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

She looked at me as children look De-
fore they burst into tears-her chin quiz
ering, her throat swelling then she
dropped her work, and stole from the
room without answering me :.
"What aiis the child, 0Betty!' l asked,
shave offended her9:'
Old Betty stood before me sturdy and
stern-a look in her face that had never
yet seen there. n
master Albert" she said, "whatever
she was when she came here, Nellie is
no child now. Oh, Master Albert, can't
believe you've done it on purpose. You
couldn't such sweet innocent thing
but it's done. All can say is, go away,
or let her go away, and maybe the wound
would heal. ought to have spoken in
time. was an old fool. Oh, how could
you, Master Albert? How could you2'
"What have I done2' cried. II would
die rather than harm her"
"And yet you have made her love you"
said Betty, sternly. "You who knew you
would never love her. You've been very
selfish, Master Albert"
A new light dawned upon me, radi-
ance brilliant beyond my hopes.
Betty" said I, you are dreaming.
She must think me old enough to be a
grandfather, with my long face and bald
crown, and this crutch. I've had one
dream broken; don't set me dreaming
again for heavens sake.'
Old Betty looked at me, then caught
my face in both her bands and kissed
me.
"Master Bertie," said she, II shant tell
you word more; go and find out what
you want to know for yourself. You
silly, handsome good-for nothing fellOwg
found my child under the grape vine
her face was wet with tears. I sat down
by her. and put my arm about her waist.
"Nellie," said ], "don't shrink from
me. l am your true friend whatever
answer you may give me now. am
older than you. am not vain enough
to think myself a young girls beau-ideal.
But do love you dearly, Nellie. Can
you love me enough to be my wife2 II
you cannot, if another claims your heart,
do not say yes from gratitude. Tell me
the truth, and still retain fathers, aid q
brothers affection, Nellie"
h Mt over her, and my life seemed in
her keeping. Until that moment / had
not known myself I loved her madly-I
felt it now-better. far better than in my
youth I had loved Aletta Stanton.
"Nellier' ! said; "Nellie?" and a
brown hand was laid of its own accord in
mine, and beneath my gaze the dark
eyes did not dare to lift themselves, but
hid their sweetness on my breast. Nellie
was mine.
sat with her beating heart so near
my own, and thought it all over, re-
1nembered the child in her cotton gown
standing in the gallery of the church on
child whom had taught; the girl with
whom had passed so many happy hours
felt that this living life, sprung, phoenix
like, from the ashes Of the dead, was the
purest feeling of my life.
So my fancy Of keeping house with my
child came true at last; only when she
crossed the threshold Of my home with
me called her wife. And the touch Of
her brown hand brings comfort with it;
still her sweet voice is better to me than
all the music in the world; and, as in my
youth tancied myself old, surely in my
age shall believe myself young, for
while we are loving and being loved
youth can never die, and while we live
and my Nellie must love each other.