The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-02-18

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 facet And
grannie grew so proud and kind, and all
the house was aglow, and only sad.
But couldn't forget Evan-Evan whom
had loved so--sailing away from me
without word.
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 folks 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 ye smile; We are
ma that i'll, either"
mo, am well enough" said I.
She looked at me wistfully.
"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 by,
and was close on my marriage eve, and
grannie and Dorothy Plume were busy
with my wedding robes. I wished 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 EvanT' I said.
l spoke the words aloud, and then
started up in alright, for there at my
side was an elfsh little figure, and 1
heard cry that at first scarce thought
earthly. Yet it was but Scotch Jennie,
who had followed me.
"Why do We call for your true love
now? she said; eye sent him fra We for
sake O. the young squire"
GLOW dare you follow and watch
me?"
But she caught my sleeve.
"Dinna be vexed," she said. "Just
bide a wee, and answer what I speer.
It's for love of you, for I've seen ye waste
like the shaw wreath in the sun sin the
squire wood ye. Was it your will the lad
that loved the ground ye trod on should
have his ring AGAIN."
"What do you meanr' said I.
"rn speak gin lose my place." said
Jennie. 81 rode with the mistress to
young DR.. Locke's place past the moor,
and there she lighted and gave him
ring, and what she said know not, but
it turned him the tint O. death, and said
he, There's ma drop O true bluid in q
woman gin she is false And he turned
to the wall and covered his eyes. an your
grannle rode nome. There tbs all ken
-wull it dor"
"Ay, Jennie" said I, ''heaven bless
your
And had wings on my feet could
not have come 10 the cottage door sooner.
stood before my grandmother, trem-
bling and white, and I said: "Oh, don't
tell me, grannie, you have cheated me
and robbed me of my true love by lie.
Did you steal the troth ring from my
neck and give it back to Evan, as If from
me? You I've loved and honored my life
long,
She turned scarlet.
"True lovel" said she, you've but
one true love now-Squire Turner"
"You have done itw I cried. sits
written on your face"
And she looked down at that and fen
to weeping.
"My own true love was breaking bis
heart" she said. "My husband and I
had loved for forty years. did it to
save him. Could I let a girls fancy,
worth nothing, stand in my way, and see
him a beggar in his old age? Oh, girl,
girir'
And then fell down at her feet like a
stone. I knew nothing for an hour OF
more; but then, when was better, and
| they left me with Jennie, babe her
fetch my hood and cloak and her own
and come with me, and away went
across the moor in the starlight to where
the hall windows were ablaze with light,
and asked the housekeeper to let me see
the squire.
She stared at me for my boldness-no
wonder-but called him. So in a moment
he stood before me in his evening dress,
with his cheeks flushed and his eyes
bright, and led me into little room and
seated me.
Agatha, my love, hope no mis-
chance brings you here"
But I stopped him.
"Not your love, Squire Turner"
said. 81 thank you for thinking so well
of me, but after all that has passed
| p
I could say no more. He took my
hand.
"Have I offended you, Agatha2" he
said.
Mot you. The offense-the guilt
oh, Ihave been sorely cheatedp And all
could do was to sob.
At last strength came to me. went
back to the first and told him all-how
we had been plighted to each other, wait
ing only for better prospects to be wed,
and how, when he honored me by an
offer of his hand, I angered my grand
mother by owning to the truth, and of
the ring grannie had stolen from my
breast and the false message that had
been sent my promised husband from
me.
"And though never see Evan Locke
again." said /, ''stin can never be an
other mans true love, for am his until
l die"
Then as I looked all the rich color
faded out of the squire's face, and saw
the sight we seldom see more than once
in a ifetime-a strong young man in
tears.
At last he arose and came to me.
"My little Agatha never loved me,
he said. "Ah, mel the news is bad
thought she did. This comes of vanity.
MANY higher and fairer have hearts
to give" I said "Mine was gone ere
you saw me-"
And then, kind and gentle, as though
/ had not grieved him, he gave me his
arm and ssw me across the moor, and at
the gate paused and whispered:
"Be at rest, Agatha. The Golden
George has not sailed yet"
liked him better than had ever done
before that night when I told grannie
that would never wed him.
Ehl but he was fit to be a king-the
| grandest, kindest, best Of living men,
who rode away with the break Of the
morrow and never stopped till he reached
Liverpool and found Evan Locke just
ready to set foot upon the Golden George,
and told him tale that made his heart
light and sent him back TO me. Heaven
bless him!
And who was it that sent old grand
Enk1 l. l.