The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-12-25 00:00:00

CHAPTER 111.

"Heavy was the load his breast
For a twelvemonth bore;
Never could his trouble rest
And he left the shore."

into the room and presented himself to her as an :
additional proof of Poulter's affection and his own, she
fairly broke down, and at once insisted upon leaving Ack- k
laud the next morning. She wrote, however, a short but
important note to Mr. Poulter, which ran as follows
"MY DEAREST WILL. —Poor Ponto's appearance has
broken my heart, and I cannot stay another day in Ackland.
I wish I could thapk you as you deserve for all your lays;
but it would be unjust in me any longer to accept it with a
view to oar union. My father needs me more than ever. I
am penniless, and your profession requires that you should
marry a lady of means. You must forget me for ever, and
may God bless you.—Yours truly, MINNIE."
Before the note reached Poulter the Roslyn's had left
Ackland, and were already at the first resting-place in their
journey ; for, to prevent their route being detected. they had
arranged for two stoppages before reaching Bracken Dale.
Poor Poulter, how gladly would he have given up all his pros-
pects if he might only have shared their poverty! How he
envied faithful Nurse, who, he learnt, had insided upon
accompanying them without one penny of wages. But
Minnie's determination had settled the matter, and he was
helpless.
It was the end offlnly when Minnie saw Bracken Dale for
the first time. Mr. Roslyn indeed had made acquaintance
during bygone summer rambles in his happier days, with
every spot in this charming valley, and he had no difficulty
hi securing a humble cottage, alike adapted to the poverty
of their exchequer, and to the limited nature of their needs.
The joy of the happy vale entered even into the heart of
Nurse, and before a month was past they had commenced a
new life, on which no heavy shadows fell. Mr. Roslyn was
now well and strong ; Minnie had grown more thoughtful, in-
deed; but she and Ponto romped once more, as they had
never 'lone since she was a mere girl.
"Papa, dear," she said, as they walked one August even-
ing in their little garden. "I am glad we came here, for we
have begun life again, mingling our own work with every
enjoyment; for these flowers seem more beautiful than any
w we had at Ackland "—and she kissed him tenderly.
"Yes, Minnie, it is very jolly indeed; even old Ponto is
livelier, and I really believe we shall all be better and
happier here," he replied, his thoughtful, sad look showing
that he had reasons of his own. "I should like now to get
some of poor Ned's effects," Mr. Roslyn added ; " sent our
present address to one person only—to the owner of Ned's
ship; and I have requested him to, send here anything which
may possibly be recovered. It is not likely now, however,"
he added, somewhat sadly.
Minnie had discovered how largely active exercise con-
duces to a cheerful spirit; and on the faintest approach
of melancholy she invariably rushed away to some new date,
or to see that Ponto's playfulness was not leading him into
mischief. Her natural freshness ot colour returned, and
when the weather permitted she was constant in her atten-
tion to the garden pets, every shoot of which was watched
from day to day, until each plant, each flower, was inter-
woven with her own heart,
She was busy one bi•tght morning in September, her
long hair blown hither and thither as she trimmed off the
rambling shoots of some trailing clematis. Ponto, too, was
busy, catching the falling twigs as they dropped from her
beautiful hand, which wileloyotected by a strong glove.
"You are behaving very wellAsir," she said to Ponto, who,
by a sort of instinct, placed hit large feet only in the prints
tatlich Mbanie's feet made as she reached, now here, now there,
- straggling branches. "Catch that 1" throwing her glove;
kilold it, sir, hold it !"
Mr. Roslyn was in the cottage, resting after his morning
walk. Nurse was busy with her domestic duties.
"Is this Mr. Roslyn's ?" shouted a gruff voice to Minnie,
Ponto bounding away to the little gate, after unceremoniously
throwing down the glove. "Come here, sir !" called Minnie,
emphatically ; but Ponto remained close to the gate, prepared
to resist any intrusion.
Minnie walked leisurely in the direction whence the sound
of the voice proceeded, and at once met a strong-built, sun-
burnt man, whose bluff, generous manner proclaimed him an
English sailer.
"Is this Mr. Roslyn's?' he repeated, eyeing Minnie half-
curiously as be s_poke.
"You have beard news of my brother ?" she asked,
earnestly, Ponto keeping close to Minnie and watching
eagerly. The sailor was evidently amused, and eyed her fronl
head to feot in a curious fashion, but without replying. A
few moments later he was in danger from Ponto, for the
sailorshad taken Minnie in his arms, kissing her again and
again, and losing the sleeve of his jacket as the price of his
brotherly assault.
Mr. Roslyn and Nurse came to see what all the commotion
meant; and, after one half-uttered, half-choking, "It's Ned !"
from Minnie, all were speechless. Tears of joy flowed freely
from all, Ned's surburnt cheeks being deeply streaked with
the uncontrollable flood. Minnie first recovered her self-
command, and commenced at once to reprimand Ponto for
being so stupid as not to know Ned, forgetting her own
shortcomings. The torn sleeve was playfully hung upon the
dog's kennel, with serious injunctions to "mind better for
the future," and helpless surprise now gave place to in-
expreesible thankfulness on the part of all.
"Cone, Minnie, I'm hungry," Ned said, half seriously; "I
should like to try some Bracken Dale beef." In an instant
she was up, and would have been away making preparations,
had not mischievous Ned caught he in his arms stroking
her long hair with affectionate tenderness. Ilia little
brotherly attention broke Minnie down, and she burst into
tears. Our readers will doubtless understand this outburst
better than either Mr. Roslyn, Ned, or Nurse Minnie tore
herself away, and remained for some time in her own room.

