The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-11-25
MILDRED GRAY.
CHAPTER I,

And if they order you to give me L
Mildred, what will you do?"
The scene was a cosy aud rather handso,
room in al English country bouse. T
walls were lined with books, and a table.
tered with dictionaries ard grammars. sto
IN recess between the bow-windows o,
side we're to be seen the gay tints of plea
ant Hover garden, and tie bright spring gu
shine, streaming into the room. lighted
even the heavy damask window curtains M
the dark leather arm chair drawn up To d
hearth. In this chair sat tall, spare mi
OF about twenty seven, whose closely stay
and rather thin face wore somewhat ,te
look, belied by pleasant voice and a kindI
eantAi smile. a pair of thinly mount,
shoifsishted speetacies made him loo
oidet rhsn he really was. but iehiDd the
e~ahkfed a'patr of remarkably handsome Ora
eyes. A g4ri Of seventeen was standing q
tae rug eetore the fire. her bright hair tumble
"nef anh mildly abou, her face and the. ittl
r. ers, Somewhat daubca with ink. held
fint 40 graz ma ar as 4 she Had eou,e t,ra-
Germ tefs help in ifhe Natter of the h II
her etctf'e lying on the table.
written eA 'xhe ri=ites RE asovsl academ
Every 'mbers Mr. MiHais- heau,;f,,
in 1862 rem, Mildred 6rsn p,;abt ba,,
"a Trust me-" girl ia that hictnre She
been taken for thu relad.,e fue,tser d.scr;,,S
was SO like her as l
ton unnecessary. on 10 give me nm
8. And if they order : me up
Mildred, L.s% WA tn. question, b ut he probably
Iss ne ssxea IKE ,,swe4 'ns asd M,ldred gave none,
a1c-nt such as might be con,ccve' "' shy
1ook from under her eyelids. but sl; 'A''e
close up to the big chair. and standinD -,
the side of it. laid her hand Oh the arm 4
larger hand covered it Instantly aud Mr
Reeves looked up into her eyes.
"And you really ..n,nk vou have courage
20 hold ou,2 Four years, Mildred; it is a
long time. Poor child. you have good deal
to go through, but how to help it - |
never felt so inclined to grumble a; my po-
si,ion."
REALLY ?" che questioned with CLEAN OF
a smile, Their, changing her tone, But don t
you think there is little chance of their
conserving now?'
dearest childie. no! When You say that
sort of thing, it almost makes lie feel as ii
had taken a wrong advantage of your igno
rance of the world. No, Milly, If you ever
belong TO me. it cansonly be when you are
twenty-one and your own mistress, and in all
..ts time till then | shall never be- allowed to
see YOU. Heigh-ho. R"t STILL he added: as
if talking to hmseir, - :: wouldn't be ""nor
able, to keep them in ignorance. No, II
must be told tonight, eoate que eoute -
He lapsed into silence. bat presently began
again. Mildred had left her position by his
chair, and seated herself on tootstool before
the Ere
People would say was talking nonsense
but really don't think it will be such very
bad thing for you after all | know you
i liz.
love any one else SO we'll" Her lips formed
"neve-," but the sound was scarcely audible.
"And you see, poor as am. believe shall
always be able to maintain..myself by teaching
or writing Perhaps l could get on the staff
of one Of the newspapers, and YOU will have
money enough to make you rich under any
circumstances"
Mildred veered round upon her footstool.
and put her t. hands clasped together upon
his knee.
81 don't believe you care for me bit, or
you wouldn't say such unkind things on pur
pose to vex me. Such nonsense, too, she
went on, with the pretty pettIshness of a
child and, indeed, she looked little more
"as if when we-I mean some day-every-
thing have won't be youis, your very own.
and not mine at all. And I'm proud
sometimes when think it will make differ
great great, favor. Ycu won't like it, know,
but you must promise snot to scod me- just
this once" and she looked up al hun with
pleading eyes.
He did not seem much inclined to be
What is it, Milly ?'
But promise ME you'lldo it?''
"Thats what yos used to ask me when
you were little bit of child but / must
hear what this wonderful favor is first
don't altogether trust you in these sort OF
things
"WeIl, but you must do IT, Why don't YOU
say it for me? 1t is so hard to get Out, aud
you know what mean"
She hid her face in her hands that were
still on his knee and went on.
mean if-if you have to leave Charley,
You may be a long time before you get work
that will sui, you, and I've more money than
know what to do with, even now, and il YOU
would only take a little-onlv lttle-and
spend it for me, it would make me very.
rery happy" And, on the verge OF crying,
she put on his knee a little purse, netted with
s,right silk and beads, in which lay bank
NOES to the amount of fl00. He opened ii
aud eSCk'd at them with moved expression
For SECOND he did not speak, then he oi
them out, snd tucked them into her hand,
shutting it tightly into his own.
"Miiiy, cannot do it, '..he said nv dar,
ling, I'll keep the purse as long as live. but
you must net Ask the other. / could moi
speak openly to your guardian if had
touched it-,Mildred, cannot
She said no m ore, but rose and stood look
iug st the FIRE with sorfowiul face. Pres
emily he roused himself, and, looking at biz
watch, said:
..Put away your book, childie, and we vii
have . last walk together; they need no
srudgs as that. at all events.
She obeyed in silence, and methodical!.
tidied tbs room.
"C0me here. Mildsei.'' he said, when sh
bad done. sad putting his arm around her, h
wbisparsd: You must not take IL to hear
that ! could not do what yen asked me
When you think it over you will see wa
right, Gut there is one bit of gold you ma
give me. and there it is he added, genil
touching her bright hair. " Now go and &c
ready. God bless yop. darling" and he ben
down and kissed her ii2s.
The next day ths story had been told, an
had met with the reception NJ. Reeve e'
zee ted. That he. gentleman BON HHd bre
though he Vas. should have ventIred 10 max
love to Mildred Grant, the hslfsisier to fb
boy to whom he was tutor. was crime
such magnitude As never to have been Imaai'
ed or provided against by her mother. Mr.
Carlton. No words could express her iudi,
nation and dismay. and few were wasted ]
the attempt. Mildred had pleaded hea'