murmurs, "Forsaken, f
n saken. IF. l.. G. in Boston Herald,