The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-11-30

second alliance with the poverty stricken lawyer
whose death plunged her into such bitter mourn
ing. That was a genuine love match, yet how
much grief and trouble it brought with it,
"leaving one child, a son." Why should not
adopt the stray wait, and make it a business OF
my life 10 cherish and comfort him? I have no
object in existence; there is one that Providence
itself seems to point out to me-"
Once more she rang the bell, with fresh color
glowing in her cheeks and a new light in her
eyes,
"Bring in my writing case, Immediately, Sand.
ersop, and get ready to take letter to the post
for me, as soon as possible"
The old servant obeyed, wondering at his mis-.
tress's unwonted energy, and yet well pleased to
see some of her old animation returning.
1t was very simple and unostentatious letter
that Blanche Penroy wrote to her far away cous.
ms executors from the fullness of her heart.
II shall never marry, now" she wrote. "and
1t seems to become my plain indicated duty to
undertake the care of this orphan child of Mrs.
Marchmonts. With your, approval, therefore, l
propose to adopt him, and endeavor, as far as in
my power, to supply the place of his lost mother.
You may 1T first deem me young to undertake 80
grave and serious a responsibility, but l was
nineteen last month, and am very much older in
thought and feeling than my years. Of course
at my death, the child will inherit the property
81 hope my cousins executors are like the nice
white headed old lawyers one reads about in
novels" said Blanche to herself as she folded
the little perfnmed sheet of pink paper, and not
cross, old Judges, talking of inexpediency, and
'inappropriates,' for l do so much want some-
body to love and care for. Somehow, I've sort
of premoniton that this little fellow will be nice
and rosy and loveable, think I'll teach him to
call me aunty."
Just a week subsequently,, prim, legal note
was received from Messrs. Alias & Corpus, the
deceased lady's executors, stating that they saw
no valid objection to Miss Penroy's very laudable
projects, and that, in accordance thereto, the
child of the late Mrs. Marchmont would arrive
at Miss Penroys residence the following Satur-
day night.
Saturday highland this is a friday eiac-
ulated Blanche, with new brightness dancing
in her hazel eyes. "Oh how glad shall be |;
Sanderson, tell Mrs. Brown to have the blue room
fitted up Immediately for Master Marchmont,
and you had better go yourself to the depot, with
the carriage, at five tomorrow afternoon, to meet
him"
Eyes, maam,' said Sanderson, stolidly The
apparition of a great unruly boy with muddy
boots tramping on the velvet carpets and haunt
ing the house with ball and marbles, and lung
splitting halloes did not possess the charm to
Sandersons eyes that it seemed to his mistress.
And even patient Mrs. Brown remarked with a
species of evaporation, that she didn't see what
put this freak into Miss Blanches head.
Saturday was day of hail and tempest, and
softly falling snow, and by five o'clock the draw
ing rooms were lighted, and the crimson silk
curtins closely drawn, to exclude the stormy
darkness without. Six times within the last
fifteen minutes, had Blanche Penroy looked at
her watch, as she stood by the fire waiting to
hear the returning carriage wheels.
She was dressed in rich China blue silk dress,
with pearl pin and ear drops, ana a little point
lace at her throat and wrists, and the color in her
cheeks and the golden glimnier in her bright
hair made her, unconsciously, very fair to look
upon
so, hope he will like me-" thought Blanche,
with the instructive yearning for love that comes
to every womens heart, as the door opened.
"Here's the young gentlemen Miss, said Sand
erson, with half suppressed sound between
snort and laugh.
But instead of a child of seven or eight years
OF age, tall apparition stalked ill., some
six feet high, with black moustache, and merry
hazel eyes, trimming over with nirth For an
instant Blanche stared at him as if ale did not
credit the evidence of her OVID senses.
"Gilbert!"
Exactly. You wanted to adopt me and here
am.
"No but Gilbert
eyes, but Blanche"-
but you are not Mrs. Marchmont's son 2"
IL am-by her first marriage And although
am by no means the penniless infant you seem.
I'd to suppose, all my fathers wealth comes to
ne, am quite willing to be adopted-particular.
y as you are not married to Walter Birming-
nam"
Blanche struggled between her tears and her
laughter, uncertain which could best express her
feelings, but Gilbert Evering drew her tenderly
;oward him.
'If you adopt me, dearest, it must be for life.
Nay, do not hesitate-our happiness has already
1een too much at the mercy Of trifes. You will
1ot retract your Offer"
"Well, after ALL" said Blanche, denurely, all
wanted was some one to love and care for,
md"
And shall do very we'll in that capacity,
,h?"
And Sanderson, who had been listening at the
loor, crept down stairs to inform Mrs. Brown
hat ''they were going to have new master |"
Coleman's Rural World contains the following
suggestions on the garden, which are worthy Of
he attention of dvery farmer: "Many farmers
nave place which they dignity by the name of
yarden; hut at this season of the year they more
esemble cane brake of wilderness. After the
pring vegetables have matured, the ground is
90 often allowed to grow up to weeds, SO thick
Is to render it difficult to get through them |
True economy, to say nothing of good looks, |
would Indicate that all weeds in the garden be |
Kept down and not allowed to 90 to seed and |
gain be multiplied fifty or hundred.fold the |
loEt year, causing an immense amount of labor |
II tuture cultivation. Where weeds have been |
-llowcdt ~ take possession of the ground, they |
hou'd be cut up at once and removed, before |