The Portland daily press., 1875-11-27
My Hero.

high gates, and a big key to lock 'em up, and
keep it in my pockets"
''Why. whatever for ?" I said laughing.
''Because," he answered, as he put his
arm round me, and began stroking my hair
in his dear, old loving way-only it does tum-
BILE it so-sbecause it's quite time; else 1 shall
come home one of these days and find it amt
home any longer, as some of these fellows
have carried off my little housekeeper."
''Oh, uncle" said, turning all hot and
red, as / bent down cutting Phips sand
witches; show can you talk such foolish
ness"
''Tain't foelshness, my little lassie," he
said, watching me very hard; ''it's nature,
Nell. Murray put it to me plump and plain,
yesterday-spoke right out"
"What about, uncle?' 1 said, feeling hot
ter and quite angry.
''What about pussyp he said chuckling.
"Of course you don't know. Told me like
man he loved you, and said he thought he
ought TO tell me so; for if he didn't he felt as
if he came to the mill on false pretences.
Ha, ha, hap
Sim sure, uncle" cried angrily, ST never
gave Mr.. Oliver Murray the least encourage
ment Oh, don't uncle, you're coming off all
foury on my dress"
"To be sure 1 am, Nelly" he said laugh
ing, ''same as have hundreds of times, like
july mliCl 1uu 81 yOo VIC hCNCl
given him any encouragement, eh?
ssNever, unclep' cried Indignantly; and,
in spite of all could do, the tears would
gather in my eyes, and one fell pat on the
bread and butter between which was lay
ing slices of meat.
'sWhy you wicked young fbster," he cried
laughing, severy look out of those eyes is an
encouragement; every wave of that sunny
brown hair; there's an encouraging dimple
in that cheek, another in that, and one in
your chin. Why pussy, pussy, you're a
wicked little encouragement to all the young
men for miles round-from top to toe-and |
don't wonder at Parson saying what he did,"
''What did Mr.. Wilson say?" cried
eagerly, for l loved our dear, gentle, old
clergyman, and many time 1 had been
round with him in his visits to the sick and
aged ia the village, where his benevolent face
and silvered head were always welcome.
"What did he say?" laughed uncle, plac-
ing his great hand under my chin and look
ing me full in the face; "wby that he should
forbid you the church-have you locked out,
stead of listening to his sermon"
SITS all nonsense" said angrily, for Pm
sure / never thought was nice looking, and
what uncle said seemed to trouble me.
''Its all nonsense too about John Flem-
ing, suppose" said my uncle, watching
me very narrowly. "Wonderful how fond
that chaps got of me latelyv
''Has he uncle?" said, bending over the
sandwiches.
"Has hel Yes, he has; he calls whenever
he's going into town, to see if he can do any
thing for me; calls OF an evening to ask how
the horses are; calls of morning to tell me
the price of wheat; hang him, he's always
calling, he is so fond of mech Nelly? You
have seen it. haven't Won ?''
."I-Pve-I think I've seen that Mr.. Flem-
ing does come very often, UNCLE" said. and
know my neck grew scarlet as tied the
sandwiches up in little packet, and though
tried SO hard, kept getting more confused
the more so that knew dear uncle was
watching me so narrowly.
"Yes," ha 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, A" it is
all very natural, and don't murmur, though
it will be black day for the old mill, when
my darling is taken away"
'fOh, uncler'
eyes, say when my darling is taken
away; but don't be in a hurry, my child.
All is not gold that glitters; many good,
true little heart has been won by handsome
face and smooth words, when if that good,
true little heart had had the wisdom to see it,
there has been sterling worth and more
faithful love hidden behind some rough out
side. It is not the ruddiest apple in the orch
ard that is the best, Nelly. There's many a
better one with rough skin, that is better
tasted, and firm and sound, where your hand
some, streaky fruit is bitter, mealy and rotten
at the CORE"
I couldn't help it now. I burst into tears.
HAS Noll Murray said anything to you,
lassie?"
mo, uncle" said angrily; "and if he
did, +"
''Should say no to him-eh, lassie 90
"Yes uncle. of course" exclaimed; but
'pm plain, blunt man, my DEAR" he
said; sand tell you I'm sorry for it. Oliver
Murray's staunch, true man, well-to-do,
and as open and honest as the day. Has
Fleming said anything to your"
didn't answer. I Couldn't was chok-
''Silence gives consent" he said, quietly.
"Well, my dear, it must come, 1 suppose,
some day; but don't hurry, my child, don't
hurry. won't thwart you in your wishes,
but if must lose you some day, I should like
to feel that you'd gone to happy home"
hardly know what followed, only that I
threw my arms round his neck, and was Sob
bling on the honest, broad old breast, where
1 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, ever
since. know sobbed and cried as If my
heart would break, as I told him again and
again that loved no one but Philip and him,
and that never wished to go away from the
dear old mill.
was in the midst of one of my most pas
sionate protestations, when some one cried
Halo! what's the matter?'
turned hastily away, for there was Philip,
with bis fresh, young, eager face and wide.
open eyes, 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.
"HalloP' he said again, "what's the mat
ter; has cousin Nelly cut herself?"
"Here," said uncle, grufly, ''you take
your dinner, sir, and be of. You'll be late. y
"Oh, no shan't, father" cried the boy.
"Then you'll be galloping the pony all the
way, you dog" said uncle. "Now lock here,
Phil, you're about going mad over that pom Y,
You cantered across the low meadow last
night"
'Yes father" said the boy hanging his
"And you got jumping the ditch-now
don't deny it, sir; there are the hoof-marks
III Luc sou turI."
81 wasn't going to deny it, father" said
the boy frankly. at was only little ditch,
and Jack Saunders said l Couldn't
"oh!' said uncle sharply; but 1 know he
looked pleased the while; "and SO then if
Jack Saunders Or any other chuckle-
headed fellow dares you to do anything.
you're TO break your neck, eh? Now be off
"All right, father" cried the bow: and the
minute after there was the trampling of the
ponys hOofs outside, and with nv ewes now
dried walked with uncle round 10 The front
of the mill cottage, 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 the young dog!' cried uncle
GROSSLY, but with smile on his face, as Phil
drummed the pony's ribs with his heels, and
galloped through the water, sending it splash
ing, flying and sparkling in every direction.
smiled up in uncle's face, aud we went
back into the house together, the pretty old
place standing in its beautiful garden, with
Inc Inc busy watermill and wooden bridge about
nlty yards away, while the bright little river
ran mostly along its bed, after turning the
sreat Splashing wheel; and all round the
every blast. '-'"' No IA Hull
ho IN, ,