New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1883-01-17
DAISY.

to hear. upon the evening air; but the
girl who stood knee deep in clover be-
side the meadow fence looked sombrely
down as the joyous notes struck upon
her ear.
''Poor fellow! dear fellow!'' she said
to herself. 1T is SO hard to 20 against
him when he is as light-hearted as
that
A moment more, and Ralph Arm.
strong, her lover, vaulted lightly over
the intervening bars and stood beside
her.
Straight. sturdy, brown, something of
the contrast between himself. with his
superintendent life, and the wee woman
waiting there, seemed to strike him.
''Why, my little Daisy he said, with
playful touch, turning up her chin
until he could look into the soft eyes,
that straightway filled with tears. ..Why,
Daisy" be repeated, in an altered, vex-
ed voice. II thought when saw you
out here that you were glad to have me
tell yon the news. | have paid off the
last instalment on the farm, and there's
to be an end of your drudging your life
away. No more cooking for dodgers,
or sitting up half the right to look out
for Rick. Is he up TO his old tricks
again? Is that what has taken the col
yor all out of your facep''
.'He was away all night" said Daisy,
in a low voice. He never got homo
until noon to-day. He is asleep, and,
oh, Ralph! am afraid to have him
wake. 1t is so much worse now that
Miss Winter is here.''
Didn't 1 tell you how that would
be?'' reminded Ralph. not very kindly.
"But, luckily, itdon't matter; you can
get rid of her as soon as you please, and
we will have the wedding -whenp I
won't be put off very long, my DEAR
Daisy turned her face away to the
gathering dusk.
ooh. Ralphp' she cried, piteously.
'.Be contented to watt
''To wait! What for? For Rick to
drink himself to death? For you to grow
old before your time with the hard
work Of taking care Of yourself and
him? Daisy, once and for all, youth
have to choose between your sot of 3
brother and me. If you are bound to
put him first now and for ever .
The unfinished threat fell upon other
ears besides those it was intended to
reach. A dogcart rolled almost noise
lessly past on the thick green turf of the
lane upon which the meadow bars gave,
and DR.. Lloyd, lifting his hat to Daisy,
shot keen glance at the young fellow
standing sulkily at her side. He was
gone in a moment, but somehow Ralph
Armstrong experienced feeling Of
shame which kept him for the time from
pressing what he had been about to
urge. He turned and walked towards
the house with Daisy.
It was q shackly, tumble-down cot
tage, with moss and hchen breaking out
in patches over the decayed weather.
boarding, and creaking porch from
which the rustic benches had long ago
rotted away. The picturesque aspect
of the old place had taken Miss Winters
fancy, and so little, fair-faced Daisy had
found the weekly addition to the sum
which she earned with her dressmaking
was all that now went into her shabby
purse.
There was muffled cry of "Daisy!
Daisyr' as those two approached to-
gether; then once, twice, the report of q
pistol, together with the sound Of shat
tered glass, was borne to their ears.
Its Rick" cried Daisy, breathlessly.
81 locked him in his room. Do 90 and
talk to Miss Winter, Ralph, till Iget
him quiet again"
She was off as she spoke. Miss VIM
ter had come to the door, half in alarm,
and looked inquiringly at Ralph rs he
approached.
# DO you think he is doing anything
recklessP'' she asked.
Nothing worse than smashing .
window or two; it's his favorite way Of
calling his sister. Pity he can't put his
balls to better use. =
Il wonder that you leave her to be
the victim Of his whims,'' said the lady
with straight look at him.
s.1p'' said Ralph, with shrug Of his
brad shoulders.
2erhaps he did not mean to disclaim
such an intention on his part, but it
looked like it. How could he tell Miss
Winter that the only reason he had not
taken Daisy away months before was
because Rick had outweighed her liking
for him? It was sore subject with
Ralph at the best, not one he would
choose to parade to the world at large.
Two hours after that, Daisy stole out
into the moonlight, utterly wearied with
the scene through which she had passed.
ALI her efforts had been fruitless to en-
tice Rick back to his bed. He sat on a
bench in the kitchen, limp and stupid
after thatfit Of violence, and Daisy stole
out, as / have said, to breathe the
heavy sweetness Of dying roses, and
brush their deWy leaves with her heated
face. The shadows lay thickly upon
the porch, but there was q stir there,
and Miss Winter s voice said, softly:
&C 9od-night