North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1867-02-20
VOL. 6 NO. 28.

to have you, Ne!lief'
She looked at me as children look be-
fore they burst into tears-her chin quiz
ering, her throat swelling-then she
dropped her work, and stole from the
room without answering me.
"What ails the child, Betty ?" asked.
"Have | off .nded her."
Old Betty stood before me, sturdy and
stern--a look in her face / had never be-
fore seen there.
Master Albert" she said, whatever
she WAS when she came here. Nellie is no
child now. O, Master Albert. csn't be-
lieve you've done 1t on purpose? You
couIdn't-such q sweet innocent thing -
but it is done. All can say is, 60 away,
or let her 90, and may be the wound will
heal. ought to have spoken IN time
was an old fool. o, how could you, Mas
ter Albert ?-How could you?"
"What have done? ?" cried. 81 wo'd
rather die than harm her,"
"And yet you've made her love you,"
said Betty, sternly. "You who knew you
never would love her. Yruv We been very
self,h, Master Albert"
A new light dawned upon me--a radi-
ance brilliant beyond my hopes.
Betty" said |, 'you are dreaming
She must think me old enough to be
grandfather, with my long tace and bald
crown aud this crutch. Eve had one dream
broken; don't set me dreaming again for
Heavens sake"
Old Betty looke3 at me; and then caught
my face in her hands and kissed me.
"Masler B.,rtie," said she, II shan't Tell
yon word more. The child is under the
grapevine out yoLder; 60 and find out
what you want to know for yourself You
silly, handsome, good-for-nothing fellow -
Hound my child under the grapevine,
her face wet with tears. sat down by
her aud put nv arm about her waist.
"NelIie," said I, "don't shrink from me.
am your true friend. Your friend, what
ever answer you may give me now. lam
older than you. am not vain enough TO
think myseifa young girls beau-ideal.-
Blu, love you dearly, Nellie. Can you
love me enough to be my wf If you
cannot, if another claims your heart, do not
say yes from gratitude. Tell me the truth,
aud still retain fathers, brothers. friends
affection. Nellie 2" Ibent over her, and
my life seemed in her keeping. Until that
moment had not known myself. loved.
her madly, | felt il now better, far better,
than in my youth had loved Aletta Stan
ton. .. hs
She spoke no word.
"Nelle ?" said l, "Nellie?" and brown
hand was LAID of its own accord in mine,
and beneath my gaze the dalk eyes dared
not lift themselves, but hid their sweetness
ON my breast. Nellie was mine.
sat with her beating heart so near nv
own, and thought it all over. I remember
ed the child in her cotton gown standing 10
the gallery of the church, that wedding
mon; remembered the child whom
had taught; the girl with whon 1 had
passed such happy hours and felt that this
living love, sprung. phoenix-llke, from the
ashes of the dead one, was the purest feel
ing OF my life. NJ, H.
So my old saucy of keeping house with
my child came true at last only when she
crossed the threshold of my home with me
! called her wife, And still the touch Of
that brings comfort with it; still her sweet
voice is better TO me than all the music in
the world. And, as in my youth fancied
myself old, surely in my age shall believe
myself young; for while we love and are
beloved youth can never die, and while we
live | and my Nellie must love each other.