The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1870-10-27
RIDGWAY, PA. OCTOBER ~, 1870.


Il atn ill-that is my head aches; bu
the walk will do me good Laura respon
ded, trying to look bright. 1T is not fa
to the Hay den's Do you think 1 woulc
let you carry home my work No, indeed,
and she bent over and kissed her mother's
forehead.
OUT in the air she felt better. The ne
vous depression trop which she suffered
gradually left her, as she become interested
iu The sights and sounds about her. In
gay and beautiful dresses some of her for
mer acquaiutances passed, "a few with nod
o! recognition, but most without noticing
her At a.l-lit;le stiogs they were, but she
held her bundle frwy, lifted her head a
trihe higher, and passed bravely on. Turn
ing a corner, she came full upon ap uncx-
pccted tableau A smartly dressed boy,
with feather in his cap, kicked and strug-
gled with his nurse, who vanly pulled the
obstinate child till her face was purple.
why, Lucy! Why, Benny ! exclaimed
Laurie, for the girl was nurse maid at the
Haydens aud Benny the youngest hope OF
the house. whats all this p
Deed miss, he's awful" SAID the girl
nearly crying. when he makes up his
miud, It's tiger he is, MISC. Jest see him
now
Laura spoke a few words to the boy
in low tone, and he ceased struggling
for moment.
'We're all at skies and scvens,' said the
nurse, and the misses is arful nervous.
Mr.. Burts just retuiued from Californy,
without no warning, aud brought beaut-
ful young lady with him. do suppose
it's his wife from what | heard-and it
quite upset the misses, and made such a
time Now, Benny, there's the police
man; so ycu had better oome.'
Laura heard, aud for moment street
and houses whirlcd round, so that she Lad,
much ado to keep from falling; the words
rang in her ears-I do suppose it's his
wife The strange aud sudden revusion
OF feeling passed, however, leaving her
deadly pale. Certainly, Burt had per-
fectright TO get married IA peifect right
to forget hcr-of course, he had. Men
had done such things ever since the food,
and would, probably, to the end of time.
Over aud over again she said he had never
committed himself, and yet in her heart
answered that he had.
Those words he had whispered, had
dared to whisper, she said, to herself, with
famiug cheeks. What was it but an
a7owel? What tingling memory it was!
She saw herself as she stood at that mo.
ment, attired in the most exquisite fabrics,
the acknowledged queen of the Jetc; and
he, handsome aud poor, had brought ans
wer to his question Oil her very cheeks, in
her very eyes.
The blood burnt her face now; but as
she came 10 sight of the noble dwelling,
it receded, leaving her pale and almost
faint.
She stormed at herself for being so su-
.premely foolish but the tears were very
near her tired eyes, for all that.
Huge trunks blocked up the hall. A
loud CHEEKY voice sounded, that struck
woefully against her heart; and the first
person she saw was stalwart, handsome
Bart Hayden, just coming forward as he
issued his orders to the men taking the
boxes up stairs. What right had be to
look SO suddenly radiant?
Laura-my dear Miss Stetsonp ? ex-
claimed the young man, hurrying toward
her.
But Lauras face was like steel. She
made cold bow; and did not choose to
see the hand he extended.
Welcome home, Mr.. Hayden, she
said, in cold, set voice. Il came to bring
some she could not say work, 'scme-
thing for your sister. I generally go to
her room. Is she there ?
He fell back little. Strange low the
liz ht went out of his face.
IL rather think she may be engaged,
he said, in blundesing, confused way
there might have been little anger in the
voice; but-yes perhaps you had better go
up and he turned on his heel
He didn't like to speak of his wife, and
no WONDER half sobbed Laura, to herself,
a choking sensation in her throat,
1t was queer how the stairs bobbed
about but, perhaps, the thick drops on
his lashes might explain it.