Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-11-29

tuo EiLlS W pc uleiniSSeu Dy INC 'ocoico
by the father; but at last the right one,
as he thought, had made his appearance.
This was Philip Wetherel, man of three
score, of fine family, and a Millionaire.
The master of the "Elms" elected him as
his son-in-law at their first meeting, and
Bessie was duly warned. For the first
time in her life she rebelled against her
fathers authority.
Il never will marry him, father" she
said, her blue eyes flashing. Il will die
first"
"And why not, pray?" questioned her
angry sire.
because he's old, and selfish, and
miserly, and,' she added, stoutly, ''more
than all, because | love some one else"
Then the secret came to light. Visiting
an old school-mate, the summer before,
Bessie had made the acquaintance of a
young schoolmaster, Tom Arnold by name
1t was case of mutual love at first sight,
| believe; and when Bessie went home to
the "Elms, she wore plain engagement
ring on her finger She told her father
now, entreating him, with streaming eyes,
to give her lover hearing. But the old
man vowed that he would forever disown
and disinherit her, if she ever even so
much as spoke to her lover again. The
end was, that, one dark night, Bessie fed
with her lover, and before the day broke
they were man and wife
The master of the ''Ems" avowed his
determination TO disinherit his daughter
but unmindtul of his wrath, the newly
welded pair settled down to housekeeping
as cozy as a couple ofrobins. Two happy
years went by. The masters school was
sufficient for all their needs, and to perfect
their happiness, little, blue-eyed baby
came. and the tanciful young mother called
her Daisy. Then, in the fullness of her
bliss, as soon as the little one could toddle
along, she went up to her old home, intend
ing to make the child peace-ofering be-
tween her offended father and herself.
On a bright spring morning, holding
little Daisy by the hand, she walked up
the broad avenue that led to her fathers
door The old man was standing on the
steps, his white hair floating in the morn
ing breeze He saw her, and recognized
her, but before she could speak he turned
on his heel, and locked the door in her
face She was no child Of his, he never
wanted to see her, or speak to her again.
This was the message his servant brought
her.
The young mother returned to her home
IN tears. Soon after that Il double dark
ness fell upon them. Owing to some dis
sensions in the village, her husbands
school lost half its pupils; and, as if to
make true the saying, that troubles tread
upon each others heels, in little while
the schoolmaster himself was stricken
down by rheumatism. Doctors fees and
medicine bills, added to the sum of their
daily expenditures, speedily exhausted
their small store Of ready cash and we
find them on this stormy February after
noon in a most pitiabe condition. The
husband still helpless cripple, food and
fuel both gone, and the mortgage on the
cottage coming due.
With her head on her folded arms,
Bessie Arnold sat and thought it all over,
the hot tears streaming down her cheeks.
And out in the kitchen, little Daisy, who
had listened intently to what her father
and mother had been saying, sat quite
still, her tiny hands tightly clasped, and
her blue eyes wide and solemn with grave
determination After few moments she
slid down from her seat, and stealing on
/ tiptoe to the corner where her scarlet
cloak and hood hung, she took them down
and put them on. Then, still stepping
cautiously, she opened the door and went
4 out, closing it noiselessly after her. The
wind and fine snow almost took away her
breath at first, but she faced it brayely
and running round to the kennel in which
a huge Newfoundland lay asleep, she call
ed softly,
Come, Rover, come =
The great dog was at her side in an
instant, shaking his shaggy sides, and rub
bling his leonine head against her dainty
little face. Daisy patted him vigorously
then, putting her rosebud mouth close tc
his ear, she said, with an air of grave
importance,
Listen to me, Rover, and be still
We're going a long, long way, you and
me, Rover. We're going to the Films tc
see grandpap. He won't send as away
will he, doggie? No, indeed Wen ge
money, and lots O. goodies, won't We
Rover? Come on, then, we must hurry
it's long way, and 81 cold"
The dog uttered one or two short barks
expressive of his satisfaction, and thel
bounded along by her side. The little
creature drew her scarlet cloak closely
and struck into the village highway with
rapid step. Two or three times during
the summer, her father, who was just thl
least bit extravagant in his habits, hac
INDUCED his family In the luxury of {
ride, and poor Bessie had always insisted
that they should drive past the "Elms,
she longed SO to get a glimpse of her girl
hoods home. Little Daisy remembere,
all this, and had dim idea in regard t.
the distance and direction.
u know the way, Rover" she said
loftily, shaking her little hooded head
"Iou Just follow me-were going to tn
'Elms,' you know. I'm going to tell grand
pap bout poor, sick papa, and how mamm
cries and he won't send me away, vii
he, Rover? Wen have a nice time whe
we get back; you Shall have big bit {
meat, doggie, for going such long wa
through the snow
, Prattiing thus to her companion, litti
Daisy trudged on past the sleepy littl
, village, out into the brown pasture-felds
and under the clanking branches Of tn
, leahess wood. The February day wane
rapidly, and as the early twilight close
, III, the snow began to fall heavily, and tn
whistling wind, keen and searching, drov
: it hither and thirher, in great blindin
drifts. Daisy struggled on bravely, he
t scarlet hood and cloak all white, her swee
/ infantile face radiant with hope and cage
expectation the big, black Newfoundlan
trotting soberly at her side But, by-ant
| by, the little feet began to grow weary
] the rose-lips parted, and her breath cam
: in short gasps.
/ I'm so tired, Rover" she said, as
t great gust drove her back. "We1l S
down under this big tree, and rest just
e little bit, Rover; we'll soon get to th
r 'Elms' now"
She sunk down beneath the tree, restin
: her chin upon her knees, and the big dc
r cuddled down beside her, his clear eye
J, anxious and wistful
The darkness deepened rapidly, and tt
fury of the storm increased. The lit
a scarlet head sunk lower and lower, al
presently Daisy was fast asleep. B1
G Rover was alert and watchful, his war