Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-07-16

while the deed was signed and the
money, seven hundred dollars counted
and given to Mr.. Lindsay, who in turr
handed over the mortgage Of the home
stead to Nh. Wilson. Then he turned
abruptly and went out Mr.. Seldom looked
| after him with his quick,S bright eyes, bn1
no one else appeared to notice it as being
ANYTHING unusual that a hired man should
| intrude his presence upon such an occasion
And now the business is over, [ will
take the opportunity of saying word
about this same Paul Leicester. q
First, he was stranger in Dalton; that
| is, he had been there but little over two
months. having come earlyzin & pril .e~H He
| had seemed so anxious for employment
| and offered to work so cheaply withal,
and upon such easy terms-not asking for
payment until Christmas-that Mr.. Lind
say had thought it best to take him. He
could not work the large farm alone, and
was specially anxious to do a good deal
this season, to try to recover himself.
Mr.. Leicester was not very much used
to farm work, it was quite evident, but
he was so ready to learn, and SO quiet and
persistent about everything he undertook,
that Mr. Lindsay was delighted with his
bargain. He was extremely reticent at
first, but by degrees he had grown more
free, and once or twice supplied them
with such genial flow of wit and spirits
that Mr.. Lindsay had declared himself
unable to see what sent him there, a man
of his abilities. 4ae
And now a word in regard to Mr. Lind
says embarrassments. For three consec-
tremely light in this section, scarcely
fOy lo %
labor, to say nothing of profit. Then the
expense Of living was considerable, for
ten persons required no small amount of
food, to make no mention of garments
that will wax old Added to this was a
long and severe illness, lasting all winter,
and running him behind to such an ex-
tent, that he saw no other way to 90 on
with his work than to hire money This
it was next to impossible to do, and after
some pretty severe struggles with his
pride, he SO far overcame it as to write to
Julian richardson a second cousin, living
in New Orleans, and reputed very wealthy.
He had never seen him, but had heard
that he was unmarried and somewhat
eccentric. And so, in this strait, he
ventured to appeal to him. He wrote the
first letter in February, but it was unan-
swered. After waiting in a state of nerv-
Gus anxiety and suspense for two or three
weeks, he wrote again. This time his
letter was returned, after being opened,
but without line or word in answer He
struggled along month or two more,
and then he went to see Amos Wilson,
with the final result have heretofore de-
scribed
The days slipped away like golden sands
and the summer grew in beauty and
brightness to Della Lindsay The sun
shine fell into her heart as softly as it. cap
ped the green, blossomy hills. The daily
drudgery of toll became suddenly tighten
ed and illuminated by this same golden
glow, and the world grew dear, and life
looked only sweet and beautiful dream.
Into this supreme atmosphere, one day,
a sudden cloud broke. It had been no
larger than mans hand; for weeks she
had not discovered it, and was therefore
totally unprepared for the great darkness
that came upon her. She had returned
from long ramble over the prairie, her
hands loaded with blossoms, and stood by
the door describing their names and habits
to Paul Leicester, whose grave face was
softened into rare, tender smile, when
ever the pretty brown eyes and Wlld-rOSe
cheeks were lifted to his face.
DCIIol, LILY UCdl, L "dI1o yOu q IIO
ment," her father said, coming out of the
entry.
Without a word she followed him in,
the blossoms still in her hands, and some
of them dropped to the floor as she walk
ed.
"Come in this way my child" Mr.
Lindsay said, passing before her and open
ing the door into the parlor, where, sharp
ly outlined against the sunset sky, stood
Amos Wilson, his back to the window and
his great, ungainly form showing in bold
relief against the light - ta
Somehow the feeling of depression
which had so weighed her down on the
day the homestead was mortgaged came
upon her again, and she felt her face grow
white and rigid. s.F
Mr.. Lindsay closed the door carefully,
and came forward to his daughters side
Della" he. said, struggling to appear
calm, "Mr. Wilson has done me the honor
to ask permission to pay his court to my
daughter. [ have told him my girl is
free to answer for herself-what shall. it
be, Della 90
Della cast one quick glance into her
fathers face, and saw all its eager hope
and anxiety. Then she turned to Amos
Wilson, who had taken a step forward
and was looking at her sharply from un-
der his low brows, his pale face. burning
with faint opaline tints Involuntarily she
shuddered and drew back. g -. $780,
& do not love Mr.. Wilson, father.n she
said family. s.sf
"But you can learn to love him, Della?"
he asked quickly, his lips twitching ner-
vously. s 80
mo, father, | cannot" she answered,
this time firmly. II thank Mr. Wilson
for the honor he has done me, but [ do
not love him, and you do not ask me to
marry man do not love, father?"
mo, my child, | do not ask that" he
said gently, but with chord of sadness
and disappointment in his voice. -. = +
Poor Della how suddenly the cloud had
descended and enveloped her With
heavy heart she crept softly out, and left
the two men together. She knew what
her refusal had meant to her father She
knew the load which chafed and fretted
him so might have been lifted with sim
pie movement of her lips, and yet she had
not given it-she could not give it, Drop
ping her blossoms as she went, she hur-
ried out to a little arbor Of old vines in
tbs garden, and there, alone with the pity
ing twilight and the stars, she sobbed out
the first bitterness of her regret and pain.
She heard Mr.. Wilson come out and 90