Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1892-04-26

presently VIC heard the low monotone
of their voices in the kitchen below.
Not the least queer thing about this
queercst of queer men was a yellow
shock OF hair, plastered down in care
fully arranged scallops all around his
chubby face. 1 suppose it never
occurred to him that the back of his
head was even seen, for there the hair
stood straight out in bristly points.
Soon 'Etta appeared. and blushing
and hesitating, said, )" My cousin hat
coined from Christiania
That was all, but my theory was
proved, and I made use of that time
worn and aggravating phrase, What
did 1 tell you?"
Days came and went and so did the
little Norwegian, but nothing was said
of an approaching marriage. Par
GELS poured in upon us, and Eta
sewed steadily on. Each afternoon
Augusta Eve learned his name) ap-
peared, apparently propelled by the
regular motion of the big cane. Some
how, he always seemed like n piece of
machinery, for his appearance never
changed = always the snuff colored
suit, the little hat and the buttonhole
bouquet; and he seemed to go and
SSA4AS IA -
cloud of smoke puffed from the big
cigar.
Eta owned one thing strangely out
of keeping with her other possessions.
1t was a 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 be-
longed TO her mother, and wore it al-
ways, till at last it seemed almost u
part of herself. Seeing her without it
one day, exclaimed Immediately, as
thought she must have lost it.
She waited moment before reply
ing and then said slowly: z" 1 haf
lend it to my cousin"
She then told me that Augusta was
a barber by trade, and had como to
America with money she had sent
him for the trip.
After the disappearance OF tho
watch Auguste came less frequently,
and as time went on seldom appeared
oftener than once week. There
was no more sewing, and Eta began
to look more as OF old. Little by little
the happy light fndcd from her face,
and the gray eyes became sadder by
contrast, perhaps, than before.
time came when weeks passed
without sign OF the little Norwegian,
but one day letter arrived for Eta
in the same crooked writing. Some
time later in the day, going into the
kitchen, | found Eta leaning on tho
table, the letter crumplcd in her
clinched hands and her face buried in
her arms.
1 touched her gently on tho
shoulder, but got no other response
than the low, stiiled sobs which shook
the poor, thin body from head to foot,
At last she raised her sorrow stricken
face, and lifting her eyes to mine said
slowly, with her lisping accent, "I
half to go way; 1 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
from him, first begging her to forgive
him and then telling her that lie had
sold her treasured watch, and by tho
time she got that letter would have
sailed on vessel bound for Norway"
"Shall you, too, go home?" l said.
Slowly and sadly came tho answer.
"No," and 1 felt that with tho utter
ance of that little word she gave up
all hope and renounced forever all
thought OF tho happiness she had
been picturing for herself tho last few
months, as she sat sewing steadily,
only pausing now and then, with a
little flush in her pale cheeks, to softly
steal n hand into her pocket and touch
the letters she always carried there.
Next morning Eta could not be
found. In n corner OF her room stood
little hair trunk labelled with n Nor
wegian address and filled with the
garments so recently finished. lit
was corded and sent to Chris
tiania; it may have reached
its destination or it may not
it's fate is as uncertain as Ettaa own.
The poor woman, tired, disappointed
and hopeless, had vanished that
night, taking with her little else than
her sad, sad thoughts.
often picture her with her stoop-
ing shoulders and pallid. tear-stained
face, every vestige OF love and hope
gone out, wandering away into tho
night and gazing up at tho stars, SO
serene and far away. as she murmurs:
Forsaken, forsaIten. boston Her
aid.
A Canine Begzar.