The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1868-01-08

tape and parchment and go out to Betty
cottage to have tea with her and my adopt
cd daughter. Then, while she polished up
the CUPS Nellie Hay and | used to walk
down to the river side. Tall as she wac
growing. had way of holding her hand
STILL and we had such pleasant talks such
odd. unworIdy chatter Those walks and
simple tea .drinkings rested the BRAIN wear>
led with law business, qnsrrels, and qulb-
bles, ond stratagems, more than | can tell.
The rough hand had grown softer now,
the waist taper, the bust full The sweep
| of woman's robes, the tread of woman's
lightly shod ieet had taken the place Of
clumping leather boots and scant cotton
skirts.
/ knew this, but Nellie was child to me
all the same. Was not, hy adoption, her
father? or course she always would be
young to me; and why felt so angry if by
chance some gay young farmer chatted With
her over the fence, or some neighb0I saw
her home from church, | could not tell -
"Ah old mans temper. | suppose. | said,
and sighed Ike a young one.
Lo three years passed. At the end of,
that time Aletta' husband died They had
quarrcled and she had made him woeful
Jealous, it was said; and all his property
save mere pittauco was willcd to stran'
gers.
One day lady in black walked into my
office, and when sEe lifted her veil | saw
Aletta Stapton's face closer to me than it
had been slsoe 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 advice. gave her what ]
could. I referred her TO a brother lawyer
as the one Who would best espouse her
cause. As for myself, l told her truly,
that my time was too completely occupied
10 undertake anything more, and l wished
her success
She looked at me wistfully, with her great
blue eyes full OF tears, as she arose to go.
1T was cruel in him. she said, very
cruel to leave me SO poor, bat lie was never
kind: never-not in the honeymoon even. "
II regret to hear it. | said.
! II could expect nothing more, she said;
I did not love hm-never loved but one,
and that one"
She paused and locked at me.
THAT one, love STILL she said.
And Heaven knows no feeling Of revenge
or petty triumph was in my heart when |
looked in Aletta Stanten's eyes as if did
not understand her and courteously bowed
her ort. -,
"Dil ever care for that woman?" 1
tEouglt, "or is it all a dream?
! took my adopted child to the theatre
that night, and we saw the Lady of Lyons
together. 1t was her first play going ex>
perience. and she enjoyed it immensely
She wore white dress and bonnet, and the
coral drops bad fastened few days be-
fore in her little ears. was very proud OF
her. | could not help looking into her
e1es touching her hand with mine. When
| left her kissed her.
Good night, my child, y said.
And she answered, good night, " with a
cheek dyed on the instant deeper than scar
let, and ran away as Betty came out 10 chat
with me.
From that night ! dated din odd change.
Nv adopted child seemed shy Of letting me
keep her hand-shy even of chatting as she
did. She was oraver, more womaDly.
tanciod that she did 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, escorted
her home from church had won her from
me. .. grew little moody. | found my
self in brown studies when | should have
been at work. AT last determined to dis
cover whether ! was really to lose the child, l
went down to the cottage | found her
there sitting at work with Betty.
After all it was no easy task. | could
not do it as [ had hoped. | tried jesting,
and spoke Of one aud OF the other OF young
fellows near
1--WE shall have Nellie stolen from us, l
suppose?" ] said There Is nothing so
easily lost from family as "a pretty girl.
But who is to have you, Nellie?'
She looked at me as children look before
they burst into tears-her chin quivering,
her thoat swelling then she dropped her
work and stole from the room without ans
swerng me.
"What ails the child Betty?' l asked.
"Have I offended her?'
! Old Betty stood before me sturdy and
stern-a look in her face | had never yet
seen there.
Master Albert" she said, whatever
she was when she came here, Nellie is no
child now, Oh, Master Albert, | can't be-
live you've done it on purpose. You
coudn t-such sweet innocent thing
hut it, S 90 away, or let her go, and maybe
: the wound will heal | ought to have
spoken in time. was an old fool. Oh,
: how could you, Master Albert?-how could
! you? -, -,
! would rather die than harm her.
"And yet you We made her love you,
) said Betty, sternly. You who knew you
5 could never love her You've been very
! selfish Master Albert .....
t A new light dawned upon me, a radiance
, brilliant bevond my hopes.
! Betty" said |, ''you are dreaming
, She must think me old enough to be q
grand lather, with my long face and bale
crown and this crutch, | We had one dream
broken; dont't t set me to dreaming again
, for Heavens sake. "
S Old Betty looked at me, then caught my
face in both her hands and kissed me.
master BERTHE" she said, | shant't tel
J YOU word more. The child is under the
gra aievine out yol der; 60 and find out wha
; YOU want to know for yourself, you silly
= handsome, good for nothing fellow" 81
i found my child urder the grape vine
t Ter face wet with tears. ] sat down b,
her and put my arm about her waist.
Q "Nellie," said l, don shrink from me
| | an your true friend. Your friend, what
! ever answer you may give me now. an
G older than you. | am not vain enough tc
| think my sefa young girls beau ideal
/. But can you love me enough to be my wifei
r Ifyou cannot, ifanother claims your heart
: do not say yes from gratitude. Tell me the
E truth, and still retain fathers brother S
friend S affection, Nelie2"
bent over her, and my life seemed ir
{ her keeping Until that m oment had not
!, known myself ] loved her mady / fell
it now better, far better, than in my youth
! had loved Alotta Stanton.
. She spakc no word. r
"Nellie," said, "Nellie?' and brown
hand was laid on its own accord in mine,
| and beneath my gaze the dark eyes dare
: not ift themselves, but hid their sweetness
al ~ ,r,, hreast NelEa was mipe.