Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-10-02

Late the next day | led my young charge
from her grandfather grave to Betty's
cottage. She kept my hand upon the road
as a little child might. | had no thought
but that she was one, until old Betty's cry
of Goodness, Master BERTHE thought you
said young child Why, this is a grown
girl ~ startled me into consciousness.
at doesn't matter, does IL, Betty 7" |
asked She turned to the girl
"Take off your bonnet" she said, little
grimly. al want 10 look at you. What is
your name 2"
The girl obeyed. " I'm only Nellie Hay"
she said and stood TO be looked at. Betty
looked sternly at first, then pityingly.
ala, no Master Berthe, it don't matter"
she said. al don't see any harm in her.
There's peg behind the door, child. You
can nang your bonnet on that" Aud | left
the two together.
Not long, though; every day found some
new errand to take me to the cottage. |
put on elderly airs, and gave advice. had
her sent TO school, aud went through grave
examinations on Saturday afternoons.
told old Betty that when was man of
middle age should take my little daughter
home, aud she should keep house for us.
Aud began to fancy, very soon, that there
tOulu bt lO Nuth hdIBlutSH dS Judb Idlthb
felt. The girl was growing tall aud | was
only ten years older than she was but
when she checked her light tread to keep
pace with me, when the childish laugh
bubbled and rippled at something which
could only make me smile, felt that years
are not the only things which age us.
| was working hard at my profession,
too. | had hand and heart full. In a
fAupI I nn,tll A1atta
her husbands arm without pang In
year more | wondered whether she bad
really changed, or whether | fancied black
curls more than l 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 and go out to
Betty's cottage to have tea with my adopted
child. Then, while she polished up the
cups, Nellie Hay and used to walk down
to the river side. Tall as she was growing,
| had way of holding her hands still and
we had such pleasant talks such odd un-
worldly 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 women's robes, the tread of women 5 light
shod feet, had taken the place of dumping
leather boots and scant cotton dresses.
knew this, but Nellie was a child to me
all the same. Was | not by adoption her
father 2 Had not my early grief and the
staff on which leaned, aged me before my
time ? OF course she always would be young
to Inc and why | felt so angry if by chance
some gay young farmer chatted with her ovei
the fence, or some neighbor saw her home
from church, | could not tell. a. An old man.
temper, suppose" | said, and sighed like
a young one.
So three years passed. At the end of that
time Aletta's husband died. They had
quarreled, and she had made him woful,
Jealous it was said, and all his property
save mere pittance was willed to strangers
One day lady in black walked into my
office when she lifted her veil saw Aletts
Stantons face, closer TO me than it had beer
since we parted. My heart gave no wilc
throb. ! felt as though she were a mere
stranger.
Courteously and quite calmly ! heard he
business. She intended to contest the vii
and needed advice. Igave her what could
| referred her to a brother lawyer as the ont
who would best espouse her cause. As fo
myself, | told her truly that my time was too
much occupied to undertake anything more
and wished her success.
She looked at me wistfully, with her grea
blue eyes full of tears as she rose to 60.
ut was cruel of him. she said, cruel t.
leave me so poor, but he was never kind
never-not in the honeymoon, even.'
Z" regret to hear it," | said.
al could expect nothing more" she said
| % I liI Iowa hi | lTVal hut
and that one"
She paused and looked at me.
"That one | love still" she said.
And heaven knows no feeling of reveng,
or petty triumph was in my heart when
looked in Aletta Stanton's eyes, as if | did no
understand her, and courtcously bowed out
"Did ! ever care for that woman %
thought, "or is it all a dream q
| took my adopted child to the theatre tina
night, and we saw the Lady of Lyons to
gether. 1t was her first play-going ex
perience and she enjoyed it immensely
She wore white dress and bonnet and tn
coral drops had fastened few days befor
in her pretty little ears. | could not hell
looking into her eyes and touching her hant
with mine. When left her kissed her.
Goodnight, my child" said.
And she answered goodnight" with
cheek dyed on the instant deeper than scarlet
and ran away as Betty came out to cha
; with me.
} From that night dated an odd change
My adopted child seemed shy of letting IN
keep her hand-shy even of chatting as sh
did. She was graver, more womanly.
fancied she did not care for me as she die
Perhaps some OF those farmers who leane
over the gate at sunset, some OF those youn
fellows who so often escorted her home frol
church, had won her from me- | grew
, little moody. | found myself in brow
studies when should have been at work
At last | determined to discover whether
! was really to loose my child, aud went dow
TO the cottage. | found her there sitting a
work with Betty.
After all, it was no easy task. coul
not do as | hoped. | tried testing, and spok
of one and of the other young fellows neal
awe shall have Nellie stolen from us, SUP
pose" said. There is nothing so cas-
lost from a family as pretty daughter. Blu
who is to have you, Nellie y
She looked at me as children look befor
they burst into tears-her chin quivering
her throat swelling-then she dropped he
work, and stole from the room without an
; swering me.
W
have offended her ?"
Old Betty stood before me sturdy an
] stern-a look in her face that had neve
, yet seen there.
| "Master Albert" she said, "whateve
she was when she came here, Nellie is N
a child now. Oh, Master Albert, can't be
!. lieve you've done it on purpose. You couldn'
} such sweet innocent thing-but it
done. All can say is, go away, or let he
/ go, and may be the wound would heal.
5 ought to have spoken in time. ! was an oil
= fool. Oh, how could you, Master Albert
! How could you 2"
"What have done 2" cried /" l woul
die rather than harm her."
: Sand yet you have made her love you,
said Betty, sternly. You who knew 20
I would never love her. You've been very Sc
e fish, Master Albert"
). A new light dawned upon me, radianc
a brilliant beyond my hopes.
| Betty" said |, "you are dreaming Sh
must think me old enough to be a granC
father with my long face aud bald crown
and this crutch I've had one dream broken
don't set me dreaming again, for heaven
sake"
Old Betty looked at me; then caught m
face in both her hands and kissed me-
t "Master Berthe" said she, :" shan't te
you word more; go and find out what yo
o want to know for yourself"
found my child under the grapevine