The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-10-01
THE DAISY'S PROPHECY.
FLORENCE H. BIRNEY.

lASt decided Inree Times tne daisy mas SAlu
I am to marry a lawyer; SO let me hear no
more about Luke Hartwell's well stocked
farm; or the significance of Squire Days
glances into our pew at church, and Kate
Morrison looked up into her elder sisters
face and laughed merrily. Julia's
annoyed expression was very amusing to
her.
you are very foolish, Kate said Mrs
Bertram in tone of vexation. 'sNot day
passes that you do not get some new freak
into your head and you are as persistent and
stubborn in clinging to it as-as-
"As a MULE said Kate, as her sister
hesitated for comparison. ssDon't be
afraid of hurting my. feelings, Julia; YOU
know / am hardened to seedlings, and will
ing to confess that / do cling to an idea with
tolerable frmness. But always did believe
in telling fortunes by the June daisies, and
I am morally certain that / shall marry a
lawyer. 1 shall wait for him if am as gray
as a badger when he comes along" and
again laughed Kate, tossing her long curls
with a determined motion of her small head.
81 don't know where you ever obtained
such notions, Kate" said Julia, whose fair
brow was still drawn with its vexed express
sion. al am sure mother has taken the same
pains in your bringing up as she did in mine,
and tried to instill into your mind correct
ideas of woman's duty. And yet, here you
are at % unmarried and unsettled. Why, /
was engaged to Charles when was only 10,
and married at 20"
aBut then you had such a good offer,
Julai- There are not many men like Char
les
The wife's face wore a serene expression
again as her sister paid this tribute to the
manly excellence of the absent husband.
"But you seem so hard to suit, Kate" she
IT II
fine young man; do be a little civil to him;
and there's Squire Day who is as rich as a
prince and owns the finest span of horses in
the county"
al wouldn't marry a man for the sake of
his horses, said Kate, setting her lips firmly
together.
"But you would learn to love him for him
sch, after time, Kate
81 am afraid it would be very long time
julia. The old scarecrow wears false teeth
a red wig, and has six red-headed uninterest-
lug children. 1 know 1 couldn't do my duty
by them
"But suppose mother should die, Kate?
Luke Hartwell will have the farm at once
and you will be left penniless.'
Il will teach the district schools when
that happens" said Kate cheerily, 'The
Squire is one of the trustees, and he would
that got it if / was just the least bit
pleasant to him.
"Very well" said Julia now really flushed
with anger. $50 your own way. The doc
tor said last week. that mother was breaking
UP very fast indeed, and you will feel sorry
for your obstinacy when you see Luke Hart
well in possession of this place"
''Oh, my lawyer will come along before
that evil day comes" said Kate 1T is of
no use to croak yourself hoarse, Julia. The
daisy has spoken, and l have faith in its
prophecy. felt sure l was not doomed to
be the wife of Luke Hartwell or the second
Mrs. Day."
The sisters had now crossed the meadow,
where the little daisy had been found by
Kate, and were within the sweet old garden
of Bower Farm. Julia went at once into the
house, But Kate stood under an old, gnarled
apple-tree, and looked around her. Was this
dear old place with its wealth of fruit and
flowers to pass away from them, and become
the property of Luke Hartwell? 1t seemed
hard that at the mothers death it should not
become the property of her daughters The
cottage was halfsmothered in creeping
roses, white and red, sweet honeysuckle and
passion flowers. Three old oak trees mount
ed guard III front, and at the back stretched
out the old orchard, in which Julia and Kate
had played in childhood. The commodious
barn, the airy stable, and the grass-grown
farn-yard were all dear to Hates heart ftom
Tong association with her life. The farm had
belonged to Mr.. Andrew Hartwell an uncle
of Lukes. He had loved Mary Penrose,
but she had given her heart and hand to
Arthur Morrison who had led her a sad
left her penniless Andrew Hartwell had
not married; he had remained an old bachel-
or for sake of his early love, and when he
found that she had been left forlorn and
poor, with two little girls, the younger only
year old, he installed her at once on Bower
farm, and at his death left it to her for life;
then it was to revert to Luke, Andrews
brothers child. This decree was only just;
vet it seemed hard to Kate who had lived
here % years, and loved every stick and
stone on the place. She it was who managed
the dairy and poultry yard; who hired men
to farm the land, and made money enough
to support herself and mother comfortably
Mrs Morrizons days of activity were long
past. She had managed the farm with great
executive ability until rheumatism crippled
and confined her to an easy chair, and the
farm had gone into Hates willing hands
Julia, &ho was Hates elder by nine years
had grown up and married; but every sum
mer saw her at Bower farm with her two
children. She found it both convenient and
economical to pay her mother and sister I
long visit during the hot weather.
Hates happy disposition made her gener
al favorite in the neighborhood, but in spite
of much attention from the sterner sex sh
was still single, which Julia seemed to thin
a disgrace to herself and family. But Kat
only laughed at her arguments and snubbe
Luke Hartwell on every occasion, and wa
deaf to the compliments of Squire Day, VIII
had singled her out as the one best fitted
minister to the wants, and undertake the ed
sucation, of his six authenticated DIV
branches.
The month of June was fast passing AVA.
and the roses were blooming more luxu
iantly than ever, and sending their fragrant
into the kitchen where Kate was kneadip
bread. when Like Hartwell came over Il
meadow with stumbling gait, determined
try his fate, and swim or lose it all"
Hates sleeves were rolled up to b.
ahoulders and her arms were white Wi