Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-05-04

around the house, and a small plot of
ground which was digni6ed by the name
: farm was this:
The old house had been handed down
for three generations in the Macdonald
family, and after coming into John Mac
donald's hands its was mortgaged by
him for some unknown reason he laid
down and gave up the ghost, and the
present Mrs. Macdonald was left widow,
with nothing on her hands but Louise
and the mortgage, half of which she man
aged to redeem when the. holder started /
for Europe, saying nothing about the
mortgage; and from that time until our
story opened, nothing had been heard
from him, nor could his solicitor wind up
his business until they had heard cer-
tain news of his death, so Mrs. Macdon-
aid enjoyed undisputed sway. Such is
her history, and there she sat grimly sur
veying the preparations for breakfast.
CHAPTER II.
'Ye dinna put that saucer in its
place 2 shrieked Mrs. Macdonald, still
watching Louise. 'Ye should have a
place for everything; dinna you hear
meP Here the vixen half rose from her
seat, and Louise turning knocked plate
off the table. 1t fell upon the floor, but
happily, did not break. Louise returned
the plate to the table. Then came the
storm.
'Ye BOBBY! ye ninny! almost yelled
the now infuriated. Did 1 bring ye up
TO break dishes? ? she continued, 'ye
beggar's brat?
Louise advanced toward her; those
beautiful eyelashes were quivering and
jerking as if their owner suffered some
inward agony. Her face was very pale.
what do you mean? Are you not
) my mother ? asked Louise.
!, 'Ha! hap laughed Mrs. Macdonald
My old man picked ye up at the door
step there, said Mrs. Macdonald, pointing
to where the sun rising higher and high
er, had left one struggling beam at play
, upon the threshold. There's where he
picked ye up, wrapped in rags, rags !! l
say,-here the old woman shook with
anger and took ye in and clothed,
fed, and warmed you, and now ye return
it by breaking The dishes, ye dolt, ye
J, idiot, do you hear?' But Louise heard
S her not; stunned by Mrs. Macdonald's
words, she had sunk into chair where
she sat, like statue, pale and cold.
: will you ever get the breakfast, ye
fool? What harm did it do ye to inform
ye that ye were none of mine?'
Louise mechanically arose and pre-
: pared the simple meal; but it seemed tC
e her as if she moved in a dream that
S all she had seen or heard was vision.
She sat down TO the table, but coult
+ eat nothing she rested her face in hel
e hands, and thoughts crowded fast into
d her bewildered brain. Am a beggart
u brat thing for all the world to trift
s. with, and a roof to shelter me but this
n an outcast, tauntcd by those who hate me
'f beloved by no one? God protect me
/ The tears rolled down her face in grea
% drops she sobbed aloud.
Crying exclaimed Mrs. Macdonald
IS who had hitherto remained silent. Cry
is ing, are ye? For what did take y
le and give ye an education for? An
N when John Mcguire asked ye to becom
or his wife, and ye refused him, the bes
m match in all the country, why did l sto
myself from putting you out the door,
Cd Why, because l liked ye, though ye wa
iOuhuliHS' Liu hOt give JC PoOtic'
le name / could pick out?' continued th
nr scold: Louise, after my own gant
or mother, and John gave ye the name {
n Leroy and as ye grew older, for fes
ed ye would take it into your head to ru
re away when ye knew that ye were nj
he my BARN, added Macdonald to it
OF Louise Leroy Macdonald and nov
p- that I've told ye all, ye can be off as soc
LIST as ye like, for l am
he At this moment Mrs. Macdonald wi
interrupted by footsteps approaching II
!s door, and in minute more a gentee
sat dressed farmer entered the room.
eh Mrs. Macdonald he exclaimed, 'ha'
re- ye money in the c. bank at Edi
1e- burgh!'
sty "A matter of thousand pounds sa
Mrs. Macdonald.
;he Ye've lost it all then; the bank b
ent broke Then, never needing Mrs. Ma
a donald, who sat pale and stupefed,
de- went on in rafting kind of way :.
ter There's John Mcguire lost a matter
ers two hundred pounds, and there's lar