The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-02-08

- marry se. L ~ lorNCs yourself. aui NOT
a candidate -o- the poor house. Go, seek your
level, sir." stepped TO the door ard opened il
| then turned .uquiriug. and stood waiting. Her
eyes flashed fury a. she added I'VE have nev-
! er teen lovers--sye no Ion ger frionds.''
| l slammed the door behind me. and walked
| oC; into air. Then | swcre like Eals-ra,.ened
soldier. These cu:ses laid bare the mystery ,aad
I -eyereutiy thanked God that Miss Norton Dis
| C >raed nle. Why? Because | Cursed, ard re-
turning told me there WAS no love in that Had
| ! wept. it had been otherwise. As IL was I saw
| my mistake. !; was not love- i, was selfishuess
| /: was lot affection. 1t was ambition. had ies-
! tered my heart With u faisshOod. The stone wGs
rnls0 away at last, ana / saw the sepuIchres
emptiness.
Next morning ! went to see sister Moile
again. She was pale aud seemed troubled. !
asked the cause and she answered: "EothIug."
That meant prevaricstioo. SO | insisted upon
knowing the truth. Then she said kindly. bus
firmly: Don; -ool9 me, Cor ! ain SO unhappy.
don't want to 60 and live mp at the big house,
and wear silks, and learn to be fine lady.
wasn't born Tor such rs that. ! would be mser-
able. / would have to forget al the little hare
footed girls l used to play with. o. would have
to be IL stranger 10 all the poor neighbors who
have been 80 kind to me, and to you tCo Luke.
l couldn't roam the woods, and talk to the little
birds and gather wild flowers from the hillside.
have always been. You come and me,
as you do row. and perhaps, sometimes your
high-borE wife will come with you, and III Re
good as ! can - you both. Please ley stay
here, Luke" She raised her sad face implorIus-
y. and held her breath for answer.
l gr.sped her hand I exclaimed: God
bless you, my good little sister and daughter all
in one. There's no danger. The storm is over
Experience has taught ,no the lesson you hnge
IA, cd f-n~p kaur | 1: al
to the charmer aud flew to the stars; fate
clipped my pinious, and tell TO the earth. am
not going 70 marry"
She pressed my hand, while tears filled her
eyes, she murmured; "Not going to marry"
NO. dear Mollie, am myself again. I have
secured clerkship in tho city, and you shall 70
with me and keep house for me. Now cheer up.
We will start tomorrow"
u think ! shall never forget how the crimson
came to hey cheeks ss she said sole.nnly.
"Tha. cannot BE-. Am grown woman row,
Remember | am seventeen years old. Wa axe
not real brother and sister, il we do call each
other so. We Couldn't live together that way
1t wouldn't be proper, Would il, Lake? No;
you Ca! go, bat / must stay. We have 20 paEs
sometime. Let it be now. I know you will
often think Of ne, ard shsl! pray for yoa al
ways"
| couldn't spsak. | looked, and irembied,
and felt myself sinking 10 the door Just
then ray Of hidden light lsosed my tongue,
aud I stsmnered ont part with you, MolIie
Oh, no, no You must not 60. Will you be
my wife p don't believe She said word ;
but | know she claspel me round the neck
and we both cried like little children
The rest is soon tod We were married
aud came to the city; and there by the table |
y0ndcr sits the dear creature who was tilst my
sister, then daughter, and finally wife OF Luke |
Grafton. oh, you needn't blush 50 Mollie |
you know I've told 1t Just as it happened. |
couldn't put it in fine language, for dropped |
all that long ago But guess our friend
hero Can gather my meaning as we'll !
The temple Of human happiness has many !
apal tments. lie who would secure rest must |
find il in his own proper sphere. TO wander
may win HIM applause for his hazar(lng, but
it cannot bring him contentment, Fame fiat |
tiers the sense, but it takes something else to
satisfy the soul. That is my creed, and Will |
not change it. One move aside would thrill !
my psralyzed ambition into activity again,
reopen old wounds, and kindle smoudering !
embers into flames | could not control. y
wives devoted love and life Of honest indus |
try brings me peace, and sometimes Joy also. |
ask 10 more; for need no more.-l have |
found my road, and shall walk in 1t to the
end. | hin truy grateful to my friends for
their kindness, but | cannot consent to sport
with destiny. Promotion would be tempta-
ton. and temptation might be destruction.
So say "Get thee behind me-
That is my case. Let re know your YER
dict. Am right or wrong?