The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1874-08-13


! Nellie. 1 will go myself"
But, even as he spoke, a messenger
hurriedly entered the Office, saying
"Mr. SOmerville was thrown from
his horse while on his way here from
the village, and ia badly injured"
"Where ?'' broke from Nellie's
white lips. /:
1--WE took him home, and he asked
; me to come here for you"
Even in her horror and grief Nellie
retained some presence of mind.
l Looking into Stephen Holtonis grave,
, sympathising face, she said:
"YOu will take charge here until
you hear from my father. will be
responsible"
THANK you" he said, deeply
= moved by her confidence Ia him at
such a time. ar will try to do my
duty"
81 am sure OF that, )" she answered,
and extended her hand. es
Two minutes later she was hurry
ing homeward. None too soon was
her clear head aud quiet resolution
brought to bear upon the excited
household. Her mother was in hys-
terics, the servants bustling here and
and there, purposeless and terrified,
and her father lying upon the bed in
, the hands of a surgeon and two gen.
tlemen who had assisted in bringing
: him home.
There was plenty to do. In less
time than would have seemed possible,
the servants were in their proper
places, Mrs. Somerviile quieted, and
Nellie, white as sheet, but perfectly
tranquil, actively engaged in waiting
upon the surgeon. ~ - Ma
The weary hours that followed tax
ed every nerve of the girls frame, but
she bore the strain bravely and
when the surgeon led her to the draw
ing-room, he felt a deep respect for
the girl who had so nobly crushed
back ali selfish sorrow to aid her faith
er in his agony.
Giving her a glass of water, and
making her rest quietly for few
minutes, he watched her face till the
drawn rigidity of every feature relax
ed, and the strained eyes looked
piteously into his own.
"That is BETTER" lie said kindly,
"You may cry now"
Nellie's lip quivered.
"You have something to tell me ?"
"Yes. Are you strong enough to
hear it ?" -.r.
"That he will die {? Oh, say he will
not die :"
''Tne injuries are not fatal. Your
father may live for years"
Nellie's tears fell fast now.
"But," continued thu dOctJr, che
will never be able to walk again.
The injury to the spine will keep him
a cripple for life."
j Never walk againI while Nellie
sobbed out her anguish in the draw
ing room, John SOmeryille, uncon-
seious of the dread fiat that had gone
forth, slept under the Influence of
powerful Opiate.
For many days the two women
who loved him had no thought for
J anything but the strong man stricken
down in the prime oflife, needing care
like little child. Under the influence
of real sorrow, the crust OF selfishness
melted from the wife's heart, and she
became q devoted nurse, forgetting
the fancied ailments she had nursed
for years, in ministering to her hus-
band, as he lay helpless and suffering.
Bur there came a day when John
Someryille was told, kindly and eau
tiously, of the doom before Linn. 1t
took ali the Christian strength OF the
mans nature to endure the shock.
Better death, he thonght, than life at
such q price. The first agony over,
he thonght of the factory-the bread
winner for wife and child-the busi-
ness Of his life. Must the old firm
die at last, and the flourishing busi-
ness be sold for want OF a masters
care. Involuntarily he turned to
n ellie and talked long and eornestly.
1t was a surprise to him, in spite of
what he had seen, when she replied;
al 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 1 went down myself. Every
thing is going on well. The orders for
this month ar e all filled, and the new
ones under way. have put in some
new material. Do you feel able to go
over what have doIe ?r
Clearly she explained every detail
of the business In the four weeks that
had passed since the accident, and
modestIy showed him the memOran-
da she had kept of every business
transaction.
"Nellie," he said, when she finish
ed, .'if Heaven denied me son, it
has given me a good daughter. Will
you take a sons place now2 With
YOU to assist me, can still carry on
my factory, though lie crippled
here.n
/ There was buzz OF comment in
the village when Miss Ellen Somer-
Vile assumed charge of the frame fac
tory her father had owned so long.
Some of the workmen refused to be
"ordered about" by girl, and were
promptly discharged; but the major
ity worked better under the stimulus
of Nellie's judiciOus praise. People
who sneered at "masculine women"
We're forced to confess that Nellie was
as womanly, if not as helpless, as the
finest lady OF them all. Patrons of the
factory who prophesied its utter ruin
were forced to confess that their or
ders were filled as promptly and as
we'll as ever before. And yet, in the
eounting-house, only woman con-
trolled the entire business, kept the
books, answered the letters, and guild
ed every detail of the vast establish
ment.
Three years had passed since Nell
lie became the head OF the business,
when Stephen Holton woOed her for
his wife. He had saved from his
salary sufficient to make q pleasant
home, and Nellie knew he loved her
faithfully, as she had long loved him.
SO, with her happy consent, he
sought her father 70 ask for his child.
"From all the world, !" John Somer-
vile said, al could not have chosen q
man to whom would so gladly give
my Nellie. 1t will comfort me, in
the years that may be left of my life,
to know that my braye girl has pro-
tector when am gone. But, Steph-
en-, there is one wish very near my
heart that you can gratify."
"Name it, sir" -..-st
al shall, on your marriage day,
deed to you the factory and business,
subject only to moderate life-income
for myself and wife. But l would
like to keep the old man there. An
act Of the legislature will give you the
right to be Stephen Somerville, and
SOmerville d Son may still live in the
old firms place"
So when Nellie married, some
months later, she became the wife Of
Stephen HOlton Somerville. Gradu-
ally she found her duties in her new
home drawing her little by little from
an active place in the factory; and,
proud of her husband, she gladly re-
signed her authority to him, finding
scope for her energies In the duties
around her, till one sunny morning,
walking over to her fathers she put
into his arms a tiny, Growing baby,
and said, with glad fears
{ my business cares are over, papa.
Henceforth resign in favor Of "Som-
erville & Son."
Less brain and More Wit.