Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1878-10-26

u came 70 ASK favor, Betty.
Just name it. Master BERTHE"
"WiIl you take boarsler, b tIy?''
'BleSs me! in my two rOoms?"
Only child, Betty?"
"A child, Master Albert"
| told her OF the fiLdler's death and the
GIRL.
IL have money enough" said. "but
no female relative. can only come to
yOh."
You always were kind heartad. from
n hoy" she said. Il ii take the little girl
Master BERTHE"
Then she put both hands on my Shout
ders.
You haven't fretted, have your" she
asked.
.Frrtted? Why?" 1 asked.
NAY. why indeed?' said old Betty.
Better fish in the sea than ever were
caught YETI Then in a moment mo e
she added, IL have been to see the we'd
ding"
felt nv face flush.
'Shrll bring the girl Tomorrow. af-
ter her grandfa'hcr's tuneral?'' asked.
when YOU please" said Betty. But.
Master Albert. what do you mean TO do
with her? You are doing all this in a
hurry. Just think a Bit"
Il am going to adopt the child,
said. ut Will make me happy IL have a
young thing To care for.'
Betty laughed
you'll have young things OF your
own. please God, some days" she said.
why. at your age, life is before YOU"
Il shall never marry, Brtty," said.
''She caught my fingers in close grasp
with her horny, hard working hand.
Il wish you WAS back again baby OH
my knee. Master Bertie,- She said. I'D
like To sing yoa 10 sleep, as did then
All. it's a grief to us old ladies to see the
young we've nursed grow up so tall and
old. with their troubles so shut up in
their own hearts that we can't comfort
them. Going? Well. then, goodnight,
I'm ready for anything that will cheer
you mp"
lett her leaning over the gate looking
wistfully after me. knowing is mother
might have known the grief buried in
my heart. And il her wo.'.ls had given
me pain. it was like some ointment
which makes the wound smart in its very
healing. 1t was something to be loved
so yell, even by the old nurse.
Late the next day | led my yOurg
charge from her grandfatIier's grave to
Betty cnttage. She Kept my hand upon
the road as little child might. | had
no thought but that she WAS one. until
old BetIie's cry of .GO"dneSS, Ma-tri
B"rtir. thought you said young child!
Why. this is II grown girl startled me
into consciousness.
1T doesn't matter, does il Betty?"
asked. She turT'd to the girl.
''Tane OFF your bonnet" she sail lit
tie srimly. Il want 10 look at YOU
What is your nam,-?"
The girl obryed. I'm only Nellie
Hay she said. ami stood to he looked
AT. Betty looked sternly at 81. then
pitvingly
In. no. Muster B..rife. ii don't mat
ter" she SAID. Il don't see any harm in
her. There's peg behind the door.
cllild. You en- hang Your bonnet on
THAI" And LETT the two together.
Not long. though; every day tonnd
some N W errand 10 take me to the cot
tag. put on elderly airs an gave al
rice. Ind her sent to S-hOol IN went
through grave 1m;natiuis on Satiir lay
aitcrinoms. told old Betty That when
was Il M M of middle age | should t:Ne
my isttit fitl
keep huIlse for III. And | began to fancy
very soon that there could he no such
happiness us TN parent felt. Tie .iil
MS growin" tal.. an | AS only ten
Yeas old r nan she waS; b,I when size
checked her light tr''-ei to keep pace with
IN =. when the childish iau ia u Dbl Il
aud ripplcd al something which co.ll
only make smile, felE Tint years are not
the only IlIirgs that age u>.
WAS working harlat my profession.
TOO. | hi;I Inn IN heart full. la Il
year [ foun | tint c'ui pl>s .iIrita Oh
her hu>biirlS arm with out a paay. la
4 year NOR. wondered whether She ha
really changed. ar whether flnriel
black curl> more Ihrp did golden bands,
for found mysrif thinking my little
daughter much the pr,ttics!.
In The >ulrry summersevenings [ used
I" leave red tape and parchment and gn
ont TO Betty cottage Ia have ten with
my adopted child. Then. while she pol
isl,ed up the cups Nellie III y aud used
20 walk down TO the river side. Tall as
-he was growing. had Il way of holding
her hand still; and we had such plrasan.
talks, such o,ll unworldly chatter The,
walks aad simple tea dr;nk;nrs r.-ste,
the brain. wearied with law business.
quarrel aud bubbles and stratagcmS
mere than can fell.
The rullgli hand had grown softer now
Il e waist taper, the bust full. The sweet
oil wOinaii'< robes. the tread of woman
light shod feet. had taken the place %
clumpy leather boots aud scaut cotton
skirts.
knew this, but Nellie was Il child tt
me all the sam. Was not by adoption
her father? Had not my early grief ant
the staff Oh which learned aged me be-
fore my time? Of course she Away:
would be young to M; and why l fell
so angry if by chance some gay young
farmer chatted with her over the fence
or some neighbor saw her home iron
church. L could not tell. IAN old man.
temper, suppose" said and sighed
like a young one.
So three years pissed, At the end o
that time Aletta's husband died. They
had Quarreled, and she had made hin
wOfully jealous, 1t is said, and all hi
property save mere pittance W rs willet
to strangers.
! One day lady in blacs walked int
my Office; when she lifted her veil saw
! Aletta SIanton's face, closer to me thar
it had been since we parted. My hear
gave no wild thr0b. | felt as though
! she were mere stranger.
Cautiously and quite calmly 1 hear'
her business. She intended 10 cOntes
the will and needed advice. | gave he
what could. | referred her to a brothe
| lawyer as the one who would best es
pcuse her cause. As for myself toll
her truly that my time was too mnci
occupied to undertake anything more
and wished her success.
She looked at me wistfully, with he
great blue eyes full of tears as she ros'
to 90.
at was cruel of him." she said, "crue