The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-08-17


and I was only ten yesrs. Older than she
was; bu. when she checked her light tread
to keep pace with mo, when tho childish
laugh bubbled and ipplcd at something
which could only mako mo smile, fe''
,h., yean arc not the only things which age
%. -- -.s -,...-.tr..
was working hard at my proisss'ou
100. bad hean and hands full. in . year
I found that could pass Aletta on her hus.
band q arm without q pans. In year
more I wondered whether she had really
changed, or whether fancied black curis
moro than did golden bands for found
myself thinking my little daughter much
the prctticst. ssrr. .
In the sultry evening" bused to leave rod
tape and parchment and 30 out TO Bety's
cottage 10 have tea with her and my adopt.
cd child. Then, while she polished up the
cups, Nellie Hay and used to walk down
to the river side. Tall q she was growing
I had way Of holding her hand still ; and
we had such pleasant talks such odd, un
worldly chatter! Those walks and simple
tea drinkings rested the brain, wearied with
law business, qusrels, and quibbles, and
stratagems, moro than can tell.
The rough hands had grown soiser now,
the waist inper, tho bust full. Tho sweep
Of the woman's robes, the tread Of woman's
lightly shod feet hnd taken tho place oi
clumping leather boots and scant cotton
skirts.
knew this, but Nellie was child to me
all the same. Was ! not by adoption her
father ?-Of course she always would be
young to me; and why I felt 20 angry u
by chance some gay young farmer chat'ed
with her over the fence, or some ncighbor
saw her home from church, ! could not
tell. "An old mans temper, suppose
I said, and sighed like young ono.
So three years passed. At the end oi
that time Aletta's husband died. They had
and she had made him woefhlIy
jealous, II was said; and all his property,
save ,nere pittance, was willed to stran
gers. -
One day lady in black walked into my
office when she lifted her vail saw Alettn
Stanton's face, closer to me than Il had
been since we parted. Ny heart gave no
wild tllrob. il felt as though were moro
stranger. ~ o..
Coureously and quito calmly heard her
business She intended to contest the win
and needed advice. I gave her what !
could. ! referred her to q brother lawyer
rs the ono who would bcst espouso her
cause. As for myself told her truly that
my time was too completely occupied to
undertake anything moro, and I wished
her success.
She looked at me wistfhlly, with her
grea, blue eyes full Of tears, as she arose to
30. ..f 10 I..
at was cruel Of him." she said, every
cruel to leave me SO poor; but he was nev-
or kind, ncver-not in the honeymoon
eyen." ... H 81.
alregret to hear it," said.
al could expect nothing morc," she
said; II did not love l,im-l never loved
but one, and that one"
She paused and looked at me.
aThat one | love still" she said.
And Heaven knows no feeling Of revenge
or petty triumph was In my heart when ]
looked in Aletia Stnnton's eyes as if I did
not understand her and coureously bowed
her out.
"Did ever caro- for that woman7 ?" !
thought, "or is Il oil dream7
ltook my adopted child to the theatre
that night and We saw the Lady Of Lyons
together. It was her first play going OK.
pcricnce, aud she enjoyed is immensely.
She wore a white dress and bonnet and the
coral drops l had fastened q few days be-
fore in her little ears. was very proud of
her. could not help looking into her
eyes, touching her hand with mine. When
I left her ! kissed her.
"Good night, my child" said.
And she answered, . Goodnight" with
4 cheek dyed on The instant deeper scarlet,
and ran away as Betty came out to chat
with me.
From that night dated an odd change.
My adopted child seemed shy Of letting me
keep her hand-shy even Of chatting rs
she did. She was gnver, moro womanly.
! fancicd she did not caro- for mo as she
did. Perhaps some Of those farmers who
|canctl over tho gate At sunset, some Of
those young fellows who % often escorted
her homo from church, had won her from
me. grow little moody. ] found my
self in bruwn studies when I should have
been ut work. At last l determined TO dis
cover whether ! was really to loose my
child, and went down TO tho cottAge. I
found her there sitting 1t work with Betty.
After all Il was no easy task. I could