The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-09-19


Of calling a. 10 me, once jolly world the bet.
ter for Augustus FUhian, Esq,
| concluded not 70 90 out to Bigby's, not to
try any light wine, but to let n vile and and
/, vindictiyc fate do its worst in my behalf.
But | awoke to bland spring morning,
April had stolen in upon March, and brought
with her balmy air sunny skies, and the songs
of a few dissipated bluc-birds that had pre-
terred the city to the suburbs. There was
something eXhilera,ing in this sudden warmth
and brightness that melted the soul of my
long.endurinc and justly-cXaspcratcd land
LADY. The muttlIs were actually hot, the
coffee fragrant and mellow, the beefsteak
rich and succulcnt | carefully avoided Ger,
ltrude and the st. Johns that day, nurscd the
faint ray of hope and joy that had sprung up
in NV Respondent breast and reached the five
O'clock train for Blgbv's with something OF
my old appreciation Of lie.
Just as we were about starting, and lin
gered on the platform to finish my cigar |
was positively startled by vision Of lowell.
ness, in the shape of schoolgirl, making
frantic efforts to catch up her skirts and bun.
dies and run for the train. She was within a
few feet of me when the whistle sounded and
Duff went the engine. A look of absolute
despair Swallowed all hcryoung beauty She
stretch forth her hands with gesture of en-
treaty, and her blue eyes filled with veXatious
tears. was Immediately opposite her, and,
| fInglng away my cigar, | held forth to her
helping hard. She leaped trustingly TO"
ward, was caught in my arms and landing
safely on the platform. A.
Now that YOU are safe said, Lam shock.
ed at the risk YOU ran. Never do that again,
| beg of you; it might have cost you your
life
oh, don't regret It, she said, Il am SO glad.
There is no train after this one till late at
night, and papawould be so frightened
As she spoke she looked up into my face
with the most innocent smile in the world. |
had procured her seat near the cold, raylcsS
stove; and if the weather had been wntry the
warmth of that smile would have radiate,! the
car All heaven was in her eyes they were
so bright and blue; there shone in them so
much of feeling, of joy, Of candOr; a vivid
color famed on her cheeks, glowed in her
lips She was like scarlet cloak in Il win
try landscape, and rested the eye that looked
upon her
made an effort to engage her in converse.
ton, butt her Slight and cold reply | saw
an insurmountablc objection to chance ac-
qualntanCes She spoke no more nor smil.
ed, save at ssmc happy fancy of her own, but
tapped nervously on the window pane, and
watched eagerly the vanishing landscape. AS
! | looked at her | fanGied what that home
must be to which her desires and fancics flew
and sighed u think how far above my reach
were these domestic JOYS that chung to this
| fair young creature before me, All thought
!, If she were only Gertrude, how delightful
would be the path through duty to pleasure"
! While all tie thoughts ran rapidly through
my head the tlain also fastened on, and pres,
emily stopped At the station which Bighy had
! told me was short ride from his house.
To my immense deli CHIT the fair young
stranger gathered up her bundles, and went
before me 10 the door lcaped from the car
| held out my hand to her but she leapcd into
pair Of sturdie' arms than mine; and, look
| ing in the face o this intruder, found it the
honest, beaming face Of Bigby himself, my
agnanimoustailor
! lie lifted her from the ground in his close
carcsa then looked over at me with the hap.
pcgt. the fondcst, the most exalted satisiac
ton ever saw In any one in my life,
Oh, the delicou5 sensation of finding my
sell close by her side In The comfortable little
carry.all! The evening sky was Iosy red, oil
the wayside hedges were budding afrcsh In
the glad new spri,g, multltudes of birds
swung and swayed m the dry stems Of The
trees, and daisies, white and red, studded the
wide green pastures.
Whether it was reilly that light wine of
! Bigby's, the capital mechanism of Blgby's
IchJ de CH{Sjae, the combination OF happy
faces ana light hearts, ubunch OF yiOlets in "A
Venetian vase, the DELICIOUS coffee the come.
! ~ Mrs. Bigby dispensed after the meal
whether it was each or al Of these, the din.
ner was perfect We spert the night in mild
but paradlSaical dissipation We had little
| mn nI IIottin'c I,I;np 70 Mo IA ..~
mother, few ballads for hr father, and any.
thing and everything for mt Anything short
of tugue Of ChopiH's or tn severity of the
old masters was II rest to mymusiCal expert
cnCC
! Then talked to Bigby, or rather he talked
! to me, of rural life and Its surroundings
lots and lands, strawberries aid young or.
Chards; and | secretly grew CAD to think
that in some quarter, however roblematical
! it seemed to me he must reap tie honest re-
ward of his labors With little more light
wine aud lighter biscuits, made blythe pungy,
dmpled hands of handsome Mrs Bigby her
self, the evening ended.
As | went down with my worthy host in
the morning, promised him | would visit
him often. And | vowed in my heart it
would be very often.
\ tailor, aud the daughter Of a tailor, Yea,
| even 80, NIldl Uldltt'tN II. l'uJ IilGll nav
been the offspring Of prince, and at al
events it was the first oasis in my desert Of :.
life. and needed to lie down in the shadow
of a rock for rest
so commenced for me Il dual existence.
paired off pretty equaly-went Quito Bigby' S
bv day. and to Gcrirude'S by night began
to hook upon Hattie as my sister and Ger
'trute as my bctrothcd, and made arrange
mcnis to suit these aitiniti5s admired Hat
tie, coniIcd in her, and informed her 81
the SHARES and dGccits that lay III wait for
| her in that world upon the threshold ofwhich
She STOOL woudcrn. and charmed. Whereas
with Gertrude strovc to intusc in my man
, ncr that tender solic,udc that hctoNencd the
lover. !. perhaps, Wa, not so successful III
ri this latter role a, the former: but 1T anyone
undertake this dual existence, and hell find
out how difficult il is 10 keep the two Charac
, ter, from inlrngin" upon and mlngiing will
each other.
Mr.. CavcnLi,h WAS one Of the agents tht
rod chose for my discontinue. The MAI