The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-04-23
THE VILLAGE TYRANTS
4 DRAMATIC STORY.
By JOSEPH HATTON.
ACT I.

ACT I.
SCENE 1.-THE BELLE OF THE VILLAGE.
Combe Dingle ought to be sacred to
romance. It is valley Of cottages,
with stream running down the Gen.
ire and turning a mill. The brook il
full of crosses, and in summer it blooms
with bowers that rival the buds and
blossoms on its banks.
Ono of the prettiest objects in the
valley not long ago was the cottage Of
Luke Meadows, with it's rustic garden
seats, its cluster Of monthly roses over
the door, and it's windows full Of plants.
At the opening Of our story Luke was
little better than a laborer ON tho, farm
of Mr.. Peter North ). but in his day he
had been a:prosperous man, sn.tivstibf
his own land. Partly through !. bad
management and partly from i'll luck,
Meadows had lost his property, and
gradually sunk into the position in
which we nov find him. -
Though philosophers may urge that
adversely brings valuable experience
and adventitions gain, few who have
struggled hard for one darling object
can calmly accept the mere logical
theory. Luke Meadows was struck
down not SO much on account of his
own fond ambition being frustrated,
but because his sAlietion came upon
him at time when he hoped that he
would have amassed fortune sufficient
to secure competency for his only
child. But all these hopes were ruth
lessly destroyed. The once happy
homestead was now in the "posse&iaiopn
Of another; and Luke, at an advanced
age, having been accustomed for many
years to the. comforts of an SIMPLE In.
come, had now: to have recourse to
manual labor, which was the more
hsmifistingsin proportion as it contrast.
ed withstbe position of respect and I'm.
poItanos he once occupied among bis
neighbors. -Hesobtained employment
from Farmer North, political mag.
nate in the village, and rented from
him the little cattsge which even
among the carefully kept houses Of the
village, was conspicuous for the spot
less whiteness of its walls and the lux
urianee OF it's garden.
Kate was tho belle of the, village
not that this acknowledged honor$-wias
difficult to secure in the secluded ham:
let Of Combe Diug1e-indeed, she,voah
have commanded attention in any 20.
cial assemblage: whore health, beauty,
and unassuming grace elicit tho I'D.
miration of men or attract the jealous
comment Of women. Though the fea.
lures Of her face might not have borne
the CLOSEST criticism according to
aesthetic oanons, yet their combination
made up the highest effect of beauty.
Every detail of her dress was arranged
with simple elegance which suggest.
ed that perfect result of art which il
said to consist in eoncealing it. This
might be attributed in some degree to
her education, for Luke Meadows was
intelligent enough to understand the
importance of schooling, even to = vom.
an who looked no higher than the hope
of some day being an honest farmers
wife. She was usually dressed in: 1
light print, and as she tended her little
garden she looked more like the viii.
ago maiden of the domestic drama than
the simple daughter of Luke. Meadows
She was al smiable as p1sttyj, u u usefu
as she was lovable. o. Sunday 3 sh.
played the harmonium in the villae,
church, and once OF twice week assist
ed the mistress Of. the parish schools il
her educational duties. With suot
charms and accomplishments twas no
surprising that Kate had many-admir
ers. She might easily have made, i,
eligible match; but. like lnany othe
good women, she had indiscreetly dis
posed Of her youthful affections. Th,
fortunate youth vas Tom North, tn
the son Of tho farmer from whom Lux
Meadows rented bis cottage.
Tom was . good,tor-nothing. Pc,
haps he should not have been blame
for the particular bent in which hi
mind was aifeeteai for ~ bud 2bse