Lincoln County advocate. (Canton, Dakota Territory, [S.D.]) 1876-1877, 1877-04-18

Just wOrshiped her. She was named
after her fathers mother,
but she always called herself Posy, and
grew up with that name attached to
her. l never saw such affection as
Mrs. schuyler's for that child; it
amounted to passion. She never
trusted her from her sight; she woke
in the night to look at her; she was
frantic with terrorif illness threatened
her. She had an artistic nature, but
it's sole exercise was inventing dresse,
and ornaments for Posy. I remem-
Der being at the Hills as child, and
going into Posy's room-a large, airy
room, with two great windows looking
southwark; the walls were white, with
a deep co1nice of every spring flower,
painted to the life by an Italian fresco
painter; the white carpet was strewn
with roses and violets, the white. wood
furniture decorated with honeysuckles
and clematis, painted by Mrs. Schuyler
herself in climbing wreaths and ten
drills, with clusters of rose and ivory
bloom and wide blue blossoms looking
just fit to pick; there were curtains OF
white soft wooden stuff, Topped up in
creamy folds by an enameled fern leaf
on either side; and everything else
carried out in the same floral fashion,
even to the lily OF pearl shell which
held her rings on the toilette table;
but more curious than all was the
child's wardrobe, which she displayed
and I admired after the frank custom
of ten year old girls. There was q
rose dress, the softest cashmere, with
scalloped bands OVERLAPPING each other
on the skirt in deepening tints to the
waist, and the sleeves were just edged
with deep green velvet, which also
bound the throat and waist. It was
like fairy, and the exquisite tints did
not look fanciful on her unreal beauty.
Then there was pansy dress, purple
velvet, with gold buckle at its belt,
and the skirt falling in rich pleats that
seemed to form q rounded outline be-
low like the ed ge of flower. There
was thunbergia costume, the skirt
and sleeves of the delicate buff which
that flower monopolizes, and a bodice
of dark brown velvet like the blossoms
throat"
"What folly !" exclaimed Sue.
Yes; but very pretty folly. And I
have not told you the half. There was
a lily dress Of China Grape; violet of
purple silk, soft and glossless; and
actually q cardinal flower, of vivid
scarlet cloth, that I thought then too
splendid to be borne; but it was only
for a skating dress, Posy said.
She grew up very delicate, exquisite
and fragile, but more and more lovely.
And then Tom saw her and fell in love.
It was strange to see Mrs. Schuyler.
She took Toms state of mind with
great calm, as if it were only natural
and to be expected. Posy had never
been in society; she was very young
yet; but Mrs. Schuyler would have ex-
expected, if not demanded the same
homage from every one who saw her
idol. But when she discovered that
Posy loved Tom and wanted to marry
him, she was heart-smitten. She could
not entertain the idea. She carried
Posy away directly for round of sum-
mer travel; but the girl pinned so visibly,
grew 80 sad, pale, languid, that her
mother was terrified, and brought ner
back to the Hills directly, and sent for
us to make visit there. Sothat affair
was concluded, and Mrs. Schuyler gave
her treasure into other hands to save
it, grudging all the while days alb
sence, an hours pre-occupation, de-
voured with jealous pangs, yet trying
to stide them that Pesy might be Ut
terly happy. But when they really
settled into everyday life, she insisted
on their living with her at the Hills,
and so secured her own misery. Tom
was a good fellow and loving hus-
band, but he was man, and a man of
business, and he had his own affairs to
attend to, his own anxieties and troub-
les, and like the best of mortal men, he
was now and then inconsiderate and
snappish. Posy loved him with all her
soul, and would have condoned his Of
lenses and forgotten his slips" of
tongue if her mother had not made 80
much of them. She was like tigress
if anything approached her young to
harm them, and she flew at Tom. as he
impolitely expressed it, like q mad
cat, if he ever spoke impatiently to
his wife or forgot one attention due to
her. He bore it awhile very patiently
for Posy's sake; but human nature is
not all-enduring, and by-and-by he
used great plainness of speech, to say
the least, with Mrs. Schuyler. Then
Posy became very unhappy. She was
consum ptive. like her father, and her
life always trembled on as delicate q
stem as q harebell flower. She might
have lived on for years in peace and
sunshine, but the stormy atmosphere of
home gave her no rest. Her mother
still interfered with all she did, even
when she saw her dropping day by day.
If Tom took her away for journey,
the mother insisted on going too, and
Posy could not have the heart to re-
fuse. But travelling was no rest to eth
er mother or child, and it was torment
to Tom, who began to comprehend the
situation. Poor little Posy! She faded
before their eyes like a weary baby,
falling asleep one day in TOMS arms,
and wearing after death so radiant q
look Of rest and peace that have nev-
or forgotten it. Mrs. Schuyler fol-
lowed her quickly, worn out by grief
and remorse; for Tom, in the first
agony of his loss, told her what DR..
Evarts said, that peace and quiet might
have saved their darling. Tom hated
her name to his dying day, and never
married again, because he said one
mother-in-law was enough for 8 life.
time..'
"But, mamma, that was an extreme
case"
Certainly; but all the more a