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

asked. She turned to the girl.
"Iaxe off your bonnet" she said q lit
Il. grimly. II want to look at you
What is your name9"
She obeyed. I'm only Nellie Hay"
she said. ana stood to be looked at. Betty
looked sternly at first, then pittyingly.
La, no! Master BERTHE, it don't mat
ter" she said. II don't see any harm in
her. "Tnere's peg behind the door,
child. You can hang your bonnet on
that" And I left the two together.
Not long, though; every day found
some new errand to take me to the cot
tage. pnt on elderly airs, and gave
advice. l had sent to school, and went
through grave examinations on Saturday
afternoons. I told Bette that when
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 parent felt. The girl
was growing tall, and was only ten
years older than she was; but when she
checked Ter light tread to keep pace with
me, when the childish laugh bubbled
and rippled at something which conld
only make me smile. felt that years
are not the only things which age us.
l was working hard at my profession,
too. I had hand and heart full. In a
year found coull pass Aletta o. her
husbands arm without pang. In year
more I wondered whether she had really
changed, or whether fancied black curls
more than I did golden bands, for
found myself thinking my little daughter
! much the prettiest.
| In the sultry summer evenings used
to leave red tape and parchment aud 90
out to Bettys cottage to have tea with
my adopted child. Then. while she pol
ished up the cups, Nellie Hay and used
to walk down to the river side. Tall as
she was growing, / had a 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 VITA 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 8
light.shod feet, had taken the place of
clumping leather boots and scant cotton
skirts.
| / knew this, but Nellie was q child to
me all the same. Was not bv adoption
her tather2 Had not my early grief and
the staff on which leaned aged me be.
tore my time2 Of course she. always
would seem young to me; and why felt
SO angry if by chance some gsy young
farmer chat,ed with her over tbs fence,
or some neigbbor saw her home from
church. I could not tell. IAN Old man 3
temper, suppose" said, 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 vss wllled
to strangers.
| Que day lady in black walked into
| my Office; when she lifted her veil
saw Aletta Stanton's face, closer to me
than it had been since we parted. My
heart gave no wild throb. I felt as
though she was mere stranger.
Courteously and quiet camly l heard
her business. She intended to contest
the will and needed advice. I gave her
what l could. referred her to a broth
er 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 to undertake anything more, and
| wishec her success.
great blue eyes full of tears As she rose to
q.
sit was cruel OF him." she said, "cruel
to leave me SO poor. but he was never
kind, never-not in the honeymoon
even"
II regret to hear it." said.
II could expect nothing more" she
said. II did not love him 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 hesrt
when l looked in Aletta Stantonis eyes il
did not understand her, and courteous
~ lowed her out
ibid l ever care fer that womanl"
thought, "or Is it all dreamT
I took my adopted child to q theater
that night and We saw the Lady of Lyous
together. 1t was her first PLAYING ex-
perience, and she enjoyed it immensely.
She wore white dress and bonnet and
the coral drops l had fastened into her
ears. Icould not help looking into her
eyes and touching her hand with mine.
When l left her kissed her.
"Good night my child" said.
And she answered good night" with
q cheek dyed ON the instant deeper scar
let, and ran away as Betty came out to
chat with me.
From that night dated an odd change.
Ny adopted child seemed shy Of letting
me keep her hand-shy even OF chatting
as she did. She was grsver, more wcm-
anly. fancied she did not care TOR me
as she dio. Perhaps some of these farm
ers who leaned over the gate at sunset,
some of those young fellows who 20 often
escorted her home from church. had won
her from me. l grew q little moody. /
found myself in brown studies when I |
should have been at work. At last de- |
to discover whether was really |
to lose my child, and went down tn the |
cottage. / found her there sitting at |
work with Betty.
After all, il was no easy task. Icould
not do - had hoped / tried testing,
and spoke of one and Of the other young