The Placer herald., 1874-07-11

slender, golden-haired giri OF hfteen, with
large blue eyes, and rosy mouth that had
never known aught but sweet words and
sweeter smiles. Mrs. Oldham's stern face
softened with indescrbable tenderness as her
eye fell on the innocent girlish forehead.
"See, grandmamma, said little Alice,
Auttering through the blossoms, herself like
a bright, moving flower, II am going to
take these jessamines and rosebuds to Bessie
Nye; she's only just recovering from neural
gia, you know, and there isn't anything
choicer than pinks and sweet Williams in
that oldfashioned garden Of theirs. 1t will
be pleasant walk down the glen, and
think Bessie will be pleased"
"And when will you reinn, petp The
old house is lonesome without you, and
somehow | am getting old and foolish, and
can't bear to let you out Of my sight"
cob, I'll come home tomorrow, grand
mamma. Bessie will want me to stay with
her tonight. Of course.
Mrs. Oldham looked at the sunny head,
as it glanced about, here and there. among
the fiery glow of the hothouse flowers, and
wondered if Heavens angels were fairer
than her little Alice.
"Oh, it's you Green, is it ?" said Mrs.
Oldham, looking up from the newspaper she
was reading. by the aid of her gold eye
glass. as the agent entered her sitting-room.
"Yes, madam" returned Obadiah, some
what siiffly. "Peter jenkins wants to rent
the house you turned that poor Irish family
out of last night"
"Well, think you may let him have it.
jenkins is a stirring man, aud will make
6rst-rate tenant"
Eyes, madam. They took refuge in
Michael Reirdons shanty, down the road"
"They? Wbo?"
"Maloney and his fmly-its strange
how those Irish cling to each other-and the
little girl died in the night. The shock and
exerton of moving was too much, as
thought it would be-"
''Died, eh Well I can't help that
people die every day"
Nevertheless, Obadiah Green fancied he
detected something like disturbed tone in
Mrs. Oldhaln's voice.
"Green she added, after a moment or
two of distracted silence, 81 wish, when
you 90 down past the stables, you would
tell Thomas TO get up the close carriage, and
60 to DR. Nye's for Alice. l can't endure
to have the child away from me, and it is
certainly time that she returned home"
II will, madam, said Obadiah, as stiffly
as ever.
Two houls afterwards Thomas drove up
to tie door.& Mrs. Oldham was waiting on
The portico steps, but she was waiting in
Vai, Tho par Wv
"Miss Alice has not been there at all,
ma 'am!'
"Not been therew Thomas, you are
mistaken. Miss Alice set out for DR.. Nyes
yesterday afternoon.
81 know, ma'am, but they haven't seen
her or heard of her at all. Oh, ma am,
what can have become of herP"
Mrs. Oldham stood moment, rooted to
the spot by some strange inscrutable shadow
Of dread and horror, some narheless fear,
while her cheek, usually SO hale and ruddy,
grew as white as DEATH
"lts down il yonder hollow the white
wa;er-lilies grow, Murphy-there's nothin'
in the world 80 pretty for layin' round
corpse. Sure the mothers sore heartll be
PLACED wild lot, and they're as pure white
as Nelly's own pretty forehead, Gods saints
be good to berl"
And honest Terence Maloney, his eyes
vet red and swoolen with the tears he had
shed over the bier of his youngest born,
scrambled down the steep decvity, with his
tall son following as best he might.
"Father," said the boy, speaking between
his clenched teeth eff live. III be revenged
on the ould lady up to the Grange, who
murdered Nelly just as much as if she'd
struck her down with her own hand. /
will father"
Tefences made no answer-perhaps he
could not trust himself to speak. The next
moment Murphy uttered an irrepressible
exclamation of admiration as he came in
sight of the still, beautiful pond, with its
floating carpe. of cream-white water, lilies,
glowing, like magnifed stars, from their
dark, polished leaves.
O, father, isn't it lovely2 But-wbat's
that ?"
For there was a something white, and
pure, and beautiful, which was not float
ing hower--the face of fait, drowned
child, turned sereneIy upward towards the
deep blue sky of midsummer.
Within moment Terence Maloney had
thrown off his coat and boots. and plunged
into the still pool, striking out right and left
with the determined motion of strong and
skiIful swimmer.
"Father, is it dead she is p gasped the
terrified Murphy, as Terence Maoney once
more came up the bank. carrying in his
muscular arms the motionless, dropping fig
ure, with wax-white face, and hair of drip
ping gold, and bunch Of hot-house bios
SONS, yet fresh and beautiful. in it's rigid
hand. "Wby, father, its Miss Alice Old
hamw
eyes" said Terence. laying the delicate
form gently on the dewy trass, and looking
pityingly down upon it's marble beauty.