Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1878-10-16

my ONCE; when she lifted her veil / saw
Aletta 6tanton's face, closer to me thar
1t had been since We parted. My heart
gave no Wild throb. felt - though she
were . mere stranger.
Courteously and quite calmly l heard
her business. She intended to contest
the will and needed advice. Iaave hel
what / could. I referred her to . brother
lawyer ~ the one who would best cspOuse
her cause. A for myself l told hel
truly that my time was too much occu'
pied to undertake anything more, and ]
wished her success.
She looked ut me wlstfully with hel
great blue eyes full of tears a. she rose
to 60. +,
TT was cruel of him." she said, "cruel
to leave me 70 poor, but he was never
kind, never-nOt In the honeymoon
even."
at regret to hear it," I said.
II could expect nothing MORE" she
said. 81 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-
venge or petty triumph was in my heart
when / looked in Aletta Stanton's eyes
as IL / did not understand her, and
courteously bowed her out.
"Did / ever care for that womanf" l
thought, cor is it all dreamf'
/ took my adopted child to the theatre
that night and we saw the Lady of Lyons
together. It was her first ~play-going
experience, and she enjoyed it immense
ly. She wore q white dress and bonnet
and the coral drops 1 had fastened q few
days before in her pretty little ears. l
could not help looking into her eyes and
touching her hand with mine. When l
left her / kissed her.
Goodnight, my child" I said.
And she answered goodnight" with
a cheek dyed on the instant deeper
scarlet, and ran away as Betty came out
to chat with me.
From that night l dated an odd
change. My adopted child seemed shy
of letting me keep her hand-shy ever
of chatting as she did. Perhaps some of
these farmers who leaned over the gate
at sunset, some of those young fellows
who so often escorted her home from
church, had won her from me. Igrew a
little moody. l found myself in brown
studies when / should have been at
work. At last I determined to discover
whether I was really to lose my child,
and went down to the cottage. / found
her there sitting at work with Betty.
After all, it was no easy task. l could
not do As l had hoped. I tried testing,
and spoke of one and of the other young
fellows near. ave shall have Nellie
stolen from us, l suppose" l said.
"There is nothing 50 easy lost from a
family as a pretty daughter. But who
is to have you. NellieT
She looked at me a. children look be-
fore they burst into tears-her chin
quivering, her throat swelling-then she
dropped her work, and stole from the
room without answering me.
What ails the child, Betty" l asked,
shave / offended herw
Old Betty stood before me sturdy and
stern-s look in her face that 1 had
never yet seen there.
"Master Albert" she said, whatever
she was when she came here, Nellie is no
child now. Oh, Master Albert, l can't
believe you've done it on purpose. You
cOuldn't-such q sweet innocent thing
but it's done. Ali I can say is, 60 away,
or let her 20, and maybe the wound
will heal. / ought to have spoken in
time. l was an old fool. Oh, how
could you, Master Albert? How could
your
"What have have / done?" I cried.
81 would die rather than harm her."
"And yet you have made her lsve
you," said Betty, sternly. "You've
been very selfish, Master Albert"
A g light dawned upon me, a radi-
ance brilliant beyond my hopes.
"Betty," said / 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 yet me dream
ing again for heavens sake"
Old Betty looked at me, and then
caught my face in both her hands and
kissed me.
"Master Bertie," said she, al shan't
tell you a word more; 60 and find out
what you want to know for yourself.
You silly, handsome, good-for-nothing
fellOw!"
/ found my child under the grape
vine, her face wa wet with tears. / sat
down by her, and put my arm about her
waist.
"Nellie," said /, "don't shrink from
me. l am your true friend. Your
friend whatever you may give me now,
/ am older than you. I am not vain
enough 70 think myself a young girls
beau-ideal. Bat / do love you dearly,
Nellie. Can you love me enough to b
my wife7 If you cannot, if another
claims your heart, do not say yes from
gratitude. Tell me the truth, and still
retain q fathers, q brothers affection
Nellie"
/ bent over her, and my life seemed il
her keeping. Until that moment l hat
not known myself / loved her madl,
II felt it 10 - better, far bette
than in my youth ! had loved Alett,
Stanton.
"Nellie!" said; "Nellie?" and
brown hand was laid of its own accord il
mine, and beneath my gaze the darl
eyes did not dare to lift themselves, bu
hid their sweetness on my breast. Nelli
was mine.
- WIN ASA UCnbAuB AlC6It ~ ucA
my own, and thought it all over. I re
membered the child in her cotton gowl
standing in the gallery of the church OF
the wedding day. l remembered tn
child whom l had taught; the girl will
whom | had passe 50 many happy hours
l felt that this living life, sprung
phenix-like, from the ashes of the dead
was the purest feeling of my life.
So my old fancy of keeping house will
my child came true at last; only whel
she crossed the threshold of my hom,
with me l called her wife. And tn.
touch of her brown hand brings comfor
with it; still her sweet voice is better t.
me than all the music in the world; and
~ in my youth / fancied myself old
surely in my age I shall believe mysel
young, for while We are loving an,
being loved youth can never die, an,
while we live I and my Nellie must Low
each other.