The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-09-02


Wilt thou have him, and be ricl
lady ?" said grandpa.
And when he had waited for an an
swer, l burst out with No +" and a sol
together.
She's frightened" said gransmamma
Nay, We must all wed once in our lives
my child"
Then grandpa talked to me he told
me how poor they had grown, and how
kind the Squire was, and had but tc
marry him to make my grandparent:
free from deb. and poverty their live:
through: If l refused and vexed the
Squire, heaven only knew what might
happen.
She'll never ruin us,n sobbed grand
mamma
All it was hard to bear-bitter hard
but now there was no help for it. l took
the ring fiom my bosom and laid it on
my palm, and told them it was Evan
Locke's and that had plighted my troth
TO him. And grandmamma called me a
deceitful wretch, and grandfather looked
as though his heart would break.
Oh, 1 would have done anything for
them-anything but give up my true
love.
That night | kissed his ring and pray
ed heaven that he might love me always.
In the morning it was gone, ribbon and
all, from my neck. looked for it high
and low, but found no sign of it. And l
began to fear the loss of that dear ring
was sign that l would never marry
Evan Locke.
The days passed on, and he never came
near me.
"Oh, it was cruel in him." thought,
to holdsuch anger for hasty word he
had provoked, when l spoke it that he
must know loved him So"
And grandma would scarcely look at
me Il know why now, and grandpa
sighed, and moaned, and talked of the
workhouse. And 1 thought 1 should die
of grief among them.
One day grandma said to me: It
seems that your sweetheart is not over
fond of you, nor over anxious to see
you
Why not ?" said I.
Where has he been during the past
month ?7
Busy, doubtless, said ], with a smile,
though l thought that my heart would
burst
You're going with him, maybe ?D
"Where ?" said l.
She went to the kitchen door and
beckoned in woman who sat there
Dame Coombs, who had come over with
eggs.
" 1 heard you rightly" she said. You
told me Evan Locke and his mother
were making ready for voyage ?"
" They're going to Canada. Ny son, a
carpenter-and good one, though say
it-made the doctor box for bis things.
The old lady breads tire new country,
but she goes for the doctors sake. There
is money to be made there"
" / told you So said grandmother.
Il don't believe it." said l.
They've sold the house, and gone to
Liverpool to take ship; and you may
find the truth for yourself if you choose
TO take the trouble" said Dame Coombs.
" I'm no chatterbox, to tell falsehoods
about my neighbors"
And still would not believe it until |
had walked across the moor and had
seen the shutters fast closed and the door
barred, and not sign of life about the
place. Then l gave up hope. l went
home all pale and trembling, and sat
down at grandmamma's knee.
It's true,' said 1.
And for the sake Of so false lad you
will see your grandfather ruined and
break his heart, and leave me, that has
nursed you from baby, a widow"
Hooked at her as she sobbed, and 1
found strength to say
"Give me to whom you will, then,
since my own love does not want me"
And then 1 crept up stairs and sat
down on my bedside, weak as though l
had tainted. l would have thanked
heaven for forgetfulness just then, but it
wouldn't come.
The next day Squire Turner was in
the parlor as my accepted lover. How
pleased he was and how the color came
back into grandfather's old face And
grannie grew so proud and kind, and all
the house was aglow, and only l sad. But
] couldn't forget Evan-Evan whom l
had loved so-sailing away from me
without a word.
l suppose they all saw looked sad.
The Squire talked of my health, and
would make me ride with him over the
moors for strength.
The old folk said nothing. They knew
what allied me, only our little Scotch
maid seemed to think there was aught
wrong. Once she said to me:
What ails We, miss Your eye is dull
and your cheek is pale, and your Draw,
grand lover Gamma make We smile, ye are
ma that i'll, either"
No, am well enough" said l.
She looked at me wistfuIly.
Gin ye'd tell me your all, might
tell We cure" she said.
But there was no cure for me in this
world, and couldn't open my heart to
simple Jennie. So the days rolled on,
and | was close on my marriage eve, and
granny and Dorothy Plume were busy
with my wedding robes wished that
it were my shroud they were working at
instead.
And one night the pain in my heart
grew too great, and went out among the
purple heather on the moor, and there
knelt down under the stars and prayed
to be taken from the world for how
can live without Evan ?" said.
spoke the words aloud, and then
started up in alright, for there at my side
was an elfish little figure, and / heard
cry that at first 1 scarce thought earthly.
Yet it was but Scotch Jennie, who had
followed me.
Why do We call for your true love