The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-09-10

A
scarlet as tied the sandwiches up in a
little packet, and though tried so hard
l kept getting more confnsed-the more
so that knew dear uncle was watching
me narrowly.
.sYes,- he said drily, 81 should
think YOU had" and he sighed gently
..Nelly, my little lassie," he said,
taking me once more in his arms, and
speaking very seriously, .'it's all very
natural and | don't murmur, though
it'll be black day for the old mill
when my darling's taken away"
.Oh, unclei"
.Yes, | say when nv darling's taken
away; but don't be in hurry, my
child All isn't gold that glitters !;
many good, true little heart has been
won by handsome face and smooth
words, when, II that good true little
heart had had the wisdom 10 see il /,
there has been sterling worth and a
more faithful love hidden behind some
rough outside. Ii isn't the ruddiest APP
pie in the orchard that's the best, Nelly.
There's many better one, with rough
skin, that's better-tasted and firm and
sound, where your handsome, streaky
fruits bitter, mealy. and rotten ut the
core"
couldn't help it now. | burst into
tears.
"Has Noll Murray said any thing to
you, lassie?'
"No, uncle" Il said angrily; sand
if he did, -
"Should say no to him-eh, lassie?"
"Yes, uncle, of course | eNclaim-
ed; but all the same my heart kept
beating strangely.
ssI'm a plain, blunt man. my dear, p"
he said sand tell you I'm sorry for
il. Oliver Murray's staunch, true
man, well-to-do, and rs open and hon
est as the day. Has Fleming said any
thing to you?''
didn't answer. | couldn't was
choking.
.Silence gives CONSENT" he said
quietly. ..Well, my dear, il must
come, suppose, some day: but don't
hurry, my child, don't hurry. | won't
thwart YOU in your wishes, but il
must lose YOU some day, should like
to feel that you'd gone to happy
home
| hardly know what followed, only
that threw my arms round his neck
and was sobbing on the honest, broad
old breast, where had so often cried
myself TO sleep when first he fetched
me, poor trembling little orphan,
years before, to his own widowed home,
where he had shared his love between
me and his one child, cousin Philip, ev-
er since. | know / sobbed and cried
as il nv heart would break, a told
him again and again that loved no
one but Philip and him, and that new
er, never wished to go away from the
dear old mill
was in the midst of one of nv most
passionate protestations, when some
one cried
ssHallo, whats the matter?''
turned hastily away, for there was
Philip, with his fresh, young, eager
face and wide-open ewes at the door,
fastening his pony's bride TO the ring,
while he came in TO fetch his sandwiches
and the puffs which had made for him
to take TO school.
s.Hallo," he said again, "swhat's
the matter; has cousin Nelly cut her.
self?r
"Here,'' said uncle gruffiy, "you
take your dinner, sir, and be Off. You'll
be late
"Oh, no, / shan't, father cried
the boy.
"Then you'll be galloping the pony
all the way, you dog" said uncle,
"Nsw, look here. Phil, you're about
going mad over that pony. You can
tered across the low meadow last
night
sYes, father" said the boy, hang
ing his head.
"And you got jumping the ditch
now, don't deny it, sir; there are the
hoof-marks in the soft turf -
al wasn't going 70 deny it, father"
said the boy frankly. ut was only
little ditch, and Jack Sanders said /
couldn't"
.Oh," said uncle sharply; but /
know he looked pleased the while;
land so then If Jack Sanders or any
other chuckle-headed fellow dares you
to do any thing you're to break your
neck, eh' Now be of to school. y
IAN right, father" cried the boy;
and the minute after there was tramp
ling of the pony's hoofs outside, and
with my eyes now dried walked with
uncle round to the front Of the mill cot
tage, where we stood at the gate as
bright, happy and eager in the sunny
morning, the boy cantered along and
dashed down to where the glistening
river ran bubbling over the pebbly ford.
.Look at that young dogl" cried
uncle Grossly, but with smile on his
face, a. Phil drummed the pony's side
with his heels and galloped through the
water, sending il splashing, flying and
sparkling in every direction.
smiled up in uncle's face, and we
went back into the house together. the