The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-07-26

lyou'd better save your money. Not but villa
thevre pretty enough, and don'tscc how sh'
, makes 'cm; | couldn't. But Of all the stack
up things / ever saw, she's the worst louI
little girl thinks your brother looks like my
brother says |, trying to make myself agree
: able. Docs he. I'm sure ! don't know;
didn't look at him, Ny brother is very
handsome man, and an artist, We were d
family Of artists although my share OF talent
took very lowly form, says She handing IN,
the vase-She called it 'varsc,' GoOdaitcr
noon"
To all OF which Dick replied not word
but turned away and sawed like mad, which
so offended Miss Elizabeth Foster that she new
or referred to the pretty widow again until The
afternoon of the 3D. of July, when, with "A
CLEAN of mischief in her face, she burst out at
the suppcrtable
"Oh, Dick, | have a message for you. met
Miss Eva rs the little servantgirl calls her.
They say that girl serves Mrs. Deming for
love; wish | could get people to serve me for
that. Please tell the--the shavings man, said
Miss Eva, that wanted to come again, but
mamma won't let me- And, oh, Dick, if they
haven't put fireworks for sale in the other
window, WaX-howers and fireworks. Amt
it funny"
| But Judging from Dicks clouded brow and
Closelysct lips, he thought 1t anything but
funny aud LIB, wisely dropping the subject,
devoted herself to mothers soft gingerbread
with undivided attention.
And the cloud still fingered on the young
carpenters brow as he, pail IN hand, just after
supper bent his steps towards the old well that
stood few feet beyond the brick cottage. lie
had developed an extraordinary iondness for
the water of this well; it seemed as though
nothing else could quench his thirst, albeit I'M
mt
isfied with the coldas ice clear as-crystal water
drawn from the old well in his mothers own
garden
AS he drew near the isolated cottage he saw
the fireworks in the window, and his heart
came up in his throat. 80 poor so proud, SO
lovely" he thought "I'll buy them all to-
morrow" At this moment the pretty woman
stepped out on the Old.fashoned porch, and
Dick turned and fled.
But few hours after Dick was again seized
with terrible thirst--a thirst that he was
firmly convinced could only be assuagcd by II
draught from the brick cottage we'll and
again, pail in hand, he set out, this time to
reach the place Of destination and begin slow
" to return. 1t was ten O'Clock. In the cot
tage all was silence and darkness. Dick paus.
ed a. he reached it, and leaned against the
maple IN front Of the door and gazcd at the
SnulItTlCSS WlUuONS, NHcIc lnc VIA HoNcls
and fire works cntrcated Come, buy me-"
And as he gaZed, smash went pane of glass
and a bluelg ht shot past him and tell with "a
prolonged hiss upon the ground, Then in
quick succession came another and another
Then fizz! bang pop! pop! fzz! bang and
the pyrOtechnic articles were shooting about
in every direction and the white muslin cur
tains were in flames.
In moment the strong young fellow had
burst open the door, throwing the pail of wa
ter upon the cracking works, torn down
the blazing curtains, and stamped out'the fire
And III another moment some one in long
white robe, her golden hair silvered by the
moonlight, came flying out of the room just
beyond, and inging her arms about him
cried
"Oh! dear brother Robert, you have come
back at last. notwithstanding about her
in bcwildered manner-"what has happen
ed"
I'm not brother Robert" said Dick but
he didn't loosen the cllnging arms, as ii be
hooved him to do, when he made the DECLARE
ton. "Im-the-thc shavings man. and your
window has been on fire Fortunately | was
passing" But he got no further for the
white robcd figure uttered little shrek, and
fled with precipitancy as old Mrs Paulding
entered the room from the other door, her best
bonnet perchcd upon her head, and her night
cap dangling by its strings around her neck,
u silver teapot in one hand, and her tavorlte
cat grasped by the throat, in the other, on u
queer little run, totally unlike her usual dig
niticd tread
TO her Dick explained the cause of the wet
carpet and the smoke. begrimed walls, and
amid her proluse thanks for his timely help
was taking his leave when Mrs. Deming
lamp in hand, again made her appearance
this time in suitable evening dress
"Oh, aunt, what an cscape," she began, set
ting the lamp on the table; "and to think
never awoke until the very last, was 80 tired;
and Eva has slept through it all. We might
have been burned in our beds" And then
turning to Dick, she said her sweet voice
trembling in spite of her great effort to main
tain her composurc, Il beg your pardon for
the absurd mistake made; but was SO be
wildcred, and only half awake, and I'd been
dreaming of my brother, whom you" look
! ing him full in the face-"rescmble very
much And breaking of suddenly, her voice
trembling still more, How can we ever thank
you, Mr."
Dick Foster, the carpenter" SAID he, with
rs much dignity As though he had said doc
tor or artist
Mr.. Foster" her lips quiverng and her far
cheeks flushing red, and she neld out to him
aer dainty hand.
Dick flushed as rosy red as she, but made no
movement toward her His right hand hang
ing lstcssly at his side, his hat held in his
left, he stood IN silence, as though uncertain
what to do.
DO you refuse to shake hands with me-
she asked, a look of panied surprise fitting
across her lovely face
why, God bless us! he can't" screamed
the old lady; his poor hand is dreadiully
burned And she FASTENED away in search
Iof old linen and sweet OIL.
And it was--his working and-terrbly
burned, but when Dick went home that night
he scarcely felt the pain tor the memory of two
violet eyes shining through tears, and n sweet
voice saying "Oh, Pm so very, re'y sorry-so
very, reyy sorry"
The next morning MIS-. Foster had Just
cleared away the breakfast things and gonc in
to the sitingroom, where Dick sat, installed
in the only easy chair the house possessed, his
right hand enveloped in bandages, a book in
his left, and the vase of wax flowers on the la
bic before him, when there came Il gentle
kno1l< al the street door The good mother