CHAPTIIR VI.
"Blessed through love are the gods ;—through love
Their bliss to ourselves is Orem ;
lleavenlier through love is the heaven above.
And love makes the eatth a heaven."
—Schiller.

Whwk have been the beauties of Bracken Dale with
restored health to with dear old Nurse happier
than ever, and with jovial, rollicaies, kindhearted Ned, now
brought, as from the dead, to cheer tha poos het more oon-
tented family? Endless yarns were spun from morning to
noon and from noon to night; the purpling tints of the leaves
on the hills were made constant objects of study; Ponto was
taught by Ned such tricks as no other dog could be expected
to learn; Mr. Roslyn became vigorous and almost young
again; and Ned declared, as he caught Minnie in his arms one
afternoon, that she got more beautiful every day. But why
did she always burst into tears when he suddenly seized her
to prevent her running away?
"You aro a foolish little minx, Minnie, Ido declare. Why
can't a brother kiss you without setting you crying ? " and he
always insisted upon an extra kiss by way of punishment.
The close of summer brought increasing joy and content-
ment to the dwellers in Violet Cottage; for their poverty led
them to seek rather to help the poor than to court the
rich. The poorest dwellers in Bracken Dale had reason to
bless their coming, and the joyful birds of summer found, as
autumn drew on, constant friends in the Roslyn& The story
of Ned's escape from the sinking ship was told and told
again—how he clung to a spar and drifted about for three
days In a tempestuous sea; how, hick and faint, his heart was
sinking within him when a vessel hove in sight; how he was
picked up, warmed, and led, and on reaching land presented
himself without delay to the owners; how he determined
upon going at once to Bracken Dale without previous an-
nouncement, that he might the more perfectly satisfy him-
self as to the real circumstances of his father and sister.
Thus happily sped the sunny days of summer, and the
tender, lining lights and shadows of autumn; and thus
too, contentedly, sweetly and joyously, Ned Roslyn and
Minnie watched the glowing tints of October deepen, until
fierce November winds drove them rustling through the
valley; and their place was taken by the tender, loving
snow flakes which, like heavenly foliage, hung on the woods
of the hill-side as December drew near.
As -Christmas approached Minnie seemed more and more
determined to drive away melancholy by incessant activity.
She trudged through the frozen snow to every cottage in
which an invalid, old or young, needed consolation or help.
The birds were more carefully tslided than over, and even
Pouto—the strong, frolicsome Ponto—vras sobered and toned
down into a very sedate dog, who could he trusted to carry
homely dainties for his mistress even in the darkest nights.
And thus, on all hands, the increased blessedness of making
others happy was theirs in rich abundance.
At last came Christmas Eve; and Minnie longed to tell
Ned all about another Christmas Eve, the last they had
spent at Ackland. he told him fonaething, it is true; but
only very little. How a year ago her father lay at the point
of death ; how Dr. Orvin chose to reprimand her for wast-
ing her labour on what he had cruelly insinuated was a most
hopeless case, a dying man; how she had vexed him by
her resentment of the cruel remark; and how, in a fit of
temper, he had handed over the care of his patient to
Mr. Podlter—all this was repeated to Ned, whose ardent
soul expressed a desire to s3ttle matters personally with
Orvin. Minnie, however, carefully concealed from her
brother Orvin's profession of love, and her own engagement

