Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-09-08


Take of your bonnet" she said, a little
erinIy. II want TO look a. you. What Is your
nance
The Girl oseyed. I'm only Nelly Hav,'
che said. and stood TO be looked AZ. Betty
Iool ed sterDly a. first, then pityingly.
LA, no! Master Berry. IL don matter she
sad ~ cont see any harm IN her. There's
a peg behind the door, child. You can hang
your bonnet en- that" And left the Two to-
gether.
Not long, though; every day found some new
erraDd TO take me to the cottage. put on eld-
erly airs, and gave advice. had her sen, 10
school, and went through grave examinations
on Saturday afternoons. told old Betty that
when was a man of middle age should take
house for us. And I began to fancy, very
soon, that there could be no such happiness
as that aren't felt. The girl was growing
tall, it is true, and was only ten years older
than she was; but W hen she checked her light
tread TO keep pace with me. when the childish
laneh dubbed and ripped at something which
could only make me smile, felt that years are
not The only things which ageus.
l was working hard at my profession toe.
L bad and and heart full. In year i found
that 4 could pass Aletta on her b usband's arm
wIthoHt pang In year morel wondered
whether she had really changed, or whether
i fan cied black surls more than did golden
bands, for i found myself thinking my little
daughter much the prettiest.
In the sultry summer evenings used to
leave red tape and parchment and go ont to
Betty 9 cottage to have tea with her and my
ADOPTED child Then. while she polished up
the cups, Nellie Hay and she used to walk
down TO the river side. Tall as be was grow.
ing, had way of holding her hands still:
and we had such pleasant talks, such odd, un.
worldly chatter, Those walks and simple
tea-drinkinge res ted the brain, wearied with
law business, Quarrels and bubbles, and
strafaeems more that can tell.
The rough hands had grown softer now, the
waist taper. the bust full. The sweep of wo-
mans robes. the tread of woman's light shod
feet had taken the place of dumping leather
boots and scant co ton skirts
i Knew this, but Nellie was a child 10 me ALI
the same. Was not by adoption her father,
Had not my early grief and the staff on which
Il leaned aged me before nv timel OF course
ehe ALWAYS would be Young to me- and WHY
felt so any If by chance some gay young farm.
er chatied with her over the fence, or some
Deighbor aw her home from church. couid
not tell. IAN old mans temper. 1 suppose"
said, and sighed like young one.
So three years passed. At the end of that
time Aletta husband died. They had quar-
relied. and she had made him wofully Jealous,
IL was said, and all his property. save q mere
pittance. was willed 20 strangers.
One day a lazy in black walked into my Of
fee: when she lifted her veil i SAW AIetta
Stanton's face, closer to me than il had been
since ve parted. My hear gave no wild
throb. felt as though l were mere stran-
ger.
Courteous'y ana quite calmly / heard her
business. She intended TO contest the will and
reeded advice. L gave her what could l
would best espouse her capse. As for myself
told her truly that my time was 100 much
occupied 20 undertake anything more, and |
wished her success.
She leaned at me wistfully. with her great
tlue eyes full of tears as she rose TO GO
''lt was cruel of him. she said, every cruel
to leave me SO poor, but he was never kind,
neNer-Dot In the honeymoon even"
Il regret TO hear IT, said
81 could expect nothing more,' she said, Il
cd not love him-l never loved but one-and
that one -
She paused and looked at me-
That one / love sriii," she said
And Heaven knows no feeling of revenge or
petty triumph was in my heart W hen looked
in Aletta stanton s eyes as If did not under
stand her and courteously bowed her out
'Dld care for that woman" thought, .'or
Is IL all dream!r
took my adopted child to the theatre m M
night end We saw the Lady of Lyons together
1t was her first play-going experience and
she enjoyed II immensely. She wore a white
dress and bonnet and the coral drops l had
fastened few days before IN her pretty little
ears. i was very proud of her. 1 could not
help looking INTO Der eyes, and touching her
hana with mine. When left her kissed her.
Good night, my child" L SAID
And she answered, 'sGood night" with a
cheek dyed on the instant deeper scarlet and
ran away as Betty came out To chat with me-
From hat ght dated an odd change NV
adopted child seer med shy OF letting me keep
her hand-shy even OF chatting as she did
SIZE " as graNer, more Womanly | fancied
Pprhans
some o: those young fellows who so often es-
eorteo her home from church, had won her
from me grew a little moody. foundmy-
self Ia brown studies when l should have
been at work. Atlast determined TO discover
whether Was really 10 lose nv child and
went down Ia the cottage. | found her there
sitting az VI rk with Betty.
Amer al, l. was no easy talk. l could not
do II Is had hoped. L tried resting ana spoke
Of Lne and OF the other of the young fellow
near. We shall have Nellie stolen from US,
suppose" said There is nothing SO east
~ lost from a family a pretty daughter
But " BIO is 10 have You, NellIe!"
Sh" looked at me rs children look before they
burst into iears-her chin uivering, her throat
swelling-then she dropped her work, and
stole from The room without answering me
'.What ale the child, Betty l asked
"Iay- i offended herr"
OLD Betty stood before me sturdy and stern
look In her face had never seen there
Master Albert she said, 'swhat ever she
was when she came here, Nellie is no child
now. Oh, Master Albert can't believe you've
done IL on purpose, You couldn't-sucb a
sweet innocent thing,-but it's done All i
can say Is. 60 away, or let her go. and maybe
the wound Will neal. / ought to have spoksn
M IN nm NJ, i vas an ola fool. On, how could
What have l doner' l cried, 81 would
rather die than harm her"
land ye; you've made her love you" said
Betty. sternly. "Iou who knew YOU never
would love her. You've been very selfish.
Master Albert
new light dawned upon me, a radiance
brilliant beyond my hopes
Betty. SAID /, ''you are dreaming She
mnstthInk me old enough to be a grandfather
with my long face and bald crown and this
cru'cb. I've had one dream broken. don't set
ne 10 Dreaming again, for heavens saker'
pId Betty looked AT me; then caug hit nv face
IN bo:h hands and kissed me
master Berthe" said she, ~ shan't tell Won
a word more: go and find out what You want
tor yourself You silly, handsome good for
nothing fellOWr'
Hound my child under the grare.yIne her
face Wet with tears. l sat down by her and
put my arm around her waist.
Nellie" said /. don't shrink from me
am Your true friend. Your friend whatever
answer you may give me now. / am Older
Than you. am not vain enough 20 think NV
SELF Young girl's beau ideal. But love Won
dearly. Nellie Can you love me enough to ne
my wife. II you cannot, II another claims
your heart. Go not say yes from gratitude
Tell me the truth, and sui retain a fathers a
bToihers, friends affection. Nellie-'
bent over her, and my life seemed in her
keeping. Until that IT. mrnt I had not knoUn
myself loved her madly-I felt it now-bet
LEI. lar better than III myyouth had loved
Ale:ta Stanton.
She spoke 10 word.
''NellI-!' ! said, Nellie and a brown hand
was laid Of Its own accord III mine and ne.
meath nv gaze the dark eyes did not dare III,
Themselves. but bid their sweetness ON nv
breast Nellie was mine ny