The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-29

studying the beauty of his specimens
At Dowden Farm Aunt Jane was very
patient and kind to Ellen. and Ellen was
loving and attentive to Aunt Jane; but her
mind was made up. Many moods came to
her during those twelve months-pride, re-
sentiment, sorrow, remorse-but through
them all she remembered the date of Dicks
service. and laid her plans accordingly.
When Carlford hiring-fair came round
again Ellen Arden was there once more:
but this time she did not press her way
anxiously through the crowd time after
time; instead, she wore plain black gown.
and shyly took her place at the edge of a
group of women in the square, with bright
calico rose in her jacket. and waited to be
hired She had not wasted the past year;
she had learned to work hard as we'll as TO
grieve, and she hoped she had learned to be
brave
The day unlike the one year ago, was
close and misty, the sky hung low, and
Ellen's head throbbed painfully as though
the heavy air were pressing upon her tenn
pies. Perhaps her courage, which had been
strong up to that very morning, began to
ebb when she came face to face with actual
ity, and this new fearfulness made her
shrink back from sight when the would-be
mistress came near, or perhaps she looked
~
Whatever the reason, the fact remained
that the morning passed away and the aft
ernoon had come, and as yet Ellen was I'M
hired.
After a while the urgency of her situation
began to scare her She had never contem-
plated failure of her plan, and she longed
even while she dreaded, to see some app-
cant for her services. But none came; the
trade in human strength and capability was
almost over for the day; most of the mas
tiers and mistresses had attended to the
sober business of hiring While the day was
younger and the choice greater and were
now turning their attention to the more
frivolous pleasures of the fair. AS the time
wore on the very striking of the clock hour
after hour made Ellen desperate. She could
not stay there much longer-the day was so
far spent; and yet to go back was impossi-
BILE. With frightened eyes she began to step
forward and mingle more with the others,
to strive to attract the attention of some
farmers wife yet unsuited.
But another hour passed. and still no one
came. At length, flushed and trembling, she
walked into the clamoring crowd. Her eyes
were shamed, and her heart was shrinking,
but it must be done.
| And then, suddenly, in the midst Of it all
she stopped and her heart seemed to stand
| still. There, before her, coming straight to
her through the multitude was Dick-really
| Dick whom she had looked for so earnestly
throughout the day fearing lest she should
| see him amongst the crowd waiting to be
| hired-Dick to whom she had written telling
of her departure from Dowden Farm for
ever-Dick, with a white anxious face.
Come away-out of this!' he pleaded,
taking her gently by the arm. On the
| temptation of it, weary and hopeless, and
homesck as she was But Ellen knew that
| if she turned coward now nothing would
have been accomplished, things would only
| be as they were, the old trouble would only
be resumed, she would have done no good.
Nor she replied as bravely as she could.
II am here to take service"
What Madness he cried, holly, as she
herself had cried to him year ago. what
| good would that do?"
You go back to Dowden" she said.
81 shall not be there to annoy you"
| "As if 1 should allow it," he exclaimed
| Besides, it is out of the question; L have
| other plans"
| I'm not going to have you working as a
shepherd because of me-" she said proudly
| II have other work now" he declared,
az have not been only shepherding these
last months and now have a post where
I can work among my beetles and butter
flies. went straight to Dowden this morn
ing after l had your letter. to tell you this
and say goodbye 1 hoped to stop you be-
| fore you had left and there 1 learned of
your doings. Come away, Ellen; there is
really no need for this; you must see there
| is no need now, if ever there was" His
voice was not so stern as it had been a
year ago. you need not trouble about me-
7 che Il (N,,lxr
from this.
mo" she said firmly, though her heart
cried out against the word 81 know Aunt
Jane needs you, and grieves for you, and
| you ought to go back TO her.
| For some moments Dick looked nonplused.
ut cannot BET" he said slowly at last. If
I were to go back I should prevent the very
thing I wish for, and the thing which is
more important-your return
Ellen's eyes were on the ground her hands
were trembling Something in her attitude
or In her expression seemed to surprise him.
Shouldn't I?' he asked quickly
She did not speak.
| Shouldn't I. Ellen?"
| Still no answer.
Ellen" he said desperately, "Is there
no way out of it? can't give in and you
| WON'T
Ouo SlSHeu. uOil hilOW. sic SdlOIS
| hopelessly. Then the tears which had been
so near all day overhowed. 1--WE might
| Observation-Disclosures she sug-
| gested between her sobs. I'm sorry---"
IF 1 cared! Why Nellie!' he exclaimed,
passionately. gripping her hands in his very
tightly. Il believe I've been brute, dear.
Come Wen go home together"
What did you think of US all the time.
| To-
as she sat once again on a stool at the old
| lady's feet, after Dick had told her of the
excellent arrangement he and Ellen lad
decided to abide by, and had then gone off
| to see to his old friends the horses.
Think" echoed the old lady ''Well, my
| dear, 1 knew there'd be a bit of discomfort
to be lived through before you both came to