to Poulter.
It is true that Ned's ready wit and his own admiration
for Minnie lel him to tease his sister in a halt comic, half
serious vein ; for, clasping her to his honest heart, he d e
dared that "one or both of the fellows were no doubt in
love with you, Minnie ; and no wonder that one became
spiteful and acted the rogue : and the other, being a fool,
hardly knew what to make of these mysterious eyes ;" and
he generally closed his harangue upon the subject by re-
gretting that Minnie was related to him, in order that he
might have the pleasure of taking her honest heart by
storm. Minnie was, as might be expected, to serious to eke
about such matters; and every reference to Poulter went to
her very heart. She constantly feared lest her father had
revealed the secret.
The bells of the old church of Bracken Dale rang out
merrily as the clock was striking ten on Christmas Eve, and
Minnie, who had her own views upon the subject of Waits,
at once said, "Good Night l'' to Ned, leaving thehospitable
reception of the singers to him and Ponto, for Mr. Roslyn
had retired to rest. At length the rustic voices were heard
in front of the cottage, and Ponto, howling a hideous wel-
come, they were ushered into the cosy kitchen, where suit-
able refreshments were served without stint. Minnie mean-
while, with a trembling heart, listened from the seclusion
' of her own bedroom, and secretly and sadly wondered what
had become of her old friends at lekland.
At midnight one morelcs.rol was sung in the garden, and
the singers departed. Ned wandered round the village with the
waits, eiajoying the Lrisp keen air, and on his return was sur-
prised to find Ponto in a great rage, and rousing the whole neigh-
bourhood with his loud barking. "Down, Polito, down! the
music has upset your temper !' Ned remonstrated; but' as
the dog still showed slgns of uneasiness, Ned, suspecting
strangers were about with no good intent, stepped indoors
and quickly returned with an old flintlock pistol which he
had purchased at a sale in the village. The fresh breeze had
quickened his perceptions, and he still fancied he heard
footsteps. After loading the pistol he proceeded to make
himself comfortable in an oupouse which commanded
a good view of the garden path ; he soon visited the kitchen
again, however, and quickly returned with a bottle of whiskey,
from which only a small portion had been used, and once more
settled down to the chilly task of watching for burglars.
A few minutes later and Minnie heard the tramp of heavy
feet, but supposed it was Ned, as Ponto gave no sign of
fresh alarm; and very quickly Ponto, Minnie, and even the
valiant Ned, were all in sound slumber.

CHAPTER VII.
"I know the worth within the heart which sighs,
Yet shuns, the modest sorrow to declare ;
And what rude fortune niggardly denies,
Unto the noble shall my love repair."
—Schiller.
The birds were early astir around Violet Cottage on the
morning of Christmas Day, and the bells rang out merrily
as Minute's eyes fell upon the frosted window-panes. Her
thoughts went back, involuntarily, to Ackland; and she re-
called thoso strains which a year ago sounded so hollow and
meaniagless, now so beautiful, scrtrne. She knew at length
what peace was, and, in hdnest,poverty, had found a con-
tentment to which, in affluence, she had been a stranger.
And love, too, she understood better now, and realised more
fully its- unselfish character. Her heart, however, still
yearned for some information about Mr. Poulter ; and,
though she had herself insisted on a separation, yet as she
had sought, in that, his benefit rather than her own, the
noble self-sacrifice had strengthened her love ; and at this
moment she felt more truly his than ever.
But while Minnie was meditating in bed, Nurse was up and
about; and what was her surprise to be met at the door by
Ponto, who was moaning piteously. Seizieg her dress he led
her to the outhouse, in which lay, in the dim mist, the form
of a human being. Nurse started with affright ; but in an
instant Ned (for it was he) mist d himself, and stretched out
his band as if to reach something. "Why, bless. my heart,
Mr. Ned, you'll be fr( zen to death I What have you been
doing here all night?" asked Nurse. "Watching for bur-
glars," he replied wall a grin ; and I was just going to shoot
you for one; but that confounded dog has eaten the pistol,
and—," added Ned. There was soon a great commotion,
and Minnie, her face radiant with morning glow, prescribed
all sorts of remedies suited to Ned's case. He was greatly
amused, but he carefully abstained from informing anyone
what Ponto had eaten besides the pistol. Many a joke was
cracked; and Pouto was quizzed curiously by both lklinnie
and Ned; but he was too judicious a dog to divulge any
soOrete. _. .
. All were seated to their Christmas dinner, when a step will
i heard, and Ponto's tail,tnefved in a friendly Ashton.- • "-Who
'can it be?" was asked by each in turn. After a few moments
Ia sharp rap announced a visitor, and Ponto, who, like a faith-
ful guard, marched at once to the door, was soon bounding
in frantic delight upon an old friend, who stood looking
with minim glee upon the astonishment visible in every files.
Poor Minnie yielded half timidly to Poulter's embrace, while
Ned looked on like one prepared to avenge an insult, For
some mop:teats no woOA were uttered, but sobs and sighs
were struggling with wads for uttiraucp. Mr.