Saint Mary's beacon., 1883-03-01
L0TTIE's CONQUEST.

/ WOEtQ Aa 0uMekAW AEHu&s ne uWEQ
alone In q square, red-briek house in
the middle Of q dss0late fat field I;
the garden around it had fallen into
a dreadful state-no gardener had en-
tered it for many years; it was full
Of tall nettles and Of long, struggling,
unpruned bushes. The windows we're
grimed with dust, never having been
cleaned within the memory Of man |;
but the most miserable looking OBJ
ject in the place was old Dnnstan
Reade himself.
His face was wilheFed and wrink-
led like piaee Of yellow parahmaak,
bis shabby clothes hung loosely upon
his skinny limNbs; his great shaggy
eyebrows lowered like thatched caves
over his snnkem ewes. He lived quite
alone with one old man, who was al-
most as old and as grim as himself,
and who cooked and swept and wash
ed for him entirely without assistance
frcm any female whatever-for If
there was one thing OH earth that Mr..
Reade hated and abominated, it was
the whole race of womanhood. The
sight of petticoat was odious to him;
the sound of woman's voice made
him shudder. His servant had strict
orders never, on pain Of instant dis
missal, to admit one of them within
his doors. IL was currently reported
of him that, for twenty years, he had
not exchanged one word with living
woman. He was looked upon as a
hardened old miser by the people in
the neighborhood, and there was not
a man, woman or child for miles
around who would not cross over to
the other side of the road sooner than
come face to face with this ill-favored
and sour-visaged old man.
But Lottie Harfeld, from the end
Of her fathers garden on the sunny
hillside above the village, used to sit
and look down pitifnlly and sorrow
fully upon the gloomy red-brick house
in the valley below, where old Mr..
Reade dragged out his unIovely exis-
tence.
She was the softest- hearted, gen.
tlest little thing in the world, with
childlike, clear blue eyes, and fluffy
hair of yellow gold and she had an
innocent fearlessness about her that
seemed to belong more to the child
hood she had left behind her than TO
the womanhood upon which she had
fairly entered. She had always a
kind word for everybody, and when
she heard people talking of that
dreadful miser Reade, aud telling
stories of his bad heart and evil ma.
ture, she would sigh pitifully, and
say
Poor old man it does turn peo-
pie sour when every mans hand.is
against them. Perhaps he is not so
bad after all"
But, Miss Lottie,'' objected a
friend who was present, "what do you
say to a man who perfectly hates the
sight of woman?'
Perhaps some woman has treated
him badly years ago; and not one has
ever been gentle and kind to him
since. to wipe out the bad impress
sion"
"Lottie always makes excuses for
everybody" said her father, smil-
ing.
Lottie went on walking up and
down the garden walk, from which
she could see Mr.. Reade's house, mus
ing to herself upon his miserable and
lonely fate, until she became quite
possessed with the idea that some
body ought TO do something for him.
Papa. she said, one day, in pur-
suance of this idea, ''may I ask Mr..
Reade to dinner one night ?"
"Mr. Reade Good graciousi Lot
tie, you must be mad Do you i'm
imagine that he would come ?" and
her father laughed aloud at the bare
idea Of such a guest.
We'll, don't know. II he were
asked nicely he might come, I think. /"
my little girl, you might ask him
frem now to next Christmas, and you
would only get rough words out Of
him for your pains"
But You would have no obiec-
tion, would you, papa, to his dining
here?'
None whatever, if you can get
him to come, answered Mr.. Harield.
laughing; "but l don't think there is
much fear of that; and now must
be of. Goodbye, my pet"
Mr.. Harfeld was doctor, and his
high gig was waiting to take him off
on his daily rounds. He kissed his
daughter, and went away laughing
to himself over her last new fancy
and Lottie was left alone.
Then what does this remarkable
young lady do but go upstairs and array
herself in her very prettiest dress-a
soft creamy fOulard, covered with won
derful fiufings and puf6ings Of lace
for Lottie was an extravacant little
person, and her father spoiled her
dreadfully in the matter Of dress
then she took her hat and her sun
ahade, and sailed forth, thus equip
ped, to call on old Mr.. Reade. the
miser.
. L your master in p
mo, he be no" replied the austere
guardian Of Mr.. Reade's dOmicile
gruftly, and preparing to slam the
door in the unwonted visitors face.
will ne be long out p says 1ottie
perseveringly.
He might be, and he mightn !"
was the uuhopeful rejoinder.
'Well, / shall come in and wait for
him til he noynaa hacL