Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-12-23

here and let me tell you how [ shall
miss you" He drew her to seat be-
side him on the sofa and with his great |
strong arm folded closely about her he
told her that in every hour, in every
moment of his life there would be an
aching longing for her presence. and
that henceforth every act would be per-
formed with a view to make himself
worthy of the love he so fervently hoped
to gain.
"Tell me Mertie," he said, raising
the fearful face to his, '.can this be +?
Can the precious little sister give up her
elder brother, and learn to love him with
a far different love"
How her answer startled and chilled
him.
mo" Low but clear the answer
came, ''No."
"Mertie You do not, cannot mean
this; tell me you are trihing with me,
and the strong man trembled in every
limb.
She raised her face to him and some
how the look in her eyes quieted his ex-
citement and he repeated more calmly:
Tell me you do not mean no, Mertie y
81 cannot tell you So" she answered,
for [ do mean it. You asked me if
| could learn to love you with a deep.
true love like yours-I cannot learn
you have taught me already" And
Mertie for the first time buried her
blushing face on the broad shoulder of
her teacher.
Oh the inexpressible joy of that mo-
ment when Ralph Harrison felt himself
thrown up from the depths of sorrow to
the height of bliss. The precious treas
ure was his-his own-and he clasped
her to his breast, showering upon her
the tokens of his love and thanking God
for his great goodness to him.
Suddenly Mertie slipped from his
arms, and quickly smoothing her some
what ruffled hair, said:
Father is coming. what would he
say?"
Come back here. Birdie, and | will
explain it to him-as well now as ever y
But Mertie's courage was not quite
equal to this, so she stood demurely by
| the table when Mr. Favor entered.
Mr.. Harrison rose to greet him, and
without giving him time to put into
words the question he saw in his eyes,
said at once:
81 have a very, very great favor to
ask of you;" and in spite of his earnest
ness, he could not help from adding,
smilingly, 'and at the same time it is
quite a small one"
"And what may it be? asked Mr.. F
1T is this one, sir, and he led the
blushing Mertie to her father. "Youl
only FdUor. believe, and [ ask you tt
grant it to me-.
81 am afraid ] do not understand,
commenced Mr.. Favor, but Ralph soor
explained all to his satisfaction, anC
taking his darling Mertie by the hand
Mr.. Favor said:
so, no Then you want my No
body's Nothing, do you ? and what doe
she say, pray?''
Mertie gathered up all her courage
for it did take some courage, I assur
you, and looking up to her father sh
answered
"You have always called me Nobody
Nothing, and if you please, now papa
] would like to be Somebody's Some
thing"
" The aptness of the reply took ava
half of the embarrassment of the mo
/ ment, and calling Harrison to his sid
he took them each by the hand saying
''If my little one is pleased, | al
pleased too, so 1 grant you the favor yo
ask. Care for her tenderly she is to
| young to 60 away from home now, br
by and by you shall have her.
In two years, Mertie had finished he
studies and taken her place at the hea
of her fathers establishment, which fc
; years had been filled by a housekeepel
t "Then Mr.. Harrison thought he migf
< claim the fulfillment of the promis
made him on the last night of school.
Mr.. Favor could object no longer, s
E one beautiful May morning, little IN
: body,s Nothing became Somebody
| Something"