The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-02-18
BEAUTY Tvs. WORTH.


Near the center of smooth green
field, short distance from the road,
with its border of wild roses and sweet
ferns, stood a square white house, with
bright green blinds and wide piazza.
Here John Stacey had lived since his
boyhood, here he. had wept over the re-
mains of his beloved parents, here he had
led his bride to the altar, here he had re-
joiced over the birth of his children, and
watched them expand and bloom into
womanhood, with all true hearts fond
ness.
No restless desire to 90 out into the
great world, to view the wonders of for
eign lands, or the glories of his own, ever
entered his mind; his hope, his am
bition, extended only to the limits of his
excellent farm. "a
In his hand he held an open letter from
n friend of his boyhood, and among the
four pages of kindly words occurred the
following PASSAGE:
"Yod know, my dear friend, when left
you, so many years ago, we made each other
promise which, though visionary then, has
at least chance of becoming reality now.
We said we would cause our children to in
termarry, that our friendship may be per-
petuated forever. have never forgotten it ;
and think you have not. l have only one
son, and he is all that is pure and noble. His
principle his firm ,ess, have been tested in
the crucible of temptation, and he has come
out the brighter for the ordeal. would
trust him anywhere.--in prosperity or adj
versity. You know me well enough to know
that this is not enthusiasm or prejudice. In
two weeks from the time that this letter
reaches you he will start for Hillside. If he
should chance to love one of your daughters
/ shall be thankful, for, somehow, time has
made the simple idea of our youth the desire
of my heart. OF course you will say nothing
to your daughters or my son of our wishes,
the mere existence of which would cause
dislike to grow up between them. Such is
human nature"
"Well, that's singular" unused John,
as he folded up the letter and placed it
in his pocket. "I hadn't forgotten that
Jim Harris and me made that promise
but / hadn't thought of it for a long
while. Jim was always true blue.
wonder whatn come out of it. 1t is sin
gular."
"What, papa? What are you mum
bling to yourself abOut?"
And Ella Stacey, the pet, the beauty
of the family, danced into the room, he
satin cheeks red with the bloom o
health, her gray eyes shining, and he
rich chestnut hair falling around he
shoulders in glossy waves.
"I was thinkin' how in the worlC
Farmer Parry's cow could a-got out il
the meadow with her head and foot tiet
and not stone of the wall knocked
down." he answered, screwing up one eye
for John was sometimes humorous in hi
crude way.
"Pooh! You're teasing me now!' ex
claimed Ella, pouting. Il don't like yo
bit"
"Don't, eh, my little gipsyw and hi
great strong hands lifted her from tn
floor, and his bearded lips pressed kis
upon her soft cheek.
40, you hurt p she cried with littl
frown. "Let me go; want to catch m
rabbit-see him on the lawn"
And she ran out of the front dOol
laughing, and swinging her summer ha
"I'm afraid sometimes that Ellie
spoiled, we've petted her So" refecte
her father as he walked slowly towarc
the barn. g, 90
That evening after the tea-things
had been cleaned and put away, tn
whole family came out and sat down q
the piazza to enjoy the delicious tw
light.
Jehn pulled contentedly at his pip
while his wife mended stockings and Rui
sat busily sewing, while Ella run abo'
like young fawn.
Ruth was homely, and she knew it, b'
the fact did not cause her either sadne
or anger, and am sure that envy of h,
sisters beauty never entered her min
She had light brown hair, of shat
between faxen and chestnut, deep haz
eyes and rather large mouth, her no
being the only regslar feature that 81
possessed. When quiet her face was d
void of color, but the least exciteme
sent glow to her cheeks that for Il
time being made her actually pretty, al
caused her mother to often declare tn
"Ruth was not homely, after ALL"
"We're going to have visit in abo
two weeks" said John very abruptly.
His wife looked up in surprise, n
Ruth paused in her sewing to hear WI
would follow. But Ella was all curiosi
and impotence, and asked repeated
who it was, and how her father kn
about IL. k
"Thcre, child, wait minute, and
tell you. It's man, a young man, a
the son of Jim Harris, an old friend
-E mine. You remember Jim, don't y
wifeT
"Why, surely" said Mrs. Stacey, sn
ing. $50 his boy Is coming to see
Well, I declarep'
"Is he handsome 2" demanded f
restlessly. i.
"He used to be. Idon't know whet
he is now" replied her father, in
Gently. =. - - 40
Ella screamed with laughter, and
claimed:
"I meant the young man. What
care about Jim, you call himf'
At this juncturc stranger appea
in their midst-an old man, with
weight Of many years resting heavily
him. Engrossed with their own affs
they had not heard his soft step upon
smooth lawn, and now, as his .wrinl
face, with its brown eyes and wi
whiskers, peered down upon them I
we're not little surprised. Ella stal
at his plain clothes, his oaken staff,
his bent form, but Ruth arose the ms
she saw him, and offered him her cf
with a gentle smile.
"Keep thy seat, lass, thank thee
as leave sit down upon the stoop,"
the stranger, in a cracked but XII