The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-10-24

N'SSA III 0llC4S OOCS ~ OCClyf i
asked. She turned to the girl.
"Taxe off your bonnet" she said lit
tie grimly. ~ want to look at YOU
What is your nameg"
She obeyed. I'm only Nellie Hay."
she said. and stood to be looked at. Betty
looked sternly at first, then piityingly.
LA, no! Master BERTHE, it don't mat
ter" she said. II don't see any harm il
her. "Tneres peg behind the door,
child. You Can hang your bonnet on
that" And left the two together.
Not long, though; every day found
some Few errand to take me to the cot
tage. pnt on elderly airs, and gave
| advice. 1 had sent to school, and went
| through grave examinations on Saturday
afternoons. I told Bette that when l
| was man of middle age / should take
my little daughter home, and she should
keep house for us. And began to fancy
very soon, that there could be no such
happiness as that q parent felt. The girl
was growing tail, and l was only ten
years older than she was; but when she
checked Ter light tread to keep pace with
me, when the childish laugh buboled
and rippied at something which conld
only make me smile. l felt that years
are not the only things which age US.
was working hard at my profession,
too. I had hand and heart full. In a
year found coul.i pass Aletta OF, her
husband S arm without pang. In year
more l wondered whether she had really
changed, or whether 1ancied black curls
more than | did golden bands, for 1
found myself thinking my little daughter
much the prettiest.
In the sultry summer evenings used
to leave red tape and parchment aud go
out to Bettys cottage to have tea with
my adopted child. Then. while she pol
ished up the cups, Nellie Fl ~ and used
to walk down to the river side. Tall as
she was growing, l had way OF holding
her hand still; and we had such pleasant
talks, such unworthy chatter. These
walks and simple tea drinkings rested
the brain, wearied with law business.
quarrels and bubbles and stratagems.
more than | can tell.
| The rough hands had grown softer now.
the waist taper, the bust full. The sweep
OF woman's robes, the tread of woman s
| light shod feet, had taken the place of
clumping leather boots and scant cotton
skirts.
| knew this, but Nellie was child to
me all the same. Was l not by adoption
her tathers Had not my early grief and
| the staff on which leaned aged me be-
tore my time? Of course she. always
would seem young to ne; and why felt
SO angry if by chance some gay young
farmer char,ed with her over lbs fence.
or some neighbor cav her home from
church. I could not tell AN old man's
temper, [ suppose sold, ana sighed
like young one.
So three years passed. At the end Of
that time Alletta's husband died. They
had quarreled, and she had made him
wotully jealous, it is said, and all his
property save mere pittance wss wllled
| to strangers.
one day lady in black walked into
my office; when she lifted her veil |
saw Aletta Stantons face, closer 10 me
than it had been since we parted. Ny
heart gave no wild throb. I felt as
though she was mere stranger.
Courteously and quiet carnly heard
her business. She intended to contest
the will and needed advice. I gave her
what could. | referred her to broth
or lawyer as the one who would best
espose her cause. AS for her l told her
truly that my time was too much occu-
pied 70 undertake anything more, and l
wished her success.
She looked at me wistiulv, with be-
Crea. blue eyes full of tears a. she rose 70
2.
sit was cruel of him." she said, "cruel
to leave me so poor. but he was never
KIND, never-not in the honey moon
even"
II regret to hear it, | SAID.
Il could expect nothing more she
said. Il did not love hin1-I never
loved but one-and that one"
She paused and looked at me.
THAT one love STILL" she said
And Heaven knows no feeling Of re-
verge OF petty triumph was in nv heart
when looked in Aletta Stanton's eyes if
! did not understand her, and courteous
ly bowed her out
did ever care fer thst woman7" /
thought, "or Is it all dreamf'
took my adopted child to theater
that night and We saw the Lady of Lyous
together. 1t was her frs, PLAYING ex-
perience, and she enjoyed it immensely.
She wore white dress AMI bonnet and
the coral drops had fastened into her
ears. couiu not help looking into her
eyes and touching her hand With mine.
When left her kissed her.
''Good-night nv child" said
And she answere good night" With |
a cheek dyed on the instant deeper scar |
let, and ran away as Betty came on, to
chat with me.
From that night dated an odd change. |
Ny adopted child seemed shy of let.ing |
me keep her hand-shy even OF chatting /
As she did She was graver. more wcm-
aaly. fancied she did not care ~ me |
as she did. Perhaps some of these farm /
ers who leaned over the gate at sunset.
some of those young fellows who so often
escorted her home from church. had wuu
her from me. grew little moody. /
found myself in brown studies when /
should have been at work At last de-
to discover whether | was really
% lose my child. and went down 70 the
cottage. / found her there sitting a.
work with Betty.
After all. it was no easy task could
ios do as had hoped. l tried testing.
lad spoke of one and of the other Young