Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-11-30
The Miller's Granddaughter.

The summer afternoon waned at last the
flaming sun declined toward the horizon and
a cool, soft breeze, inexpressibly delightful
after the heat of the day, began to blow.
Since early dawn Lizzie Dupont had been
toiling at her needle, but now she threw
down her work, and leaving the old mill,
stood on the rude plank that crossed the
mill-race, and looked eagerly over the fields.
"Oh where can Dossy be 2" she cried,
"That dreadful interest which must be got
ready by Saturday, has made me forget her.
I ought to have listened to grandpa. am
sure something has happened to her. She
never was away so long, before. shall
never forgive myself. What-what," she
cried, suddenly clasping her hands, :" if she
should be drowned ?"
Lizzie Dupont had not always been a resi-
dent at the old mill, dependent on her needle
for support. She had once been, and that
not so long ago, the petted daughter of a
merchant prince in New York. But her
father had failed and died soon after of a
broken heart, and Lizzie would have starved
il it had not been for her maternal grand
father. "Come to me-" he had written al
am old and poor, but we will share our crusts
together. If you have grown up to look
like your dear mother, you will be the apple
of my eye." So Lizzie, ignored by her faith
er's rich relations, had found refuge in this
secluded spot.
Refuge and peace, but hardly happiness.
In the days of her prosperity she had be-
come acquainted with young Englishman,
the son of titled family, and had plighted
her troth to him. Just before her fathers
failure Ross Devereaux had sailed for Eng
land, intending within six months to return
and claim his bride. But from that day to
this Lizzie had never heard word about
him.
At first she thought her letters had been
miscarried, and in the faith and trust of her
young heart had continued writing. But,
at last, and after discovering the heartless-
ness of her fathers relatives, she began to
believe that even Ross might be selfish also.
" / am poor now, and he deserts me-" she
said. "God help me But it is, suppose,
the way of the world"
Lately new trouble had come upon her.
Her grandfather had been failing all winter,
so that a man had to be hired to work the
mill, and this had brought them into debt
Already there was a mortgage on the mill,
for the grandfather had never been pros
porous man, and now the interest had fallen
into arrears for nearly twelvemonth. The
holder Of the mortgage was cruel, avari-
cious man. He had often threatened to
turn out the little family if his interest was
not paid and two weeks before he had
served a written notice that if the arrears
were not forthcoming by the next Saturday,
he would be as good as his word. Every
day since, Lizzie had risen by candle-light
and worked till bedtime. "If can only
get this embroidery done for Mrs. Watson"
she said, "by that dreadful day, l may raise
part of the money at least, and perhaps then
he will wait for the rest"
But, this afternoon, new and greater
trouble had come. Dossy, her little pet sis
ter, had been missing all day. The child
often spent the mornings playing in the
woods, but invariably returned to the noon.
tide meal. On this occasion, however, she
did not make her appearance. Lizzie was
alarmed, and would have gone to seek her,
but the grandfather took it more coolly,
"She has stopped at some of the neighbors,"
he said, "she will be home for supper
don't fret, dear" Lizzie, thinking Of the
coming Saturday. had allowed herself to be
persuaded that all was right, and had gone
back to her work. But, as the afternoon
wore on and no Dossy came, she grew seri-
ously alarmed. At last, throwing down her
needle, she came out as we have seen.
ooh, Dossy, Dossy" she cried, when she
had scrutinized the landscape vainly in
every direction, where are you? If God
will only spare you, dear-if he will give
you back to us alive-I will never repine
again at any thing"
But where was Dossy? Was she really
lost
To explain this we must 90 back to tn,
afternoon before and look at Dossy, as SHE
sat in the oldfashioned garden, swaying t.
and fro in grape vine swing, puzzlinl
over the troubles of the family. She wa.
watching bobolink that sang in the hear
of lilac bush and talking to herself the
while.
"What nasty, ugly old man that land
lord is" she said Sand he made poor Lizzi,
cry SO the other day when he was here
He says he'll drive US from our home
Why, then," with sudden consciousness
"we'll have no place to live in, and l shall
never hear you sing, birdie; nor have my
flowers, nor my kittens. Oh, me Oh, me 7
She sobbed little, then shook off he
April tears, and then fell to thinking il
earnest. If they only had some money
What if she could get some2 She puckeret
her brow into frown. Just then SOM
market carts rolled by laden with produce
on their way to the neighboring little town
On the front seat of one sat an old woman
with basket of flowers on her knees.
sudden thought flashed on Dossy, and tn
puckered little brow cleared up. VIII
couldn't she sell flowers Her garden wa
full of them, especially of pansies, such par
sizes as were not often seen.
She jumped from the swing SO quickl
that she landed headforemost into tn
grasses below. But, nothing daunted, sh
regained her feet, and began picking off tn
golden-hearted pansies and English daisie
by handfuls. She would do it yes, indeed
she would, and make ever so much none,
and they wouldn't have to leave the mil
and grandpa and sissie wouldn't cry an
more. She fell to work arranging her DO,
quets for the morrow, her eyes fairly dancin
with delight. She put them together quit
tastefully, and by the time the summe
moon stood over the pines she had lon
row set up, amid the evergreens, that th
dews might keep them fresh. In the morl
ing, as soon as breakfast was over, 81
would set out.
Dear, innocent Dossy She had not th
least doubt that she would succeed, and 81
slept but little that night in her excitemen
Over and over she rose from her little be-
and stole on tip-toe to the window to loo
down on her treasures.
The morrow dawned cloudlessly. Breal
fast over, Dossy ran down to the garde
pooico ihbo l<ilLic LudIk
basket, and taking it on her chubby arr
trudged away, fortunately unnoticed. Q
she sped, past the long, long line of fence
and down into the very heart of the tow
Her cheeks were crimson, her breath can
in gasps, she almost stumbled from fatigu
but at last she reached the market-place al
stopped in a little corner where the shade,
fell cool, and where an old blind woman W
selling laces. Here feeling sense of safe
and companionship from the old blind ere
ture, she sat down and began with d.
handb to arrange her posies in front of h
What a picture she made, in her viii
frock, with its short pulled sleeves her ey
ablaze, her amber ringlets blown about
the morning breeze, framed, as it were, by
border OF yellow daisies and golden-heart
pansies. At the silvery call of her sw'
bird-voice, piping, "Who'll buy my pi
siesY' one and another pedestrian look
back, few smiled and some stopped a
purchased. Presently farmer, who b
Just such little one at home, bought one
her nosegsys, and paid for it with hall
dollar. Dossy was in raptures. Then