The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-02-17
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HER COUSIN.

roft to the feet rs velvet. Wild roses in
hlxuriant bloom. almost hiding the
rough stone wall which bounded it on
either side; brilliant-hued wild flowers
We'd with them in beauty; and to add
TO the charm of the rural scene the sky
was free from even a passing cloud.
An old woman who evidently belong
ed to the peasant class, and child
whom she carried laboriously within her
arms. were the sole human beings with
In sight, although the wild deniZens OF
the four-footed kind abounded.
Rabbits, secure from molestation by
law. 80 rs to he kept for the rightful
owners Staying during the hunting sea-
son, which was even then beginning.
SQUIRRELS and chipmunks We'd in their
noisy chattoring with the feathered
sonrsters, and if not so musical, sue
eeeded in producing as much sound;
and mingling as it all did in Nature s
vast chorus, filled out the chord of har-
mony even as the raspng voices of some
Of the inferior instruments supply GER
tain tones to trained orchestra.
Here, darint; wc'll jist occupy this
purty place for awhile Old Bridget s
arms are that tired it seems ms though
they'd break of entirely. llow's the
wake little back now?' oa
ut aches, Bridget; but ! don't mind,
ISow that we've got to such nice place.
spn lie here under the big tree, and SEQ
Afcan't catch y sight of the same cum
aing bright-eycd little, squirrel l was
watching SO long the last tiay we were
here"
80 "rhats 4 swate girl. to be so nice
and contint-like. I'll sit a trile beyant
yez on that stump, where the lightll be
better for my old eyes. and knit on the
stocking I've started to Keep your wake
little feet warn, when tie frost comes
lby-and-by." ~g
Ellen Connell looked up into Bridgcts
timewort,I f,ne with u gratosul bright
ness in her great lrish-b|pc eyes .
"What makes you so good to me
Bridget, when YOU are so cross to your
own grandchildren Teddy and Kittyp"
Sure, Miss Ellen" said Bridget,
brushing tear away rs she spoke,
.they are 50 strong and well, and hasn't
the Lord afflicted youp And thin, too,
when the mistress died, bless her swatc
soul, didn't she say to me with her last
breath. Bridget, take care OF my child
She will have no one to protect her own
blood, and there's Il promise in the
Bible for those who take care OF even
one of the Lord $ little ones. And tould
her as quick rs l could spakc for tn,
CRYING. Sure, and I'll take care OF
Miss Ellen for the love Of you and OF
her. and not for what 1t might bring
me- and with that she shut her eyes
and dropped off to sleep and nive
again woke up" 1T
%, The child had listened eagerly a!
Bridget spoke, and when the sound o
her voice ceased she leaned her heat
against the tree whose majestic branches
shut out the glare OF the sun from he
eyes. But She did not remain silcn
very long.
bridget, tell me again of my mother
/ could hear you talk about her TO
ever"
but it's the one thing have to tell
Alanna; and that is that she was tn
puTticst luul CNti i'i' my oNS' va
and that she was rs delicate rs the pos
on that wall. "
Before the words had fairly left he
lips sound Of trampling hoofs struc
on the ear, and a magnificent thorough
bred bore his master over the wall. jus
escaping the stump upon which bridgo
was sitting.
Ellen gave frightened cry and san
back in n faint
The young huntsmar lost no time i
dismounting and trying to repair tn
, damage he had thus unwitlingly dom
He caught Ellen up in his arms an
carried her to a spot not far distan
where the clear waters of ripplin
streamlet babbled cheerily on over i
pebbly bed. r
Until that moment Harold Lancast'
had been indifferent to womanly bea,
ty although having keen eye for Il
fine points of favOrite horse or houn'
Girls had been avoided by him fro
babyhood up to his present height
six-foot-one. But as he gazed down
the white still face lying against b
breast he was. struck by its exceedir
refinement and wonderful, classic Low