North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1867-02-20
TUNKHANNoCK, PA, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 80, 1867


There's peg behind the door, child. You
can hang yonr bonnet on that" And /
left the two together
Not long, though; every day found
some new errand to take me to me to the
cottage. put on elderly airs !; gave ad-
vice. ! had her sent to school, and went
through grave examinations on Saturday
afternoons, told old betty that when |
was man of middle age | should take my
little daughter home, and she should keep
house for US. And began to fancy, very
soon, that there could be no such happi-
ness as that parent felt. The girl was
growing tall, it is true, and was only ten
years older than she was; but when she
checked her light tread to keep pace with
me, when the childish laugh bubbled aud
rippleI at something that could only make
me smile, l felt that years are not the only
things which age us.
was working hard at my profession,
tool had heart and haDd> full. In u
year 70. nd that | could pass Aietta on
her husband'A arm without pang. In q
year more, wondered whether she had
really changed, or whether farcied black
curls more than did golden bands; Tor |
found myself thinking my little daughter
much the prettiest.
In the sultry evenings used to leave
red tape and parchment and go out to Bet
| tvs cottage to take tea with her and my
adopted child. Then, while she polished
up the cups, Nelly Hay and used to walk
down to the river side. Tall as she was
growing, l had way OF holding her hand
still; and we had such pleasant talk j! such
cold, unworIdly chatter! Those walks
and simple tea-drinkings rested the brain,
w,aried with law business, qnsrrels and
quibbles aud straagems, more than | Can
tell.
The rough hands had grown softer now,
the waist taper, he bust full. The sweep
of wom2n's robes. the tread of woman's
lightly had taken the place of clam.
ping leather boots and scant cotton skirts.
know this; but Nellie was child to
me all the same. Was not by adoption
her father? Of course, she would always
be young to me; and why felt so angry
if by chance some gay young farmer chat
It'd with her over the fence, or some neigh
Dor saw hec home from church. | could
not tell. San old mans temper, suppose
said, and sighed like young one.
So three years passed. At the end of
that time, AIe,ta's husband died They
had quarIelled. and she had made him wo-
fully jealous, it was said and all his prop.
erty, save mere pittance, was wllied to
strangers.
One day lady in black walked into my
office; b, n she lifted ncr veil saw it was
| Aletta Stanton's face. closer to me than it
hak been since we parted MY heart gave
no wild throb; ! felt as though were
| mere stranger.
Courteously and quite calmly / heard
| her business. She intended to contest the
will, and needed sdvice. gave her what
could. referred her to brother law
yer as the only one who would best espouse
her cause. AS for myself, l tod her truly
that my time was too completely occupied
to undertake anything more and wished
her success.
She looked at me wistfully with her
great blue eyes full of tears rs she arose to
GO.
ut was cruel of him" she said--"very
cruel to leave me so poor but he was new
er kind, never-not even IN the honey
moon
II regret to hear it," said
! 81 could expect nothing more" she said;
Il did not love him-I never loved but
one, and that one"
She paused and looked at me.
That one love st.ll, she said
And Heaven knows no feeling of revenge
or petty triumph was 10 my heart when |
looked in Aletta Stanton's eyes as if did
not understand her, and courteously bowed
her out
"Did ever care for that woman?" l
thought; "or is it all dream"
took my adopted child to the theatre
that night, and we saw ''The Lady of Ly-
ons" together. 1t was her first play going
experience, and she enjoyed it immensely.
She wore white dress and bonnet, and
the coral drops | had fastened few days
before ia her little ears. / ~as very proud
other. / could not help looking into her
eyes, touching her hand with mine. When
left her kissed her.
"Good hight, my child" said.
And she answered "Good night" with n
cheek dyed on the instant deeper scarlet,
and ran away as Betty came out to chat
with lie.
From that night dated an odd change.
My adopted child seemed shy of letting
me keep her hand shy even Of chatting
as she did, She was graver, more woman
ly. ] tancied she dill not care for me As
she did Perhaps some of those farmers
who leaned over the gate at sunset, some
of those young fellows who SO often escor-
| ted her home from church, had won her
from me. grew little moody. | found
myself in brown studies when should
have been at work. At last determined
to discover whether was really to lose
| mo child apd went down m fhp COTTAGE -