Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1892-04-23
THE SHELL COMB.

Many years ago. In the good CITY nf
Edinburgh, girl and youth of twenty
sat side by side ON two chairs drawn close
10 a table upon which burned n lamp
with a green shade.
He was carving comb from fine
piece OF tortoise shell: she. between in
tervals of noiseless weeping. was watch
ing him
The room was in an upper fat OF
Edinburgh, where people lived one above
the other long before Americans learned
20 do so. 1t was tidy and well furnish
ed. and there were plenty of books In
the place of honor stood the Bible, and
Scott's works and the poems of Burma
and the writings of the Ettrick Shepherd
were to be seen ON the low shelves BY
the fire rhatronly young woman rocked
cradle as she darned a stocking. and
near her a big man with broad shoulders
and red hair and beard was eating a din
ner which had been kept warm in yell
low bowl The young people did not
seem TO heed their presence. Every now
and then the girl nestled her head
against the youths shoulder. and he,
without ceasing 10 work. rubbed his
cheek against her hair
ut is done, he said. land the pretti-
est piece of work ever finished! Keen
1t for my sake, lassie. until come back
again; it's all the present I'm like to give
yon."
''It's bonny one!" said she. '.Oh, it's
bonny combi Look at the thistles and
heather on It'll They'll wonder where a
poor girl like me got comb like that
It's worth two pound or three at the
least"
II had the bit of tortoise shell, and it's
Just the work. Mamie, said the youth;
land now the great folk have given up
combs, why, poor folk viii follow
You're not like to wear it: but for a
token you'll look at it whiles. and say,
4 looked Mt Jock when he was doing it,
and you'll know every stroke of the tool
had love in it.
,'Oh. Jockf' cried the girl in sudden
passion of grief. "Oh. Jock. Gamma
bear 1t. just Gamma Don't go. Jock
Don't. oh. Jockr'
She sat down beside the table, threw
her arms across it, hid her face in them
and sobbed wildly The man who had
been eating his dinner arose at this and
stepped ont into the middle OF the room
great red bearded Hercules. with black
smith written all over him--her brother
in-law. Donald Mccoy.
II thought the lass had . bit mors
sense said be- IF Jock was willing Il
sit down and starye with the rest of the
comb makers that the quality taking ts
hairpins has put ont of work, she might
have reason to below. But he is guinl
away TO make home for her in new
country. where livery man doesn't follow
his fathers callin' as sheep follow ths
one the other. He'll have farm in nj
time. Comb making Is but innik,
trade anyhow for a big, strong Lad I'm
glad was not pnt DIT. Change wha
may. folk must call on the blacksmith
Fashions can't hurt him. And wht
knows but the wife and may follow
when you write how rich yon and Joel
are getting. and how fine 1t is over ther'
insAmerica.r s
But Mamie could only sob:
II don't want Jock to goi Idon't wan
Jock TO go and leave mel
Men think less of changing their dwell
ting places and beginning new life thar
women do. The new country. the farm
presented no attractions to Mamie. ShI
preferred the old idea of the rooms be
hind the combmaker's shop. among hei
old friends in Edinburgh. But. alas
comb making had ceased to be trade By
which man could win his bread.
Jock Embry sailed for America, an.
Mamie remained behind with her siste
and brother-in-law. She waited for let
tiers. One came that had been written ol
board the vessel on which Jock had sailed
and then no more-no more or any clew
10 him.
Mamie knew that he was true. ant
never doubted him.
Jock 10 dead; Jock Embry is dead,
she said, one day. The next she put
black ribbon on her bonnet. She wor
ii when she crossed the ocean with he
sisters family The ruddy blacksmith
had saved enough 70 make home ii
America, though there were three chill
dren BY this time. and Mamie woull
not part from all she had in the world
She used 10 look over the side of tn
steamer and think of Jock. and how. nj
doubt, he looked into the waters an,
Thought OF her. If she could but hay
known how he died. and where. sh
Thought she should have been happier
but she felt that that could never be.
All Scottish folk believe little i
the supernatural. and she prayed ofte
20 see Jocks spirit. but In vain
AT last. her feot frod tho shore tha
his had trodden. the earth where, n
doubt. hts grave was made. II SCENE
10 Mamie M though she had com
thither to find II.
She was pretty, and yet yonng--not 2
and In this new home of hers many q
eye waa caught by her fair face. He
brother-in-law fingered in the city. lot
70 leave IL. making every excuse to stay
and old friends turned mp, aa II sesme
% Mamie, every day. They dropped !
Of an evening TO chat Of cid timss, "a