Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1897-12-09
MIR. AND MRS. JIM.
ny CoRINSE ARTHUR STEWART.
Begun Ia issue of Nov. llA

blush hues OF the Wild roses had by de-
grees become suppIanted by the bright
brillisncy OF the golden rod. Jesne
gat hered the latter and hung them up In
big punches in dark places to dry; they
made pretty decorations for winter. par
ticulariy when mixed with ferns. Black
berries we're ripe, and Jesne was busy
baking them into dumplings. The
weather suddenly became very warm.
We felt the heat intensified somew hat on
sccoLnt OF spell OF severe cold just pre-
vious which had thickened our blood a
little.
One morning wandered down to the
shore In the hope OF CHANGING on some
stray escape OF breeze. That day in
particular was the hottest that Maine had
known for many years. | seated myself
on one OF three embedded rocks that a
clun-p OF willows placed in shadow
There were smaller rocks all around me,
rough with the glittering black mica and
hornhiende, and on my left were the
sospstone bouiders that Baby Toggins
once told me pretty fancy about,
"Prople say said she, "thst rocks have
no hearts, AS cold RS stone they say.
But look at these & he surfaces were dis
coored by blocks OF jasper and iron com
position, their hearts have gotten
broken inside aud have bled through and
stained toe outside. Look at the spots
hard, aud they seem to bleed"
1t was odd idea but one which would
sppea. an imag nature. 1t did
look ar though far within the stone a
heart had been crushed, the blood filter
ing tn ough to clot and spread on the ex-
terror. some In drops, some in streams,
some blot ches.
i"., thinking OF what Baby Toggins
hal Ibid me the day before.
Nj s. Jim told me" she said, THAT last
mig At she dreamed that the But,ercup
mau had come and taken EN- away" The
c,atd had looked very grieved.
1T makes Mrs. Jim so nervous she
explained, specially as Mr.. jim isn't
very we'll. You see he stands so much in
tne hot sun, and it isn't good for .iis
head
Above me | could see the glossy ants
running the tree limbs in the
Promet mean sunlight. Every minute
seemed 10 grow warmer than the proceed
ing one. took off my coat and famed
myself with my hat. 4 streak OF yeliuw,
silkeu aud appearing to move up and
down ltk" fur, directed my eyes TO my
feet; long. slender snake, amber
striped, MAS gliding toward me. Tue sun
shining on these stripes with the snake
In motion, produced the effect OF yellow
iuzz or fur. l. made sensation Ike
flesh Crawling rome over me. sprsng
up ~ith Il leap That brought me to my
feet I've yards IA from where | had been
sitting; proving That despite my years /
Was YET aglle.
The snake disappeared between the
rocks. / gave search, aud came upon II
bit OF PLAID WOODEN cloth, fringed on one
edge, tnat had become fastened in one OF
he crevices. Tue color and design were
familiar, reminding me OF the three
cornered shawl that Mrs. Jim wore cross
wise about her shoulders. ! ranmed the
rag In my pocket and continued my hunt.
not only aroused one snake but dozens.
In fact, | soon realized that had hap
pened on nest OF them, and to my
further surprise they were all striped
ones; 1t is usually the black snake that
hsunts the cletts OF II rocky shore, and its
bite along with the rattlesnake Is the
only one 10 be feared in these parts. 1
haze seen the farmers wives take up The
ordinary garter snake and hold them Wig
Cling IN their hands. From boy, had
had a pencbsnt for killing snakes which
with my gray hairs had not outgrown
but when | saw SO many restless bodies
showing sleek and shining in the sun, l
judged that discretion was the better part
OF vaior, and dccamped after fourt h
victory.
! took my way to the observatory upon
Grow nI4t, actuattd ~ an impulse when
told myself MAS neither called for nor
rea-onaiI,; Tor had only found bIt of
plaid c}ol,, All extraordinary hnd to
connect The putgee boats with, ana yet
i'll my recouddry consciousness, / did. IL
would have been much more sensible To
hts,r go-.- a+r,rry aud aseer'e'he
whether Mr.. aud Mrs. Jim we're missing
or not. The wax to Grove hiIi was
neither cool nor shady. The country
r,,asi -ru4 iu trout of the houses and
pastures, aud is rs bare OF trees H. huus b
il louA is Na5 across western l'"'"'
4.... .44.. it.a.l ., iea.A. i.pu-t u44! hatt
af,s sItuudiuou- Willows standing IKE
v,teruo remnants Of once gls" i"Fe~t'
before h.ir doors. hat most OF the trees
Or Me-, hurry NIX nrt=tn the rCdi oi tue