Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1883-10-04
A LONG PARTING.

1t is only this morning that Daisy has
come to the country, to revel in its brao
ing air for the first time in her young
life.
"Where are your roses, pet ~ her
father had asked her one day, a few
weeks before, waking from his business
plans to notice the pale listless look on
his child.
81 think | want quiet, papa. am
tired of dressing, calling, and parties.
Papa, may not 60 to the country-to my
old nurse's-instead of to the Branch this
summer 2''
And Mr.. Nelson had answered yes.
81 would like to come with you, but
business will not allow it. So enjoy
yourself all you can, my pet, and write
me very often"
And with these words, kissing her
affectionately, he had lett her In Farmer
Shears care, who was waiting her arrival
at the small station. Farmer Shears
wife had been Daisy's foster-mother,
caring for her ever since her mother on
her death-bed, calling her weeping house
keeper to her and laying the child in her
arms, had said;
"You have served me faithfully, Susan,
and l know you will be kind to my
baby"
And we'll that trust had been fulfilled.
The first great grief Daisy had ever ex-
perienoed had come to her when, two
years before our story opens, her kind
nurse had left for home OF her own,
offered her by worthy farmer, who
recognized in her just the sensible quail
ties his farm peeded in mistress.
II Is 2 O'Clock dinner has been over
couple Of hours, and since then Dsisy has
been luxuriating in the wild flowers and
Thousand and one delights new to her
city-bred eyes. For ten minutes she has
been watching the mower at his work.
She knows that he is Farmer Shears
nephew, for she met him at dinner but
she only gave him the most casual obser-
walton then, and now she notices, for the
first time, how ine-looking he is.
She thinks herself unseen but she ia
not, for pair of amused dark eyes are
lifts its tinted chslioe in the centre of the
meadow; the sunlight touches it and
makes it such a thing of beauty that
Daisy longs to possess it. But the soythe
with its measured strokes is near ita
slender stem.
sob, don't l' .a.
The exclamation ia involuntary, and
Daisy fushes crimson as the mower
Chances up IS If just conscious of hei
presence.
"The lily" she says, in answer to his
questioning look. 81 thought you wert
going to cut it down, and it is so pretty
1t Ia the action of a moment to pluck il
and present 1t to her, and, as he does SO
Daisy wonders as much at the. youns
mans easy unembarrsssed manner and
refined tones as she did at the comelines
and grace Of his appearance.
That WAS how it began, the summe
idyl that was destined to have such 81
abrupt ending.
Mrs. Shears looked on unsuspiciously
1t pleased her genial heart to See 18th
children" as she called them, enioyin
themselves and 80 the summer hour
flew all too swiftly by. Atlength came
day when all through an accident i
which by the falling of a tree, Steve
Haughton, nearly lost his life, the thi
veil which the ssucy boy-god had bee
rearing, called friendship, fell aside, an
his true face became disclosed, and wit
sense almost of fear, Daisy swoke, a
from a dream, to see whittier she hs
been drifting.
And Steven, lying in his room with b
broken arm in sling, felt happier tina
king. Never to his dying day would b
forget the look of anguish that he hs
read in the lovely face his eyes had reste
upon when they had opened from IL
Inconsistencies that the dreadful stui
ming blow had brought.
"She loves me !" he thought, triumph
antly; "and before long, please God,
shall hear those sweet lips say So"
But it was not TO be, for it 80 happen,
that the young man had Just arisen fro
his bed OF pain and assumed the role OF
oonvalesoent, when Mr.. Nelson came
spend few days with his daughter.
WAS but a short time bsfore, with
keeness OF vision for which he congrat
lated himself, he saw how matters wer
"This will never do" he thought
himself, in positive alarm. "My Daisy
farmers wite--or rather, drudge3 7
idea ia preposterous How foolish W
ever to allow the child away from n
But after all IT is not beyond remedy.
has not spoken TO her, know, for 81
would have told me. l will take b
home at once. Once away from |
society the danger will be over"
Poor little Daisy She acquiesces u
questioningly to her tather's sudd
mandate of departure, as what else Q
she do She well knows what the feeli
ID that throbs with her every pulse 4
Steven, but though his admiration b
been plainly evidenced, no words OF 10
have been spoken, and when she sees b
quietly, almost coldly, he answers /
farewell, her warm young heart chill
DO the years pass, and yet 1t does
awake from that chill.
In vain does her anxious father,
wardly remorseful for what he reoognii
as his own doing, crafty, before il
spoken, every desire nothing bril-
back the old girlish animation.
At length they go away, Mr.. Nell
fondly hoping great results from /
change Of scene and surroundings.
They are in London, when one event
Mr.. Nelson urges his daughter to acco
pany him to hear noted lecturer.
81 do not care much to go, papa,
to please you | will" Daisy answers.
And before long, leaning upon
fathers arm, she enters the th-onJ
hall. The lecture begins even as IL
enter.
What is it that causes Daisy to ST
and tremble2 AS the deep rich tone
the orator fall upon her ear they br
back with vivid force that summer
years ago, when all unssked and
sought her girlish heart went out of
keeping forever. With an effort she
trols herself and raises her eyes TO
platform. Her ears have not decsi
her. She sees tall, manly fgurs, vi
handsome featured, eloquent with pc
and talent, are those Of the never-forgo
hero OF her fancy.
At the same moment, looking down
gaze meets full her own.
Never before did the great ques
upon which he is treating get as
handled.
sour tavorite orator surpassed /
Sell, 30 says the voice Of the press
following day.
As Mr.. Nelson and his daughter II
from the hall some one comes TOW
Daisy with outstretched hand and
exclamation
'How glad l sm TO see you,
Nelson II is an unexpected, and til
fore all the more welcome, surprise
read your familiar name amongst the
of arrivals published in the papers, /
did not know whether 1t were really
friend or not"
The bright color battles Daisy's lac
the unaffected pleasure in his tones,
She answered frankly and simply, as
places her small.gloved hand in his !:
81, too, am very glad to meet you.
Then turning to her father, who
this time has recognizad to his inf