Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-10-26

ship owner, partner of Colonel Mich
OILS. But two years ago Colonel Nichols
informed me that the outstanding debts
of the firm more than balanced the as
sets; in short, Amy, that he was on the
verge Of bankruptcy, his fortune and
ours alike, wrecked"
"I don't like Colonel Nichols p said
Amy, thoughtfully. "If he lost all his
money with ours, how does he live in
such grand style? To whom do his
ships and great houses belong?"
@To his nephew, Ally Bell. Colonel
Nichols is Ally's guardian. The Col
onel has nothing of his own, excepting
a farm or two up country which were
not risked in the business"
Amy contracted her little brows re-
flectively, and was about to reply,when
the garden gate swung on its hinges,
and a boyish figure came lightly up the
walk.
ats Ally, mother-it's Ally Bellm
exclaimed Amy, all smiles and bushes.
" Pll bring him to you"
The girl ran lightly down the We
randall steps and met the new conner,
linking her arm in his and drawing him
gently toward the house.
He was lad of seventeen, an orph-
an, the nephew and ward of Colonel
Nichols. Bright and gay and hand
some, Allen Bell was also impetuous,
ardent, and intelligent-one of those
noble, manly boys who mature early
into grand and noble men. Boy as he
was, he loved Amy Lester with a pure
and chivalrous love, which bade fair to
deepen in time into the great love of
his life.
He was a bearer of letter from his
uncle to Mrs. Lester, and having de-
hvered it, he strolled with Amy down
the wide garden walks into the cool
shadows of grove at the bottom of
the garden.
"Pve been expecting you this good
while, Ally" said Amy with charming
frankness. q thought you would be
down here to try those scientific expert
ments to-day"
Wen try them tonight, Amy" re-
piled Ally. "The blue lights show bet
ter at night. I'm getting along finely
in my chemistry, Amy. l like it best
of all my studies"
Il am sure you do" said Amy ear
nestly. " You are the incest boy ever
saw"
Ally Bell laughed aloud. Amy's
childIike simplicity and outspoken
truthfulness were her greatest charm
in his eyes.
"The sight of that brig yonder," said
Ally, reminds me that promised to
meet Colonel Nichols on board of it
directly after | delivered that letter to
your mother | must 90 now, but you
may expect me as soon as it's dark"
He clasped her in his arms and kiss
ed her.
For a minute the youthful lovers
stood at the garden gate, toward which
they had slowly walked, and here they
parted soberly-Ally to 90 down to the
brig where he had engaged to meet his
llCIc, anu -AlIlN 70 IcltillI 70 llCI llIOiIleI.
She found Mrs. Lester, the open let
ter in her lap, silent and motionless as
a statue, her attitude that of profound
despair.
"What is it, mother ?" cried Amy in
wild alarm, springing to her side.
Mrs. Lester looked at her daughter
with a woe-strcken face.
"Oh, Amy she cried, turning to that
brave, childish heart for strength and
comfort, "Colonel Nichols writes me
that we are beggars. He reminds me
that he has asked me three several times
to marry him. And Amy, he says he
knows your father to be dead, and of
fers himself to me for the last time.
He reminds me of my i'll health, of
your youth and helplessness. And he
says and Mrs. Testers voice broke
down in tempest of sobs-'' that on
the one hand he offers me wealth, COM
fort, and happiness, on the other power
ty and sorrow. If | refuse, he swears
to turn us out of our home tomorrow.
"Oh, mother" exclaimed Amy, with
sharp cry, as she hid her face in her
mothers bosom.