Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-04-29
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A Daughters History,
GAR EFT SYLVESTER,
-AUTuoR OF
"a FATAL MrsTAxE,- '.rETTEREn, VET FREE" ''Ts-
TELLEs ERROR" ''STRICKkN DUMB "CLOUDs
AND SUNSHINE" 'FAIsE PRIDE ETC.
A Daughters History,
BARRETT SYLVESTER,
Gil AFTER I.
THB SIGNAL OF DISTRESS.


Father what has become of Nee
Remington. haven t seen her for ,e
last week or more. I'm sure $"
thing must have happened to be-
The speaker, fair-halred girl OF SIX
teen, looked up at the old gray-bcti
seated few steps away, and drew
the little stool upon which she was
seated closer. The two were beft re
bright fire IN an old-fashioned New
England kitchen, whose appearance
betok ened all the comforts of happy
home
Everything was old-fashioncd, even
to the prints over the mantei. The
windows were small, six-pahed affairs
the doors were divided ia the centre,
the top part of which might be opened
without disturbing the lower, aud the
fireplace glittered with the reilec ton
Of the fire upon the brghtly-polished
and irons.
"Ah, my DEAR" replied the old man,
As the girl drew near, - am afraid
hard life"
"A hard life, father!' exclaimed the
girl. "Wha makes you think so?''
here are a variety Of circumstan-
ees which induce me to believe it, nay
Observation-Disclosures of peculiar ma
ture."
"What are they father?"
The old gentleman had paused in his
explanation, and did not seem inclined
to 60 on with it.
NV hat are those circumstances, fa-
ther?" repeated the girl.
~ had rather not say" replied the
cid man.
Why not?"
because it would do you no good
to hAvw."
The girl sighed
That is always your excuse, ia
tber. dear, when | speak to you Of
elsner Nellie or her mo her," she said
why will you not speak out, and lot
ne into your great secret"
There was an emphasis upon the
word great" which made the sober
old man smile.
"How inquisitive you are tonight,
Nellie," he said. 1T is unlike you to
press your old father so hard. If
had anything to tell, do you sup
pose would keep you in suspense"
mo, dear papa, but then"
The girl drew closer, and placed her.
self directly in front Of her parent,
resting her hands upon his knees and
looking up into his eyes with a Curl.
Gus expression on her countenance.
but what, deary" asked the old
man.
~ should like to know something
Of Nellie, for she is such beautiful
girl-the most beautiful | have ever
seen. She has such lovely black eyes
and such elegant wavy hair. And
then her skin is SO white and her
cheeks SO pink! She is, am sure, the
handsomest girl in the world.''
Perhaps, Bessie-psrhaps" muir
INJURED her companion, and added:
Beauty is not every thing, child"
But, without needing this rather
disparaging remark, the girl went on
With her communication.
DO you know, father,o she said,
= am so interested in her that I am
bound to know more about her before
another week passes. just think how
unsociable we are-here Nellie and her
mother have been living in Woodstock
six months, and vet I've never been
inside the house,
The old /. gentleman gave a peculiar
grunt, and kicked falling ember
back into the fireplace.
why, Bessie, my DEAR" he said,
Nellie's mother has never asked us
I'VE shouldn't wait to be asked.
She is stranger in the place, and
knowsno one. 1t is the duty of the
inhabitants to look after new -comers"
Silence fell upon the two for a mo-
ment when the girl broke out again:
But why do you say there are pecu-
linr cir umstances which induce YOU
TO believe Nellie has hard life? Do
you think her mother is unkind to
hers'
II cannot say"
w hat do you mean by hard life,
them"
Bessie, child, am unable to an
swcr your questions" said the old
gentleman, averting his eyes, as if to
escape her pleading look. "Please
don t annoy me any more!"
Just then the windows ratified vio-
lently, and whistling sounds, swept
through the cottage The old gentle-
nan 70 equickiy and went to the win
dow
"Ahr' he said, looking out into
the dark night, "a storm is rising. II
is darn as p,tcn and the snow IS be-
ginning to fall fast and thick. feared
we should have it," Then, turning
frnm the window, he asked the fair
haired girl at the fire place: Nv here
Is Charles tonight, Bessie:''
The name Of Charles brought blush
to the rudy cheeks of the daughter,
and she nervously shifted her position.
Charles, ia her-how should I
know Am | Charles's keeper?'
mo. no, hut | thought you might
tnaw something Of his whereabouts.
rope he Is not out IN the storm
liz dropped the curtain before the
window and, going to the mantel,
h. ed II lantern and placed it on the
dow Ieige
here. he said. sis beacon 70,
tie hvn'ght,d traveller, if a Y should
b. ~ s'.oil d as venture out, in this
st,fil. nd now let US have tea
SO Two sat down 10 the table, and,
"a res.rent pray er of thank sglv-
i slie tlb.gnty iur the food winch
NE about - eijny, the "a her
a'nehter continued TIER cvnyer-
s.. "a
dc The storm itcIesstd. The
re ni,t al -hri thoegt the
Sc .tr n,d farmhouse, ~. d
=. "a. S'td ", nos and ,hen wlla
- thr, at,1.,d .tnc3 It-
hIt tht~ 49,. u';',iI n' v
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