The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1883-03-22
POOR LOUISE.

WILL ASA6o OAue 0ye0 ouU q WooAtu VI kOlUoL
hair, which was almost entirely covered up
with q gay cotton handkerchief
Outside the door, OH tho rough-aoored
gallery, sat the father, contentedly smok-
ing his pipe. -s'&
Beside window, in large homemade
armchair, sat man reading OF pretend
ing to read newspaper, who differed in
every particular from those around him. A
glance showed him to be city-bred. He was
fuiiy IS years Of, age. with dark hair and
whiskers. a-d his face, though not strik-
ingly handsome, was very pleasant to look
upon. His hands were white and shapelv,
and his dress was elegant and scrupu!ously
neat. He was cotton agent, and had come
out into the pinery woods to secure, at
low valuation, the cotton crops OF the plant
ers in that almost sterile region. He drove
his own team, light, handsome buggy and
. dark chestnut bay, whose glossy coat
shone like satin.
He seemed to have finished his business
in the neighborhood, and only fingered
about the home of Louise enjoying a sort of
elegant leisure. For q long time silence
reigned in that little room before Louise
broke it by making the remark about Emf.
ly Stanhope. No answer had been r..
turned, and the girl continued to rock her.
self back and forth for the next ten min.
utes in perfect idleness, with a wistful,
longing look in her big blue eyes, as
though she had wish, but feared to form
it into words. She ventured, at last,
another remark.
Emily was just as old as I am now
WHEN she went awey to school, and that
vas two years ago. Last night at the par
~ all the young men were waiting on her,
and hardly wanted to notice anybody else.
She was dressed so beautifully, and didn't
look like any of u.s.
"Well, child" sighed the mother, "fath-
er is not so rich as Mr.. 6tanhope, and, be-
sides, he always said that he loved you
too we'll to let you 60 away from hiu 30
lar and f>r 80 long time"
''But, mother, 1 would SO like to 70 to
boarding-school, just year, and Is father
has only me to spend his money on, Why
not let me go?"
"Ask him; if he does not object won't
say. word against your going; but take
this is just as warm ss it can be-"
why not send Amy for The water2 I
don't want to do the servants work. I
want to go to school. Emily says she
lever intends to work about the house any
more. No ladies ever do"
"Why! Louise; what has come oven you?
You had better not let your father hear you
talk so; if he does hear you, good-by to oil
your school notions; 60 get the water"
Louise took up the pitcher with sullen
air and started for the well. As she passed
out through the door where her father sat.
he reached out and caught her arm, and,
.irawing her to his side, spoke lovingly but
decidedly.
II have heard your conversation with
your mother a oout going off to boarding
school, and it grieves me to see you 80 anx-
ious to leave your home, but You need not
hope to do so while you are under my charge;
you are fine enough for my daughter now,
SO don't let ME hear another word about
boarding schools. Now kiss me and be q
good girl"
She kissed him, but it was not tho inno-
cent kiss of heart free from guile.
When she reached the we'll she was sur
prised to find the strange gentlemen sitting
quietly on the curb as il waiting for her to
come.
Advancing to meet her, he took the pitch
er from her hands and said, in his softest.
blandest tones: II came to help you with
this heavy bucket. You are too little and
light for such heavy work; sit down here
while fill your pitcher"
He seated himself beside her saying:
"And 80 the little wild bird would like to
fly away from this rough nest to more
beautiful home would she7 Now, if she
were my little sister, she could go to home
in the city more lovely than Emily STAN
hope has ever dreamed Of"
The girl listened with rapt attention.
''1f father would only send me there; he
is able to do it, but he won't, just because
want to co." she burst out with at last,
struggling hard to suppress her tears of dis.
appointed vanity.
il. In the suburbs of city r,posing on the
high bluffs overlooking the broad Mis>issip
off with costly furniture and surrounded by
Il garden SC tastelully laid out as to attract
| ana charm every eye. Strolling up and
down its broad walks could be seen at times
many forms of rare loneliness, and Louise
was ono Of them. Dressed out in costly
robes, she was the most beautiful OF them
all. They were fallen angels; her wings
we're yet unsoiled, save by contact with
! them. The girl had never heard IN impu e
word in all her life. But a few days
| residence in that house could not fail to
open her eyes to the surroundings, and she
began to realize that instead of attending
school, she was condemned to life Of in
amy. Rushing into the presence Of her de.
,troyer, sh sought to overwhelm him with
reproaches, but instead Of words, her life
came ebbing out in crimson stream. Cast
ing one hurried glance at her a. she lay
upon the door, the mar *ook his hat aud
departed. A little later . passing steamer
bore him away from the scene Of his fear
full crime, and he was heard of no more
The next morning a negro going to
serve the house with milk, on her way to
and hearing piteous means and the plead
ing tones of childish voice, peeped
through window and saw q sight tina,
froze her blood. Hurrying away the wom'
an had the good fortune to meet clergymen
whose heart was always open to the cry OF
the distressed, and to him she told her fearful
story. Thinking that murder had been
done, he obtained the services of a consta-
nle, and made visit to tho house. The
| sufferer was Louise. A physician was sum.
moned, and every effort made to rende,
her more comfortable and calm, but oil
without avail. Christian ladies came and
ministered to her, aud from her wild raw
ings they gathered the story Of her abduc-
ton, but no clue could be obtained to
lead TO the finding Of her pa rents. The
mistress Of the house only knew that she
was called Louise BY the stranger who
brought her there. A little worn hymn .
book taken from her pocket had only tho
name Louise" written on the hy-leaf and
that was Ill.