The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-12-27

and we had such pleasant talk such
unwordly chatter Those walks and
simple tea drinAings rested the brain
wearied with law business, quarrels and
stratagems, more than l can tell.
The rough hands had grown softer
now, the waist taper, the bust full. The
sweep of woman's robes, the tread of
womans light shod feet had taken the
place Of clumping leather boots and
scant cotton skirts.
Iknew this, but Nelly was child tc
me all the same. Was l not by adop-
ton her father? Hal not ny early
griel and staff upon which I leaned aged
me before any time? OF course she
would always be young to me; and why
| lelt so angry if by chance some gay
farmer chattcd over the fence, or some
neighbor saw her home from church |
could not tell. AN old mans temper l
suppose ! said, and sighed ike
young one.
So three years passed. At the end
of that time Aletta's husband died:
They had quarrellcd, and she had made
Kim wofuily jealous, it was said, aud all
his property, save a mere pittanco, was
willcl to strangers.
One day lady in black walked into
ny Office; when she lifted her veil |
saw Iletta Stantou's face, closer to mine
than it had been since we parted. Ny
heart gave no wild throt. | felt as
! though | were mere stranger.
Courtoously and quite calmly l heard
! her business. She intended to contest
the will and needed advice. l gave her
what ! could. 7 referred her to broth
er lawyer as the one who would best es-
= pouse kcr cause. As for myself l told
, her truly that my time was too much
occupied to undertake anything more,
:. and wished her success.
. She looked at me wistfully, with her
i. great blue eyes full of tears, as she rose
S to leave.
e 1T was cruel Of him. she said, to
t leave me so poor, but lie was never kind
Q never-noti in the honeymo on even
4 regret to hear it, l said.
: 4 could expect nothing more she
o said Il did not love him-I never loved
n but ore-and that one"
d She paused and looked at me.
il That one love still
|. And heaven knows no feeling Of ,o
! vengc or netty triumph was in my hear
e when l looked in Aletta Stanton's eye.
as, ,ifI did not understand her, and cour
? teously bowed her out.
did I care for that woman, I thought
t, 'ol is it all a dream ?
l. ! took my adopted daughter to th
theatre that night, and we saw the Lad,
e of Lyons together. 1t was her frs
d play going experience, and she enioye,
i it Immensely. She wore white dros
and bonnet, and the coral drops | haC
t, fastened few days before in her prett
n little ears. 1 was very proud of her
r, could not help looking in her eyes
IN and touched her hand with mine. Wher
- left her | kissed her.
d And she answered Good night wit
le cheek dyed on the iustauta deep scar
'e let and ran away as Betty came out I,
ID chat with me.
IN From that day dated an odd change
ty My adopted child seemed shy cf lettin
c, me keep her hand-shy even of chat
c, ting as she did. She answered gray,
ID more woulauiy. [ laucicd she did nc
re care for me as she did, Perhaps som
a. of those farmers who leaned over th
it gate at sunset, some Of those young fe
er lows who had so often escorted her HON
ID from church had won her from me.
e, grew little moody. l found myself i
I'd brcwn studies when | should have bee
ly at work. At last l determined to di.
OF cover whether l was really going t
lose my child and went down to tn
n, cottage. I found her sitting there a
a work with Betty
he After all it was no easy task. I coul
I'd not do as I had hoped. tried jesting
m aud spoke Of one and another of tn
~ young fellows near. we shall hav
Nelly stolen from us suppose ? l said
IS There is nothing so easily lost from
I'd family as a pretty daughter. But VIII