Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1874-06-06
Whole Number 1914.

"
of hers. 1t was an imprudent match
-mether of them had any money;
: of course they had a large family,
: and Furzeham was worth one hun
dred and twenty pounds per annum.
Mary helped them a great deal, and,
=" QUILL be kind to the poor Daltons,
r won t .you?" was among her latest ex-
Presslons. Their oldest daughter
J was two years older than ours. and
, ten years wiser. Education. as it IS
usually understood, she had none. If
was simply impossible; first, there
was no money for it; next, her moth
er wanted her to help In nursing.
sewing, cooking, housework. l must
say she was strong case in favor of
no education. She had abundance
of talent; and her father being a
gentleman, and her mother a gentle
woman, she acquired easy, self FUN
conscious manners, talked with tact,
read aloud charmingly, wrote a eapi-
tai letter-she even danced and sang
when she had an opportunity. Now,
partly for her sake,to give her the re-
creation she deserved, and a glimpse
OF better social things than existed
at home, but much more for nv own
girls sake, l always had Dorothy
Dalton to spend her vacation with
her, and l treated her IN every re
spect as another daughter, even to
kissing her and blessing her night
and morning. 1t went on thus six or
seven years, till Anna married, which
she did at eighteen. Dorothy had
been invaluable during the trouble
some period of preparation for the
wedding; and when it was over
asked her mother to leave her with
me for a time, not only to set new
arrangements going, but to talk to
me; for Charles, who was with me
for the long vacation, was very dull,
a mere book-worm. Mrs. Dalton
agreed, and for several weeks all
went on delightfully."-. Dorothy had
an exquisite gift of companionship-
could set conversation going when
it was wanted, and her silence was
never glum or oppressive. As far as
I am concerned, this state of things
might have lasted to the present
day. should never have dreamed
of putting an end to it-but one
morning l was alarmed by a visit
from Mrs. Dalton. say alarmed,
not only because her countenance
betokened trouble, but because I
knew it was barely possible for her
to leave her family. My first thought
was of some pecuniary difficulty
not that she or Dalton had ever ask
ed for even a small loan--yet how
could they make both ends meet?
Her first words were: l want to
speak to you alone.
So you shall, L replied. Now, my
dear, good friend, what's the matter?
Nothing serious, 1 hope.
No, she said family, and with a
quivering lip, not looking up at me;
but want Dorothy to come home
with me to-day.
Why, 1 asked; is Dalton i'll, or one
of the children, or are you? What is
it?
She broke into tears; and knowing
the woman's long endurance, her
strength as well as tenderness of
character, I was very much affected.
Come, come, I said sCOthingly; re-
member what an old friend l am.
Try and fancy I am Mary, l whisper
ed; and took and kissed her rough
ened hand, spoiled for society, but
in my eyes made venerable by holy
household toll.
She wiped her tears, and said: We
have all forgotten that Dorothy is
now a woman. We ought not to
have allowed her to stay with you
after Anna went away. People are
making i'll natured remarks.
Then 1 felt exceedingly angry, and
said: really think that my age and
social position entit1e me to have
young lady staying in my house as
long as she and her parents choose,
even if she has not, as Dorothy has,
grown up as one of my own family.
How did you hear this gossip? /
In the most innocent, unexpected
manner, from my dear little Matte.
She went to Miss Kings to buy me
some cotton. The Browns, who were
in the shop, did not see her, and
made observations which she repeat !
cd and asked me to explain.
7 sbould have liked to know what !
+be observations were, but l checked
myself, and inquired: Do you be-
Iieve that this sort of thing is worth
noticing? To me, it seems utterly
contemplate.
No, it is not, she answered, firmly;
society has made rules, and they are
useful, and we must abide by them. /
l will take Dorothy back, if yon
please; and l am sure you under
stand-her voice faltered-how much
like, and have always liked, her to
be here. You are q second father TO
her.
You won't tell her?
Oh. no; there is no occasion. IL Is
simply true that l am very much IN
want of her help at home.
' Then l reproached myself for hav-
ing been selfish in keeping her so
lone; and she came in radiant and
affeetionate, and | felt that sort of |
void was made in my life, which l !
knew not how to fill. 1 drove slowly |
back after leaving them at Furze- |
ham, and stopped to give an order
at the saddler's. While l was there,
these words caught my ear: VIII
she take the old one, or the young
one, think yeY
] could not see the speaker; did
not know the voice, but at the mo-
ment, the words seemed to have an
unpleasant significance, though prob
ably they had no reference to me.
Things do occur very oddly, inter
polated Jack. They might have al
liuded to something quite different;
Circumstances seem to be tinged
by what is uppermOst in the f mLnac
The man might have been talking Tl
horses or COWS that be had 10 sen.
Had YOU any notion that your son
admired Miss Dalton?
.L,.,,,ar He was at that |