The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-12-15
The Miller's Granddaughter.

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The summer afternoon waned at last;
the flaming sun declined toward the
horizon, and cool, soft breeze, mex
pressibly delightful after the heat of
the dav, began to blow.
Since early dawn Lizzie Dupont had
been toiling al her needle, but now she
threw down her work, and leaving the
old mill stood on the r11de plank that
crossed the mi,l-race, and looked eager.
~ over the fields.
"Oh, where can Dossy be?' she cried.
"That dreadful interest which must be
got ready by Saturday has made me
forget her. I ought to have listened
to grandpa. I am sure something has
happened to her. She never was away
so long before. / shall never forgive
myself. What-what," she cried, sud-
denly clasping her hands, "if she
should be drowned?"
Lizzie Dupont had not always been a
resident at the old mill, dependent on
her needle for support. She had once
been, and that not so long ago, the
petted daughter of q merchant prince
in New York. But her father had
failed and died soon after of broken
heart, and Lizzie would have starved
if it had not been for her maternal
grandfather. "Come to me-" he had
written; 81 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" 50 Lizzie, ignored by her
fathers rich relations, had found refuge
in this secluded spot.
Refuge and peace, but hardly happi.
ness. In the days of her prosperity she
had become acquainted with young
Englshman. the son of titled family,
aud had phi htel her troth to him,
Just before her fathers failure Ross
Devereaux had sailed for England, in
tending 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 discov-
ering the beartlessness. of her father
relatives, she began to believe that even
Ross might be selfish also. "I am
poor now, and he deserts me-" she said.
"God help mel 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 grand
father had never been a prosperous
- h. 81
into arrears for nearly twelve-month.
The holder of the mortgage was cruel,
avaricicu us man. He had often threat
ened to turn out the little family, if his
interest was not paid; and two weeks
before he had served written notice,
that, if the arrears we're not forthcom-
ing by the next Saturday, lie would be
as good as his word. Every day since
Lizzie had risen by candle light and
worked till bedtime. eff [ can only
get this embroidery done for Mrs. Wat
son." she said, "by that dreadful day,
I may raise part of the money at least,
and perhaps then he will wait for the
rest"
But, this afternoon, a he Y and greater
trouble had come. Dossy, her little
pet sister, had been missing all day.
The child often spent the mornings
playing in the woods, but invariably
returned to the noon n-time 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 Satur-
day, 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 serious.
ly alarmed. At last, throwing down her
needle, she came out, as We have seen.
"Oh, Dossy, Dossy!" she cried, when
she had scrutinized the landscape vain
ly 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 anything"
But where was Dossy? Was she really
lost?
To explain this We must go back tc
the afternoon before, aud look at Dossy,
as she sat in the old.fashioned garden
swaying to and fro in a grapevine
swing, puzzling over the troubles Of
the family. She was watching bobo
link that sang in the heart of lilaS
bush. and talking to herself the while
"What a nasty, ugly old man that
landlord is" she said; "and he made
poor Lizzie cry so the other day wher
he was here. He says he'll drive III
from our home. Why, them" will