The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1861-03-05
NELL CREIGHTON.
bY uHbA HOWE.

Harry Howard is my best friend, and n
clever fc .ow, as well as first rate painter. -
Besides pretty wife and two rosy children,
he owns the coziest little cottage imaginable
jus, pleasant lide from the city. The
walls of his parlor are hung with fine paint
ings; but one, which hangs over the mantle,
is his special favorite. 1t is the picture of
a farmhouse, surrounded by an orchard and
garden, with a meadow, where the mowers
are resting, spreading tree and pssture, with
handsome cows cooling their legs in the deep
stream.
On the back porch CT tho house stands n
woman with pleasant face and masses Of
bright red hair. In one hand she hel2s lit
tic basket and 1ocks Of chichens and turkeys
are eagerly gathering up the grans she has
scattered Every line of the picture must be
familiar 10 Harry Howard, for, often, hen
am there, (hs wife is my sister, and como
aud 60 at peasure) no leans his elbow on the
mantle, and gazes earnestly at the bright
haired young won an.
"Was that ed'headed lassio your sweet
hcaui' asked him one day wLcu we were
alone.
"a sweetor heart never beat in woman,
and better woman never lived" said llar.
~, sententiousy.
"If there's story let Il. hear it, Hal. !
always 'ancied there was.
"You know, ! believe, that | was born in
the town of Claremount. After my fathers
death my mother supper ed herself and me
with her needle. was to small and delicate
to render her much assistance: indeed the
OILY work for which / had any liking was
making pictures. When | was ten years Old
| had drawn a wonderful portrait Of tho vi
lagc pastor, two or three Madonnas, with in
passible yellow curls and pigs and sheep with
out number. A year after that my mother
died leaving me pennilcss. | have rehtives
who fond Of talking about their cousin or
nephew, the prom isiug young artist W! oso
sits are haild with delight, second only TO
the Fourth Of July and Thanksgiving. They
might have provided for me tber, but they
dill not take the trouble, and fell into tho
hands of wealthy young nerchans, who pro
posed to do by me rs he would by an own
son. How he would have done by his own
son don't know; was only too happy that
| he d not possess the blessing. His daught
crN, the Misses Ballard, were bellies if not
b"au,ies were educated and sccomplshed.-
Three months year ut school was consider
sutiic ent for me. My clothes were coarse, but
comfortable, my II cals taken with the serv-
ants, and employment that of an crand boy.
Zone warm August after Ioon was in the
countlug-room with Mr.. Billiard and his part
ucr Mr.. Bliss. They wcre talking together,
! leaning over tho table on which was col
lection Of notes aud rec pts, examining the
vignette Of a one bundled dollar bill which
my master had placed there. lie noticed
what | was doing at least, AVID, giving me
push from the table, ordered me from the
room. THIS evening | was sommoncd to the
library, where found the two merchants.-
The bank note al which had been looking,
was missing and | was suspected AS having
stolen it. OF course ] stoutIy denied the
charge, but protesta'ious fell on unbelieying
ears.
! ale must have taken it, said Mr.. Bliss
It, not in the coun,iug.room, I'm certain,
and 10 on, has bcon there but yon, and me ,
and him. a sm1rt application of the rod
will make hi " give it up, III wanaut.--
These children always lie, you know. II l
was his master I'd soon bring him to bis sens
es. Spare the rod aud spoil the child, Solo
mon SAYS.
"Tbis suggest seemed to meet Mr.. Bal
lard's approval, for calling Joe the man Of
all.work, he sent him TO the stable for the
carriage whip. Meanwhile / was ordered to
remove my coat and vest, and informed that
would have tie satisfaction Of being whipped
until confessed my fault. was very small
and slender for my years--nearly Thirteen,
and so timid that | trembled like an aspen
when Mr.. Ballard raised the whip abvoe my
almost naked shoulders.
Before it descened the door swung open
and Nell Creighton, a pleasant faced young
woman, came in. She had heard pur couver-
sation, probably through tho half-open door.
Nell was a servant in Mr.. Ballads employ,
and had often seen her in the kitchen; but,
associating flaming locks aHd' fierce tempcrs
together, had rather rcnulsed her friendly
advance. Now, however | could almost have
knclt at her feet and worshppel her, when,
with tho mir Of grcnadicr. she marched up
to Mr.. Ballard and snatchcd the whip from
his hands. Then followed storm of words
in which | was laui,d as martyr. and the
two merchants denounced as something only
n little lower than the evil one himself.
"Mr. Ballard was frightened at first but
his self possession soon returned and his M
ger rose. Taking NE bv the shoulders, he
pushed mo across the room into small clos
ct with glass doors. Having turned the key,
he threw open the door Of the outer room
and bade Nell leave tho house instantly.
~ YOU are found here to morrow morning,
Nlfs, III send for the police, he sni angrily
"You will get poIiced, you old rascal,
muttercd Nell, as she sappeared.
"For the next three DAYS | remained a
close prisoner. Mr.. B,ll rd declsred should
remain in confinement until | confessed my
fault aud delivered up the property; but
could not perform impossibIllilics. Tho third
NOR ing awoke with an aching head and
burning cheek. could hardly swallow 2
mouthiu of bread aud butter which was
brought me, bu! drained tho glass OF Wa Ct
eagerly, and would have called for more had
, any one been near. Late in the afternoon
when | lay tossing upon tho hard floor, fol
tie garet TO which had been removed con
, tanned neither chair nor bed, tho door opened
and Nell Creighton came iu She had COR
back after her trunk, and had seized the op
porlunity, when the family were out, to yisr
,nv ptison