The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1869-01-28
Established. j.: 1925.

newly acquired title. To tell how
he was peited 10 tho village would
be q vain task to attempt. TO say
that ho was the hero and idol ri
Hopedale, will give but In fainl
idea Of bis popularity. Gradually
the memory Of his homo, Ellen, The
visit-to Australia, died away, anC
he secmedto forget that he had
ever lived away from us MANN,
and Aunt Daisy bad been the two
OF whom he spoke most. but
Judged from all he said, that hi,
fathers death was very recent, and
his residence at his grandparents
brief visit only in bis memory.
Eleven months had this dear
little treasure been an inmate oI
my house, when there came into m,
liic a new dream Of hope and hap
Lpincss. About five milcs from
Hopcdalc there resided, and had
lived for many long years, an
eccentric old bachelor, by name
Herman Graham. His home, LIE,
haven" was far away from any
Icfoster Of houses, indeed, near
Iyy a. milo from any other resi-.
dence; and here, in solitary state,
with only two ancient scrvitors
for his household, he had lived
ever since could remem Der. lie
was a morose, ill.tempered man,
and some early cross had made
him adopt u perfectly hermit. like
seclusion, though his wealth would
have commanded every advantage
society could offer. 1t was early
in November that / was summoned
TO attend this odd genius, pro'cs
sionallY. The little note brought
to my Office by an elderly man on
horseback, was signed LILLIAN Ora
ham" aud urged immediate attcn
tiOn. A-H .- .al ..
1t was long, cold drive, but the
man represented his master as
very i'll, so prepared to obey his
summons. 81 had no idea your
master had n daughter" said !, re-
ferring to my note.
That's masters niece" was the
reply. IN nice, sweet spoken lady
IS ever l see. She comes down
on a visit sometimes from her
fathers place near Albany. They
were burnt out, her fathers folks.
last winter, and tho family all
went TO Europe while the new
house was a:building. - They came
home about fortnight ago, but
they won't 90 to the new house till
spring, so some ofthem's boarding
in New York, and some in Albany,
and Miss Lillian, she's come 10
spend the winter with her uncle
They're all coming down for
Christmas, l expect"
1 found my patient very i'll, and
fora week my visits were frequent,
and more than once l passed a
whole night by his bedside. | do
not mean this for q love tale, SO ]
will not weary my reader with the
why and wherefore OF my heart
bendingoin Allegiance to Lillian
Grahams charms. Her beauty,
gentleness, and winning grace
touched my heart as no woman
had ever before thrilled it, and be.
fore that weary week of anxiety
and watching was over | loved
her. AS her uncle began to re,
cover, my visit slid from a pro.
fessional capacity TO social one,
and | saw that my welcome was q
sincere one from both tie old gen.
tleman and the young girl, whose
devotion 10 his sick bed pro7ed her
love. l was agreeably surprised
to find the hermit neither 50 say.
age or inaccessible as he had been
represented to mo, He had a pain
fu chronic disorder; his manner
was brusque, and his voice often
harsh, but he could soften, and
was able to give him roliet from
pain, for which he repaid mo by u
gracions reception. ....'i
Christmas was drawing near,
and | had resolved to lay my
heart before Lillian, and ask her
to be my vile. Twas heir to con.
siderable property lett by my faith.
er. l had a good practice, a pleas,
ant home, and could offer her the
pure love OF young hesrt, so |
was not without hope, especially
as / could see the flush deepen on
her cheek, and glad lightspring
to her blue eyes whenever, 1 was
announced. She wore mourning
and | often longed to question her
about the'loss itimplied, but our
private were very brief
and but seldom occurred and she
never spoke Of her sorrow. | too
had a story to tell, OF course, if
she became my wife, she must
hear about Trot. alGoa. .- .I'..
1t was the day before Christ
mas, and tho snow was smOott
and hard round Hopedale; so
vcntured to propose sleigh. ride
meaning to open my heart 10 heI
as we drove. She accepted my pro
hposal readily, and we were soon or
our way. Somehow there fell {
long silence between us; l tongine
but not dareing to speak, my eye.
fixed upon that lovely face framed
in its pretty fur. bound hood, the
eyes looking down, the sweet
mouth set with u sadder expires
sion than / had ever seon it wear
Suddenly she spoke:' .l
81 expect my parents, brothers