Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-03-28

II knew the lass would be lucky.
But l put my head on grandfather's
shoulder and hid my face. The truth
must out, I knew.
"Wilt have him, and be rich lady?"
said grandpa.
And when he had waited for an an
swer, l burst out with "No" and sob
together.
"She's frightened, said grandmamma.
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 l had but to
marry him to make my grandparents
free from debt and poverty their lives
through. If l refused and vexed the
squire, heaven only knew what might
happen.
She'll never ruin us, sobbed grand
mamma.
All! it was hard to bear-bitter hard;
but now there was no help for it, took
the ring from my bosom and laid it on
my palm, and told them it was Evan
Lockes, and that had plighted my
troth to him. And grandmamma called
me deceitful wench, and grandfather
looked as though his heart would break.
Oh, l would have done anything for
them-any thing but give up my true
love.
That night I kissed his ring and
prayed 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 hold such anger for a hasty word he
had provoked, when 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 l should
die of grief among them.
One day grandma said to me, ut
seems that your sweetheart is not over
fond of you, nor over anxious to see
you. :"
"Why not?" said l.
"Where has he been this month back?"
"Busy, doubtless, said l, with u
smile, though | thought my heart would
burst.
you're going with him, maybe.
where? ?" said l.
She went to the kitchen door and
beckoned in woman who sat there
Dame Coombs, who had come over with
eggs
Il heard you rightly she said. "You
told me Evan Locke and his mother
We're making read, for a voyage.
"They're going to Canada. My son, a
carpcnler-and Il good one, thought say
it-made The doctor box for his things.
The old lady breads the new country,
but she goes for the doctors sake
There's money to be made there
81 told you SO, d" said grandmother
Il don't believe it," said L.
"They've sold the house, and gone to
Liverpool to take slip; and you may
find the truth for yourself, if you choose
to take the trouble, said Dame Coombs.
"Pm no chatterbox, to tell falsehoods
about my neighbors.
And still would not helieve it until |
had walked across the moor and had
seen the shutters fast closed and the
door barred, and not Il sign of life about
the place. Then | gave up hope l went
home all pale and trembling, and sat
down at grandmamma's knee.
Its true, said l.
And for the sake of so false lad
you'll see your grandfather ruined and
break his heart, and Leave me, that have
nursed you from IA baby, Il widow. "
looked at her as she sobbed, and l
found strength to say:
Give me to whom you will, then,
since my own love does not ant me.
And then l crept UP stairs and sat
down on my bedside, weak as though l
had tainted | would have thanked
heaven for forgetfulnes5 just then, but
it woul Int come.
The next day Squire Turner was in
the rarlor as my accepted lover. How
pleased he was, and how the color came
back into grandiather's old face! And
grannie grew so proud and kind, and all
the house was aglow, and only / sad
But l 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 he ride with him over the
moors for strength.
The old folk said nothing. They
knew what allied me- only orr little
Scotch maid seemed to think there was
aught wrong. Oce she said to me:
"What ails ye, miss? Your eye is dull
and your cheek is pale, and your Draw
grand lover Gamma. make ye smile; ye
are ma that ill either.
mo, l am well enough, said l.
She looked at me wistfulIy.
"Gin ye'd tell me your all, | might
tell ye 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 by,
and l was close on my marriage eve,
and granny and Dorothy Plume were
busy with my we i.ng robes. | wished
it were my shroud they were worNiny
at, Instead.
And one night The pain in m, Lrart
grew too great, and | went ont among
the purpe heather on the moor, and
there knet down under the stars and
prayed 10 be taken from the world;
"fur how can l live without Evan" |
said.
spoke the words aloul, and then
-.