The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-05-03
written for the Free Trader
LAURA LEE.
a story.
a story,
BY Or. STEINWM.

Billy Evans had been 10 collcge' b"' NV
he was teaching school TO get means 10 re'ur
To college III the spring. Ii was IN couhli
ucighborhood, and Billy was TO board VII
E,sur. Lee and carried with him trunk III
Of books.
But. as i'll luck would have it, Squire lie
had two pretty daughters. Jane was the el'
est hut Laura was the faircst; Jane was tn
housekeeper, and famous one-l.alra coul'
bake pies, cakes and puddings, but she wa
more fond of her books tnan Of housework
SO the Squire sent her off TO boarding schooI
and she was quite accomplished
Billy Evans thought to study great dea
during the long winter evenings, but somehow
,ur other pair of bright, soft blue eyes wcr
always gazing up at HIM from the open page
and BilIys thoughts would stray from Black
;tonc TO bracelets and neck ribbons, etc; ant
Billy, full OF lmpaticncc, would fling down th'
book and seek the ladies in the cosy sitting
room, and enjoy the conversation and laugh
Ter Of the 'Squire's happy family.
We said happy After many weeks OF so
lOuiuluS III tuC IdillIiy pHiy 1'''''"''" va"
Laura was not entirely happy.
He quizzcd Jane about il, but could only
get the one answer; Laura has her moods '
But one thing was certain, when Billy tried &c
bring her out of her sad moods he always sue
t.eeded and the sadness seemed to wear away
and Laura was gay again. She seemed to
watch for his coming from school in the even
ing and always met him with a smile AG&!a,
SANE was sometimes looking tawdry and in
dtSRa5tlG but Laura was always "tidied up, -
nj least she always in the simplest dress looked
neat, clean and sweet SO thought Billy Evans
But. Door boy, Che was now twcnty-two), he was
fast losing his heart.
At last upon a Sunday evening, after Billy
had been home and talked 10 his mother about
Il, lie took favorable opportunity, %hcn the
other members Of the family were off to church.
m pop the all important question. Now
Hltiy was well favored with black hair and
eyes ard 3 tall form, and WAS something of a.
favoritc with the softer sex. Thcreupon he
was quite confident the supplemented maiden
AONlu NtN YES IDut tllS pIlt iltlit liIliC OuI
friend William was slightly mistaken. Laura
said, very decidedly, mo- aLi ".ii...aul 49,,
IN % rage. lie wore black swallowal coat,
ard he was seen leaving Miss I.aura's presence
ab,a7t tha time OF night with the swalowNailsI
at right angles with his tall person Yes, WILL
liam va, mad The Jade Had she not de
ccived hlm-madc him believe that she even
'oseI him?
Now, Laura's father was "A well-todo farmer,
and Billy's father also owned large farm
but there beng many children, Billy preferred
20 educate himself. So their lots in life were
equal, and Laura had indeed seemed to on.
courage the staid William.
Monday morning came and at breakfast
Billy must meet the family He would bel
very cool, chatty and indifferent He heard
che breakfast bell, and marched boldly to the
dIningToom. All were present except Laura
There, as expected, Laura is laid up with
= sick headache; served her right" But Just
then IN came Laura with plate of hot biscuit,
looking fresh and rosy She smiled good
morning to Evans, and looked little rogue.
isi; but Billy had his dandcr up, and sum.
moaning all his pride to his help. chattcd away
as though nothing had happened He was
sure that the secret was confined to himself
Ind Laura
Evans said, esquire, do you go to the fox
hunt on Wednesday,
Certainly; will you no, go, Evans"
''f had my black mare here would"
You shall have my bay illy, If you will &C
cep. Of her"
Il viii, and thanks SAID Billy, And on
Tuesday csyning inc dismissed the school iorI
one day, As some of the large boys also wished
." go to the hunt which pu, all in grea, good
hUmcr
bat Billy was very distant toward Laura
ana she, strange TO say began to like him. She
had from the first regarded him as Il good fell
low, but rather soft" But Billv's "spunk'
was interesting Laura and Jane, with m
Inctous other young ladies, went over to the
great meadows hard by, where the circle was
To chose in, to witness the sport.
Al - c'ook the company came in, gallant
set OF horsemcn, six hundred strong, with
quite number of foxes in the ring
The circle was made very compact, and then
Ten men on the ilccteSt Of the horses were dele
gated 20 run down the foxes and krool; 'Nor,
IA tne head with clubs. They were all armed
with clubs, similar to the ball clubs of the
present day, Evans was among this number,
aH' rode wildly and recklcssly hithcr and
thlthcr and yon. And in good time all of the
foxes were killed or captured Then many OF
use party wendell their weary way 10 thei. Ii /
1ai't homes; but many others met al the gteat
brick tavern for supper and dance. MANY
young ladies Of the ncighborhood were pres
cut among them Jane and Laura Evans
danced With nearly all the young ladies
present but not asking Laura to dance once.
He was splendid dancer, 100, as also was
=. A