Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-11-29


why, there's to be dance and 6
supper at the Melroses tomorrow nigh
A real old fashioned festival and tn,
Squire has invited everybody" replied
Rose, as she hurried off her night robe
in order to try on her new dress. "Yor
and are to go and | have been fret
ting for days about what should wear
and won't this be glorious? p
"And what will Lily wear herselff
said Mrs. Delano.
"Oh! never mind me, mother in.
terposed Lillian. al don't like such
places. You know Tom Dalton will
come for Rosa, and you and will have
a cozy evening together at home here.
This is your gift, mother"
Mrs Delano received the warm, win
ter shawl in silence, only pressing her
daughters hand, and weeping; and Lii
ian was the happiest girl in the wide
world, though her own garments were
threadbare, and her little purse empty.
Cold and stormy dawned Thanksgiv-
ing day; but the Delano cottage was CO.
zy and warm, and the widow and her
daughters enjoyed their dinner better, to
be sure, than if such delicacies were
common with them. AS the day closed,
the storm increased, but Tom Dalton
came down early, in his covered vehicle,
and insisted that Rose must not
think of giving up the Melrose dance.
And Rose had no desire to do 50, long
ing as she did to display her new dress
to Toms admiring eyes,
Lillian stood in the cottage door and
watched the young pair drive off then
momentary sadness came into her
sweet, brown eyes. "How gay and hap.
py they will be-" she thought, "and Dick
Buckingham will be there"
But what was it to her? Why should
she care? She shut the cottage door,
and went back to her work. Her moth
er was i'll and had lain down. so Lillian
quietly began some sewing. But her
hands soon dropped idly into her lap,
and she gazed moodily into the fire.
For once in her unsel6sh life, Lillian Del
ano was discontented.
Presently her eyes wandered to an old
picture, that hung against the cottage
wall. 1t was her grandfather's portrait
"a stern, old-fashioned man, and the
wealthiest landholder in western Massa-
chusetts, in his lifetime.
Delano Mansion, in those days, had
been not whit behind Melrose Hall, or
Buckingham House, in comfort and lux
ury; and had been, indeed, one Of the
proudest mansions in the State. Lillian
could remember when they all lived
there with her grandfather, SO hap
py, with every wish gratified. But
then her grandfather had died, and there
was trouble about the will. The right
one, or what was believed to be the right
one, could not be found, and her uncle,
a bold, bad man got all the estate; and
her poor mother was turned out home.
less and friendless The uncle had gone
to live in New York, and the Delano
Mansion stood empty and shut up.
The storm beat without A wild wind
clanked the elm boughs, and whirled the
snow about the cottage windows. The
din was SO high, that Lillian barely heard
a rap outside. She arose and opened the
door half nervously.
Why, Mr.. Buckingham I'' she ex-
claimed.
eyes, Miss Delano," he said. "Won't
you ask me in I'm half smothereG. !"
Certainly. Come in, Mr.. Bucking-
ham,"
Dick approached the fire, shaking
himself like great Newfoundland dog
Miss Delano,' he said presently,
"Pve come to take you to Melrose Hall.
Your sister sent me-"
"Thank you" she answered, shortly !;
but | am not going"
"Why not 2"
"Oh, for various reasons"
Because you won't go with me?"
Perhaps"
He looked at her a moment, standing
before him, so shy and proud, and SO
provokingly sweet and Turing, and then
he broke out passionately.
Lillian he cried, "I love you, and
you know it. Don't torment me"
"Mr. Buckingham" she replied quiet
ly, 81 am your mothers hired seam
stress.
II don't care if you were her cook !;
you are as far above her and me as the
stars; and love you; and no other wo-
man shall ever be my wife,"
Few could have withstood the passion
in that grand, masculine face, least of
all, soft-hearted Lillian. She struggled
an instant, and then burst into tears.
"Oh, Mr.. Buckingham p she sobbed,