The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1857-01-22
WHOLE NUMBER 292

of the calm green woods full of w.ld
mowers, where it would be such hea,-
enly refresbment for her to wander all
day long. But she must work early
and late for, strive and save az she
might, they were growing poorer.
Il declare the. windows Of Henry
Strckland's house are all wide open,
and the carriage is at Ahe door. |
shouldn't wonder if he got home las
night. His house keeper told nae she
expected him this week.
So said old Mrs. Hale, as she peceed
out of the window, shading her eyes
with her hand. Lucy quietly laid down
her work and walked to the window
where her mother stood. As she look
ed, the hall door, which had been SO
long closed, opened, and out bounded a
little girl, with waven ringlets tossing
under her gypscy hat, followed by Hen
ry Strickland, who lifted her into the
carriage, then taking seat beside her,
drove gaily away. 1t was so near that
she could even hear his voice and his
familiar laugh.
cit is he," said Lucy softly, and
then she went back to her seat snd
threaded her needle, and scwed as fast
as ever.
"But who is she 7" said old Mrs.
Hale, I'm going right sp to ask Mrs
Grey she'll tfil anc the whole story"
i And before Lucy could inteTposc, Mrs
Hale's bonnet was on, anG she was on
her way to make Henry's housekeeper
morning call.
Henry had been two years absent;
and now as Lucy sat alone, she contras-
ted in her mind, these two years with
the two which had preceded his de-
parture. How desoate she had been
There was no one to lead to read to her
in the long. silent cveniDgs-to bring
her flowers-to take a twilight walk
with her. Day after day she had look
ed over to the dreary shut up house, and
onged in vain to see the Henry of old
timeS-her Hsnry-come out with his
spade on his shoulder, and smile fox
her on his face Sabbath after Sabbath
she had looked across the church to the
empty pew, and met no glance from the
bold bright eyes of her old playmate
She had been very lonely, and often
very sad.
But now he had come back, and
would he not hrsten to see her. would
he not come that very evening, and tell
her of his travels and adventures, and
say, Have you ever th0nght of me,
Lucy :"
! Poor Lucy! Long and YEARLY shalt
thou watch and wait, and thy tender
heart will scarce endure till the breaking
of the day but be patient
During the summer, Henry employed
himself in teaching lola the English
language, md so rapid was her progress
=, that in autumn she was ready to begin
the study of the common branches Of
educatuion. At considerable expense,
teachers were engaged to como from
the neighboring city and give her week
ly lessons. A splendid piano-forte and
harp were purchased for her, and, with
motherly Mrs. Grey and her warm
hearted guardian, why should she not be
happy:
One day she came dancing into the
library, her dark hair wreathcd with
reses, aud looking beautiful as fairy in
her youthful bloom. She sat down on
velvet ottoman at her guardians side
and asked,
"Who is that pale, sweet-lookig lady
who live in the little white cottage -
She always smiles on me when pass
by, and to-day she beckoned to me, and
asked my name, and gave me all these
roses," and she pointed to her wreath
/" Who is that beautiful lady 7"
"Do you think she is beautiful ~ ask
ed Henry abstractedly.
y YES" said lola; "sho makes me
$ think of my dear mother, only she had
large black eyes, while this lady 8 arc
blue as the sky over Florence. But
she looks like my mother when she
smiles"
"She is Miss Hale" said Henry in
reply to her eager look Lucy Hale,
/, my old playmate aud friend"