The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-02-20
Volume 10.


!. Nettie's beau, but she needed none Ut them
No words of love making had ever passed
between herself and Wilson Rivers. yet she
felt confident in the certainty OF his love-
sure that at some good time he would tell
her of it. 1t was part of her very being
this love and trust, and so happy and con-
slant, she waited for him to confirm his &C
tions by speech. He was her constant com
panion, her teacher, her protector, her escort,
and in her pure little heart she firmly be,
leiyed her lover.
And after this long preamble, during which
Willie has washed his hands and taken hi;
place at the tea-table, we come back to the
cyentful fact-the big house on the hill was
taken.
.Such furniture y said Willie, with ener
gy. such chairs and tables All the way
from New York they came! The folks are
New Workers, too. They've gotta big box
that is a piano, somebody says
o. said Net,ie with wide opened eyes, q
do so long to hear piano! Who are they
WilIiey
why. there's lady and three daughters
One of them is married, and has two more
little girls; then there's II grown.up son. The
married one is named Sawyer; her husband
is in the navy, and he's away. The mother
is widow; her name is LOTUS
a widow = cried Wilson.
Nettie looked at him in utter amazement.
His face was white as death, his bloodless
lips parted, his eyes liSed on Willie with a
strange stare. Seeing that he had attracted
the attention Of oil the family, he gave a ner-
vous little laugh, and abruptly left the table
Nettic's interest in the big white house
and its inmates was lost in wOnderment about
Wilson. He was always so self-possessed and
quiet that this sudden agitation was as new
as it was alarming. 1t was quite latein the
evening before he joined them in the parlor,
but when he came he was self-possessed and
quiet rs il no word had ever stirred the depth
of his heart to such u marked manifestation.
His manner TO Nettie, always atiectionate,
had a new tone that thrilled her with hap
piness yet there wasa sadness lurking in
the depths of his dark eyes, shadow on his
lrow that had norer been 90 deep. He was
mover gay, but his usual msnner was cheer
fal now. quiet and sad, as II some strange
grief had befallen him.
Ii was not long before the newcomers
! were the queens Of the village. With wealth
; and style, the young ladies were gracious in
manner, couteous to callers, and prompt to
make friends. Walter, the son, was hand.
some enough to win his. way easily in the
hearts Of the villagers, and the big house
was one Of the most popular in Linwood.
They had been in their newhome but n short
time, when. Nettie called with her mother
to welcomo- them and extend tho hospitality
of the farm to.fbe new comers. The little
village beauty returned. delighted with her
> visit Mrs. Lotus and Mrs. Sawyer were so
kind, and the girls, Winnie and Emily. so
handsome, and the son so courteous. Nettie
could talk of nothing else, and the Doctor
listened eagerly. Heasked thousand ques-
tions, calling the girls by their Christian
names. and flushing out of his customary
dignity to pour forth hise eager interrogations'
You will go with us on Tuesday evening,
will YOU not 2 said Nettic. we are invi.
ted to tea. and the invitation includes you.
There will be no company, but Emily has
promised tha, shall hear tire piano.
Ico! No-l-well, yes, will go, said
the Doctor, aud again his pale face made
Nettie wonder.
Tuesday evening, the eyentful evening
came, and at what would be deemed in cities
an unfashiouablc early hour the guests ar.
rived at the big house. Mrs. Holmes. Nettic
and Willie came first the others were to
ioin them after tea. The afternoon passed
; pleasantly, though Ncttic, in her constant
, little heart, wished Walter would not be
, quite so attentive. and was glad that vii.
D son was not there to see him. 1t was early
? still when Farmer Holmes and tho Doctor
arrived. Mrs. Holmes and Mrs. Lotus were
in the nursery decpin the mysteries OF new
, apron pattern, and upon Nettic fell the task
: of introducing the Doctor and her father.
$ The latter was cordial and pleasant in his
, greeting. bu, the Doctors face was pallid'
{ and the hand that held Nettie's cold Us death.
He made q stiff bow, and stood leaning
against the mantle piece, evidently i'll at
, case. Nettie, accustomed to SEQ him the
life of society, courteous and popular. pug
5 zled her brain in vain to account for this
strange manner. 1t threw a chill over them
5 an. AT last. to break tho spell, the sisters
. threw open the piano, and began to play
, sr, Emily then Winnie. and finally both
: sat down for duet.
: Where was the pleasure Net,ic expected
I, to derive from hearing that wonderful instru
T ment, Gone! lost in her strange oew'iaer'
!. ment over Wilson's conduct. From tho mo-
n mens when the piano was opened, his lace
= had changed from its cold reserve to look
i Of the most eager interest. lie had come
4 nearer and nearer to the piano, till, leaning
d forward, his whole soul was in the eager