The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-06-07

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myself,
".Wcll. | reckon little Lottic has go, some
thing better to do than to talk to an IDLE Tel
low he answered.
$50 have L. | said shortly, for at that mo
mcnt hated him. Why did he come there
10 show his power over me? for knew h'
read me like book, my poor blind worship
and all. my heplcssness and my cruel suffer
I ing.
"Hc looked astonished for moment bu
suddenly cried out, oh, what splendid, beau
tiful COLOR
at was my hair catching the sun. thrus
nv hands over it wildly My temples throb
bed, the tears were hot beneath my eyelids
wanted to scream, to rave at myself for be
inc such fool that never could hide my
feeling. :, -.
"At that moment the ovcrseer called him
and looked over to Lottc. An evil spirl
had taken possession of me and was raving
for some outlet. Lotte stood with her back
towards me. her light dress touching the
frame, her cheek Just showing the deepening
dimplcs AS she read. II made me furious &c
ace her attitude of perfect gracc-let her be
doing what she would, the spirit of grace and
beauty pervaded all her motions, | thought
bitterly
"Suddcnly, slowly, so slowly one could
hardly see them move, and going by jerks
the great betting began to slide round-just a
little then stopping, then gliding a little more
then at a stand still, all the smaller bands
and wheels and cleaning shafts keeping
company. saw now All, that wicked, un-
seen devil at my elbow, saw that her dress
was t0urbiBq one of the wheels fastened to
the Great central shaft. Horror curdled my
veins, but | was silent. Again the wheel re,
yolved-stopped-sh never stirred-she new
or knew it-nobody knew it but--that the ter
rble iron fingers had gripped her by half a
breadth of calico. Any moment, knew
now. breathless as | stood and watched, any
moment. | knew, all might be going switter
than | could think:
"If kept still, Ben loOuld nGcer marry Lot.
tie Hill, would never torture me by careless
That was the top of my hate.
Just at that moment, in my heart, | was II
murderer
God mercifully kept the works low till
saw yision-that fair sweet face and form
crushed beyond all possibility Of recognition
then my sin-paralyzed energies asserted
| dashed across the intervening
space, reckless of my own life, creeping nm
der the low crawling gearing until reached
hcr-I was very strong-thrcw my arm around
her and pinned her, as it were, 10 the window
ill.
Don't move | crled-took the sharp
knife which used in my work, and with one
lr two rapid thrusts severed her dress from
he betting lust in time. a minute-half Il
minute more
"Shc turned deadly pale as she saw the
pieces of her dress rapidly lifted and rolled
up, up till it reached the murderous iron
ceth, and then she gave Il great cry, turning
rs white as II ghost
"As for me, had tainted, and when came
o myself found one pair of eyes gazing
lown upon me, whose thrilling passion made
ne tremble again.
"'You brave, beautiful little girl he muir
own brave, brave darlingr
How strange that was too sweet to hear.
turned my head away from him rs half
'obbed:
Il saved her for you, don't talk that way
o me-
But ,oiU talk that way to you he cried,
md, bending down, kissed me. You didn't
hink | cared for little Lottie Bless your
rue loving heart, Lotte has been married
hesc six months to Ned Vassar and the
'oung scamp sent all his letters to me, and
lad to go crawling about to meet her in by
places, so that nobody should suspect. And
| gave her the last letter, thank
iod telling her that he is on his way home
and he's struck Il vein of good luck, some
vay so that he need not fear to own her-and
verything is coming out right
do you see what came near doing but
or Gods mercful intervention? laid there
;hIte and shivering, and then told Ben the
;hole from beginning to end not sparing
lyself, and then | tried to tell him to leave
ne, for was too wicked for any good man.
mt he would not.
why, didn't you save her life at the risk
f your own, you precious darling?' he cried,
nd held me close in his arms.
Well | never can think or speak of it |
Without crying little, but you see it made
mother girl of me. Come what may dare
4ot he angry or jealous now; and as for dear
4ottic, confessed everything to her, too. 1t
eemed aS if wanted somebody to punish
ne but Lottie said she only loved me the
lore for conquering my great temptation,
nd though she is Mr.. Vassar's lady, and lives
a splendid style, we are two close, good
'iends, and many's the time she brings her
ably here, or | take mine there, to visit and
llk over old mill-times
And, madam, though the trial left its scar,
left a blessing too"
That was the story which she told me
Food'S Houahold Hoga7iHe.