Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-05-26


| How she had come over in an enigrant
ship to meet her plighted Lover, one
Rolf Christensen, who had got work IA
New York; how Rolf had failed to be
| at the ship, las no doubt he never re-
ceived my letter." said trusting Erioas
how a lady had come down to Castle
Garden and engaged her for general
houSeworls; and how, when she reached
the house. an indesceibable something
about the place frightened her.
'TSe made up my bundle again"
said Erica. coloring scarlet at the bare
remembrance, and ran away when NO
one was looking. And I walked and
walked, and begged my wey and slept
| in barns of nights, until I reached this
part of the country. And I mean to
work until 1 have saved up a little
| money to go back to find Rolf!'
There was no doubt but that Erica
Bjornsen spoke the truth; and Miss Bar
bara Biekfora, no mean judge of hu-
man nature, believed her thoroughly.
"HuShP' said Miss Barbra, suddenly
| as Erica pushed away her bowl of bread
and milk, there's the oolonel's stick on
the door5 that's the way he calls! Run,
child. run!"
SIS he your mastera" asked Erica,
starting up
''No,S said Miss Barbara, "he's my
brother; but We always call him the
colon0lr"
So Erica Rjornsen sat day by day to
have her coronal of dead-gold hair and
blue iower-like eyes painted In the
quaint dress of Dickens Little Nell,
and Miss BiclSford was never tired of
lauding the neatness and trim, house
keeper-like ways of the young Swede
II declare" said Miss Barbara, ''she's
| q real comfort to me!''
''Let me see," said the colonel, who
was by this time sufficiently recovered
of his sprained ankle to get all around
the house. and even venture cut as far
as the dooryard gate. chow long have
you had her?'
"Well-I amt certaiu-ahout three
mouths, should think"
"How long would you like to keep
herr"
"Always" brislzly responded Miss
Barbara.
The colonel smiled grimly behind the
red mustache.
"Wen," said he, ST mean to give you
the chance / shall ask her tomorrow
to be my wife,
"What" cried Miss Biclzford.
Doesn't it suit you?" said the colonel
Anything suits me that suits you,
colonel" responded Miss Barbara,
hastily. For the colonel was well-to-
do and whimsical, and Miss Barbara
had always entertained proper defer
ence to all his opinions. "She's pretty
girl, and believe good one"
Though Miss Barbara's opinion was
not of much weight in this instance;
for if the colonel had announced his in
tention of marrying the broomstick,
Miss Barbara would have observed that
it had fine straight figure, and would
probably make itself useful about the
house.
When the colonel signified his sover-
eign will and pleasure to Erica, how
ever, he was amazed to encounter OBJ
stacles. She dropped a pretty little
courtesy, and thanked him in the sweet
est way ceivable.
"You are all kind to the poor ex-
lie said she, ''but am not free, Mr..
Colonel. I was betrothed in our own
land to Rolf. l must go and seek
him.
"You had better think twice of it,
said the COLONEL, grnvely.
II must go and seek Rolf" repeated
the Swedish maiden.
And She pntked her little bundle
again, kissed the outside Of the colo
nets studio door, cried In Miss Barba-
fa's arms, and went away into the
,lden haze of an October evening.
How lone and strange the house
| seemed with out hcrl how the echoes
reso unded through the empty room, as
if seeking in vain for Erica's elastic step
and the monotonous little Swedish
chants that Erica used to sing at her
work. AS for the colonel, he strobe up
and down w it'll bent brows.
81 can't stand this" said the colonel,
at last 81 shall burn my Little Nell
| and go to Kamtchatkay'
But the third evening Erica Bjornsen
came back, looking very pale and tired.
"Win you take me back?" said she,
VISIT ully. "Will you keep nae here? 1
I went to the pastor Of our little
church in New York. He showed me
where Rolf lived. saw Rolls w ife at
the window, and Rolls child in her
arms. Rolf had forgotten me! And
now will put r of out of my heartr'
"Erical' The colonel advanced with
a haH-doubtful look and voice, while a
great trembling shook him oil over like
| leaf.
EYES," said Erica, putting both hands
into his, while a great tear or two
| coursed down her cheeks. Forever!
You love me! You would never forsake
even kitten that you had loved oncer'
GOD do so unto me and even more"
solemnly spoke the rugged, middle
| AGED man eff 7 he not tr11e fO Won all
my life long, little Erica!"
| That was all. They were married
quietly, and Erica makes good and
loving wife to the colonel, who cher
ishes her with deep tenderness that
never flags or fails. She is happy, and
Miss Barbara is happy, and so, no
doubt, is also Rolf, the recreant.
For recreants do not always get their
deserts in this sublunary sphere.-Amy
Randolph, in N. Y. Ldgeer.
How She Reasons.
Yes" said the pretty typewriter
1 - II ha1s 10 E..