The Van Buren press., 1875-06-29
MISCELLANY.
Eme's Dollar Bill.

1t was a bitter cold night the full moon
shining with a freezing light over cold
eXpanse Of glittering snow, the branches
Of the glen tinkling and cracking under
their weight Of icicles, the stars gisten
ing afar Off. had run across the beat
en- path that led from the house to the
barn, to get some Of the red Baldwin ap-
pies that were packed 50 snugly in the oat
bin, for Mr.. Cornell had come to spend
the evening, and my mother took pride
in her unpretending hospitality. But just
as stopped to lift the lid Of the bin. Il
rustling noise in the hay startled me BE
fore could utter low cry that trembled
on my lips, saw that ii was Stella Sew.
ern
Stella Severn, ncighbor Lockwood 5
"bound girl, wild reckless thing, who
received Il bad name at every ones hand,
and contriyed, somehow to get blamed
for every scrapc that was going. Whether
Stella was really bad, or rnut no one could
tell--but somehow she was rerpetuallr
under the ban Mrs Lockwood, a stiff,
rigid dame Of the puritan type, knew no
more how to manage Stella Severn than
the matronLy he'd comprohends the row
ing nature Of a wild dukiug that takes to
water in spite Of Ything-and for
some recent escapsd, the full details of
of which did not know, had been for
bidder by mother to speak.t Stella.
Yes. it is l. said Stella, slowly rearing
herself out Of the recesscs of the hay,
and staring at me with her big Andaluria
eyes. And am oh-so coIdr
What arc you doing, here ? | asked,
holding my lantern in sore perplexny,
i am trying to sleep SAID Stella. 4
have run away
Run away! What forT
Because | couldn't stand it any long
er Mrs Lockwood accused me Of be.
inc thief--she has lost some miserable
old teaspoon or other-and / won't be
called theft
But, Stella. cried, my conservative
nature thrilling with vague terror at the
mere idea of such bold measures as these,
what are you going to do
The Lord only knows Stella answer
ed, with more reckless truth than reyer
eDce.
Perhaps mother would lc. you sleep
in our spare ROOM said.
Perhaps she wouldn't" sconfully re.
torted Stella No decent person lets me
inr
i mean to ask her
ASK her, then, and get scolding for
your pains . laughed Stella, bitterly.
but it's so cruelty cold, and mother
wouldn't shut out even a dog in such
weather as this
perhaps so-but am worse than n
dog! You mean kindly, Ellie Heart, but
you'll find out the folly of it.
/ made no answer. but ran back as fast
as ! could to the house, where breathless
and painting, | preferred my request.
A thief! A runaway. In my house =
cried my mother.
"A lazy, good for nothing, who would
rather lie in the sunshine, than work, any
time, echoed Deacon Cornell.
go, and warn her off the premises i'm
mediately,' said my mother.
i dunno but Id ought to go tor the
constable, obviously remarked the dca.
con, feeling his stubby beard.
slunk away disheartened. Stella's
prophecy had been correct. But | was
determined not to desert my old play
mate thus Creeping mp to my room, |
took a solitary dollar bill, treasured to
ward new blue sash, and Spring mus
lin, and wrote short note to Hubert
Lisle, the young artist, who had boarded
with us the summer previous, asking him
to befricnd the friendless believed he
would do as much for my sake, and then
hurrying once more to the barn, ! crept
up to Stela's side
Stella said |, you must go away
from here
i thought so,' responded Stella, calm
ly.
But here is dollar--all the money |
have got. 1t will take you to New York,
if YOU walk fast and reach the depot in
time for the midnight express, And there
is note to gentleman who may, per
haps, help you to find something to do"
Stella threw her arms about my neck,
and could feel her tears, wet and warm,
upon my cheek.
Ellie Heart, sobbed she, if all the
world was like you, perhaps | shouldn't
he as bad as am Yet I'll do my best.
Give me the monsy, and let me go
| watched her dark form plodding
away over the snow, until the black speck
vanished under the wall Of trees that lined
the road and then came back into the
house whore my mother and the deacon
were discussing their cider and apples.
Has she gone ? asked the farmer.
Yes, she has gone | answered.
4 am glad of that said my mother
I've no faith in that Stella Severn. She
might have had good home with Mrs.
Lockwood, if she only had behaved her
Il