The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-12-20
THALIA'S LOVER.

lled TOT her three quarts OF berries upon me
she would have to do without"
So saying, handsome Ida Minturn leans
her head upon her white hand while she
watches languidly her cousins busy move
ments.
1t is a sweet, arch face that Thalia lifts to
her as she smilingly answers: Tired al
ready? Ida, do believe you were born to
be drone in the hive. Everything seems
to weary you except going to parties and"
"Flirting, suppose you would finish with.
Well, you are not far wrong; aud, by tho
bye, Thalia, have found new and de-
lightful subject upon which to try my pow
ers Of fascination. Pa should have thought
twice before he engaged such handsome
overseer. To be sure, he is rather cold and
distant; but you'll see yet how expressive /
can make his dark eyes look"
A delicate pink rushes TO the younger
girls fair face as she sprang to her feet, al
most dropping her basket of berries.
ida Minturn, am ashamed Of you'll In
deed, was going to finish my sentence in
no such way, and l do not believe Mr..
Holmes would stOOp to such . thing"
'Thalis, how seriously you do take things
II you could only see how dramatic you
loOk-gory, Outstretched hand and all! But
here comes Mr.. Holmes himself. believe
I will tell him of your enthusiastic defence.
! doubt not but 1t would amuse him"
"Oh, Ida, please don't"
And Thalia's cheeks grew to the deepest
rose as she pleads.
But there Is 10 need for fear, as, with
merely grave, courteous lift OF his straw
hat Mr.. Holmes passed on to where, in .
distant part of the field, some men are en-.
gagged at their work.
The golden summer months fit gently
by and it Is not long before 1t is plainly evil
dent to all eyes but Mrs. Minturn's how A.
fairs are tending between the handsome
young overseer Of the farm and the gentle
young girl who for the past three years has
made her home with her aunt.
II think he's perfectly splendidf' Ida says
candidly as with many bushes Thalia con-
fesses the fact Of her engagement. But
mamma will never consent, and myself
think you're very foolish, Thalia. Love is
all we'll enough, but for one have too much
ambition to throw myself away on poor
young man. look for coronet at the very
least, and you with your pretty face, might
certainly do better"
Better! All, mop And Thalia's face is
more than pretty-beautiful- she speaks.
my Harry is noble and good. What could
be better than that? And If he is poor, am
too, but count myself rich in his love!
Ida was right in demonstrating her
mothers disapproval.
Engaged! And to a man not worth
penny, and Of whose family one knows
nothing about! Thalia, l am shocked.
have seen that you were very friendly. but
had no idea of this, for we have all treated
Mr.. Holmes with more consideration than
his position calls for. And what will your
uncle say? Just what do-that the affair
must be stopped at once. l am your guar
dian, Thalia, and until you are Of age you
cannot contract marriage without my con-
sent You know that, and now say that
this engagement must be broken"
And all Thalia's tears and pleadings are
of no avail. Mrs. Minturn is firm. In two
weeks time they will 60 to London, and she
decides in her own mind that she shall then
see that her niece is plunged into the very
vortex of that fashionable life from which
as yet her tender years have kept her.
1t is cruel blow to Harry Holmes, for
relying upon his employers evident friend
illness, he has suffered himself to build high
hopes.
'Three years! Oh, Thala, your love will
never survive such test"
"Have no fear, Harry" Thalia answers,
resolutely, "fOr neither time, place, nor sur
roundings can alter my heart, and when our
time of probation is over, and am my own
mistress, you have only to come and de-
mand your own-for shall be yours then as
now"
In the belt that clasps her slight waist
nestleS cluster of daisies. STOPPING, Har-
ry disentanges them from their fastening
II will keep them, ITALIA, as remem-
brance Of your words. And now have
something to tell you. Since your uncle told
me the other day, that after this week, my
services would be no longer needed, have
received communication from Ireland,
which has decided me to go there at once.
1t is a letter from an uncle Of whose exist
ence until now have been ignorant. But
read it for yourself"
This is what Thala reads
"MY DEAR NEPHEW: | have only just
learned, after long inquiry, that my sister
left son, and that he and you are one and
the same. This letter will undoubtedly
prove surprise to you, as from my sisters
solemn vow made to me as she left her
home, know that you never can have heard
my name. Let me explain: At an early
age your mother and myself were left or
phans. Time went by, and your mother
met and became attached to one whom be-
yond all others | disliked and for just
cause.
'The were engaged and married, in de
spite Of my vehement proteStations. | re-
fused to sanction the marriage or be present
at the ceremony. Margaret had to the full
the impetuous character of our family. On
the eve of her departure for her future home
she came to me and said: Stephen, hence
forth do not ever expect to hear aught Of
me and mine You have chosen to wound
me in the tenderest feelings Of my nature
and to insult him who is now my husband.
shall never forgive you. Never again to
my dying day shall your name, or any allu-
sion to you, pass my lips. | sever the con-
nection between us. Should / have children,
they shall grow upin ignorance OF any rela-
tives save those upon their fathers side. |
have pledged my husband TO a like vow,
and it shall be kept Before / could re-
cover from the surprise her implacable
words ceased she had gone. That was the
last time ever saw her.
Now, my nephew, your mothers vow
was wrong and have no doubt that ere she
died she would have gladly recalled it
an, NJ apI aInna in tho u-orld and in nd