The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-03-30
ELLEN ATssEFsTDN.
By MARY CORBITT.

l am busy tonight, thinking of the past;
and as scenes and faces long since faded
pass before my mental vision, one gentle
face and one loving heart that once knew
come back with vivid recollection. Let
me tell you the story in my plain, simple
manner.
Ellen Atherton was left an orphan at an
early age, and being dependent upon dis
tant relatives for subsistence which was
grudgingly and unwillinely given, she led
a lonely and unhappy life. Possessed of
an extremely sensitive nature, and warm,
generous heart, she found but little SYM
2athy among those around her. At length
an incident happened that gave different
coloring t. all her future life. 1t was in
the summer time when gentleman came
to visit her reatiyes,-a tall, stately look
ING man, with fine face and deep blue
eyes. " Were there ever such eyes before?'
tho----,t Ellen, opening her own brow
orbs to their greatest extent. Eyes that
looked down in hers so bright, so brilliant.
Eyes that seemed craving a place in heart.
Where did he come from z" she thought
from these among whom she lived.
Her curiosity was at last satisfied. lie
was Philip Ray, the owner of neirhbor-
ing estate, and had come to transact some
business with her relatives. An orphan
like herself, but unlike her in all other re
spects, as he was rich, and had travelled
half the world over; while she was little
dependent girl, unlettered and untamed,
left to grow pretty much like the weeds
on his lands.
'And who may this be 2 he exclaimed,
taking her by the hand, as he was prepar-
ing TO depart. What little gypsy have
we here2 A stray waif, I've no doubt,
he said, halfjestingIy, looking in her eyes.
4 grulf answer as to who and what she
was, on the part of her relatives, closol :he
interview for the present.
Good bye, little sister, ho said gaiy.
we shall See each other often, and mount
ing his horse he was soon gaiIoping over
the hills She stood gazing at his retreat
ing form, thinking that something very
different from what she had ever seen be-
fore had come and gone-something that
by It's presence made everything bright
something that she hoped would come
| again.
Nor was she disappointed, for in a few
days he called again, and taking her aside,
said he had a proposition to make.
You are not happy here. You want
7 to learn tlat can see in your greedy
eyes, You thirst for knowledge. They
would not mind parting with you, and as
people say | am an eccentric genius, in
tend to exhibit it by adopting you as a sis
ter, sending you to school, and making a
brilliant woman Of you"
Half Of this sne scarcely understood at
the time, she was so surprised, so happy.
To 90 to school-to learn--to be feed
from the listless, ignorant life she daily led
Oh how happy she was. 1t twas so like a
fairy tale,-and he, so kind, 50 handsome,
SO noble, to educate and adopt her.
| will tell you why | call you little sis
ter, he said, seating her beside him. : |
had a sister once,-a gentle girl. Many
summer flowers have bloomed and many
wintry SHOWS have drifted over her grave,
you are very like her-the same dreamy
eyes and raven hair. l loved her very
foundly. There has been a vacant spot in
nv heart since she left me alone. Will
you be my sister Ellen?
Would sh 3? Yes-a thousand times
yes! And she would be such good obo
dent sister. Such loving, affectionate
sister. Indeed, she would try and merit
this great-this generous deed
Something like this she endeavored TO
say, but her heart was too full for utter
ance.
Time flew rapidly by. Ellen had REQ
lied her highest expectations at school, ard
fulfilled part of Phillips predictions. =
Greedy for knowledge, as he had said, she
soon outstripped her companions; and hav-
ing for aim his appreciation, she soon gain
ed what she had sought.
Her last term at school vas drawing
rapidly to close. What happy years she
had passed there, and now the busy world,
the great untried future was before her
and Notwithstanding Phillips most urgent
entreate5 and almost positive commands,
she would not be longer dependent on him.
What. after five long years Of study,
not to be competent to earn her own living,
when her greatest ambition in life was to
do something in return for his great kind
ness =? She must be doing something
could not be idle. The many great hopes
and visions of her future life must be work
eI out, and in what way could she begin
better than in earning her own living?
She would try, at any rate, and if what
she proposed doing was not congenial she
would let him know, and lie should again
lie her protector.
This She told him when he came to bid
her good bye. He was going away; and
telling her if, during his absence, she should
regret the step she had taken, to let him
know-they parted-he thinking she would
soon be discouraged, and she sanguine and
confident Of snccess.
Ellen procured a situation as under
teacher in well known Academy. Phillip
was still away, and although she heard
from him often he did not mention his re.
turn. Months rolled by, and it was Two
years s:nce he had gone away, when he
wrote that he would soon come home.
you must be prepared for a surprise,
dear Ellen he wrote. { | shall bring you
new sister, and one that Won must love.