Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-08-25

wants were IN their proper places, mrs'
Somerville qnieted, and Nellie, white as
sheet, bus perfectly tranquil, actively
engaged in waiting upon the surgeon.
The weary hours that followed taxed
every nerve of the girls frame, but she
bore the strain bravely; and when the
doctor led her to the drawing room, he
felt deep respect for the girl who SO
nobly crushed back all selfish sorrow to
aid her father in his agony.
Giving her glass of water, and max
ing her rest quietly for few minutes, he
watched her face till the drawn rigidity
of every feature relaxed, and the strained
eyes looked piteously into his own.
That is BETTER he said kindly, you
may cry now
Nellie's lip quivercd.
you have something to tell me ?
Yes. Are you strong enough to hear
itp
That he will die? Oh, say he will not
dier
The injuries are not fatal. Yonr faith
er may live for years
Nelie's tears fell fast now.
But, the doctor continued, he will
never be able to walk again. The injury
to the spine will keep him cripple for
life.'
Never walk again? While Nellie
sobbed out her anguish in the drawing
room, John Somerville, unconscious OF the
dread fat that had gone forth, slept under
the influence of powerful Opiate.
For many days the two women who
loved him had no thought for anything
but the strong man stricken down in the
prime of life, needing care like little
child. Under the influence Of real sor-
row the crust of selfshness melted from
the wifes heart, and she became devoted
nurse, forgetting the fancied ailments she
had nursed for years, in mlnistering to her
husband, as he lay helpless and suffering
But there came day when John SOM
erville was told, kindly aud cautiously of
the doom before him. II took all the
Christian strength Of the mans nature to
endure the shock. Better death, he
thought than life at such price. The
first agony over, he thought Of the factory,
the bread-winner for wife and child-the
business of his life. Must the old firm
die at last, and the hOurishing business be
sold for want of a masters care. Invol-
UNFAIRLY he turned to Nellie, and talked
long and earnestly.
1t was surprise to him, in spite Of
what he had seen when she replied
i knew the factory would be your first
anxiety, father, and Stephen has been here
every evening to report to me, bringing
me all the mail-matter. To-day | went
down myself Everthing is going on well.
The orders for this month are all filled,
and the new ones under way. [ have put
in some new material. Do you feel able
to 90 over what | have done p
Clearly she explained every detail of
the business in the four weeks that had
passed since the accident, and modestly
showed him the memoranda she had kept
of every business transaction.
Nellie said he, when she finished, 'if
Heaven denied me son, it has given me
a good daughter. With you to assist me,
1 can still carry on my factory though l
lie crippled here
There was q buzz of comment in the
village when Miss Ellen Somervllle as
sumed the charge of the frame factory her
father had owned so long. Some Of the
workmen refused to be ordered about by
a girl, and were promptly discharged but
the majority worked better under the
stimulous of Ncllie's judicious praise.
People who sneered at masculine women
were forced to confess that Nellie was as
womanly, if not as helpless, as the finest
lady of them all. Patrons of the factory
who proPhecied its utter ruin were forced
to confess that their orders were filled as
promptly and as well as ever before
And yet, in the counting-house, only a
woman controlled the entire business, kept
the books, answered the letters, and guild
cd every detail of the vast establishment.
Three years had passed since Nellie
became the head of the business, when
Stephen Holton wooed her for his wife.
He had saved from his salary sufficient to
make a pleasant home, and Nellie knew
he loved Der faithfully, as she had long
loved him. So, with her happy consent,
he sought her father to ask for his child.
From all the world John Somerville
said, i could not have chosen a man to
whom 1 would so gladly give my Nellie.
1t will comfort me in the years that may
be left of my life, to know my brave girl