The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-04-24
TROT'S MOTHER.
Young Ladies' Journal. ]

Harry, and all this shook me good deal al
the time.
aCome here, Trot, and sit on my knee.
There. that's better. Seems odd, Harry,
don't IT, &, see an old bachelor like me nurs-
ing tiny bit of a girl like Trotf -Four
years old to-day, aren't you, Trot How
the time flies!
"You see, my dear lad, you ought to have
told her before you went away She never
guessed that you thought OF her In that way.
IL might have saved ber--who knowsi
at must be nine years since your Uncle
VIII died and left Violet In my care. She
was only Is then. Don't you think Trot Is
very like heri The same large brown eyes
and long lashes, the same loving little ways.
"She came 70 me one morning soon after
YOU started for China, with letter In her
hand.
Look here, uncle she said, kneeling be-
side me, and holding the note where could
read; it's from the Colds, and they invite
me 10 90 and stay with them at Ventnor.
May acceptP
ado you want to 90, Violetr / asked.
G'Of course do she answered, laughing.
we are so quiet here at home, and this
would be such a delightful change. Please
let me, uncle I'll write you long letters, and
tell you about everything
81 did not want TO part with her even Tor a
little time, for the three years she had
been with me then had made my life quite
q different matter; but it seemed
selfish to keep the bright, merry girl always
shut up with a crusty old man i gave her
leave to go, and then, when after fort
night she wrote, begging TO be allowed to
stay longer, rs her friends wished, | had not
the heart to refuse. She was there five weeks
and then she came home.
1.-THE very day after her return he came
that contemplate scoundrel whom in those
few weeks she had learned TO regard as a
hero. How he found out at first that she had
a little fortune of her own don't know. He
asked for me, and told me that be wanted
my permission to address my niece.
ale was good-looking young fellow, and
had a frank, open manner, that was sure to
win a girls favor, but ] thought Of you,
Harry, and determined TO prevent the mat
ter going further If could. took strong
and apparently unreasonable dislike to him,
and made many inquiries. hoping to find out
something that would justify me in forbid
ding him the house, but entirely in vain
But studied; observed every little act AMI
word, until at last was convinced that
knew him through, and that he was no fit
husband for my little Violet
"By this time it had become kind OF tacit
engagement, and knew / should seem al
most brutal for interfering, but couldn't
bear the idea Of giving Violet into his care.
] vowed to myself that nothing on earth
should induce me to do So and told him
TO discontinue his visits.
ArTha raculf Of th AZ w that ha mo tn n
definite understanding with Violet, and she
promised to marry him, with or without my
consent.
"Dont look at me 80 reproachful!y, Harry.
II may DO that acted unwisely all through;
but IL so have been severely punished for
my folly. You have let your cigar out
Here are the matches.
"You want me to tell you all she SAID and
did-her very words, as well as / can re-
member. That's a hard matter, for my MEM
ory's not 80 good as it used to be.
~ was sitting here one evening, when vi
olet came In slowly, and sitting down where
you are, looked at me very sadly for some
minutes.
"'Uncle, DEAR she said at last, 4 cannot
understand you. never believed that you
could be 80 hard and cruel
II did not speak.
alt Ii not like you to be so unjust SO arbi.
trary,' she went on. 1T seems to me, uncle,
that in the matter Of marriage a woman
should choose for herself and not be in
fiuenced by any one. I have made my
choice and given my word but oh! should
be 10 much happier IL you were not angry.
Do forgive me and be your own kind sell
again
Yes, when you yield to my Wishes
answered, coldly. You are a mere girl
Violet, and have had no experience OF men
II you were ten years older / should leave
you to take the consequences Of your rash
ness, but as il is
"As it is-what thenl Oh! uncle and sh,
slipped from her chair and kneeled on tn,
rug at my feet 'Pray-pray be your old self
again. You were never angry with me be
fore, and ii seems so strange and unnatura
to see you turn your head away from m,
without smile. Do you love me only IL
have no voice, no will OF my OWN
Listen to me, child said, looking hel
In the face. Il have striven to DO father
to you since brought you here; have
loved you, heaven only knows how dearly
In return only ask you to let me proven
your making complete wreck Of your life
I want to save you from sad fate, and yol
think me tyrant'
"Sbs took my hand In both hers, an,
pressed her face on 1t, then looked up wit
n smile
at wish Harry was here she said. III
would help me to convince you. He Away
took my side
II ought not to have told you chat, m
dear, boy, but it was so fresh in my mind
as IL struck me forcibly at the time, know
ing as did your love for her. Forgive m
my want Of tact
"She was not given to shedding tears lik
some woman or she would have cried Their
touched my hand, while her eyes were IL
verishly bright She used every argumen
she could find to induce me to consent to he
engagement, and as i remained silent sh
drew nearer and gazed up eagerly in m
face.
"'You relent, uncler she whispered in a
agitated way. You will let me be happyr
In that way, never told her, sadl
and sternly, and tried TO draw away m
fingers, but she chung to them tightly, Will
her lips quivered. ..
Don't say that, uncler she cried hoarse' J
Dear uncle, oh, what can say-what can
say TO move your
"You think was very hard, Harry, Ise,
but thought Il best" ...
@'Hush, child,' said Nothing win Unfit
snce me. am resolved
"'And 80 am L. she said sorrowfull,
dropping my hand and rising to her fee
Il should always have wished TO please 20,
but now that you are harsh and unjust, %
viii not listen to reason, what can l DOR
"She waited for me TO speak, but had 4
words at hand. was too hurt and angr,
She went toward the door, then came bac
and stood behind me, resting her han
lightly on my shoulders
Try and forgive me, uncle. love hi
SOL love his faults that make you despi
him, and his virtues that you do not kno,
Won't you kiss me uncler
II was half inclined TO take her in N
arms and tell her she should do what 81
would; but l did not After q few minut
Of dread silence I heard her catch b
breath in half sob, and then the do
closed upon her, and was alone.
"The next day she did not como down |
fore went to the city, and when cat
home she was gone. have forgiven
now, Harry; but 1t was cruel blow. Aft
all my love and care ! did not think d
could have left mo like thati
1Why, Trot, you look quite frightene
I'm not cross, my psf
1Yes, yes, my boy, I'm going on; but "
are so inpatient Well, some time after
year, or two years perhaps, can't remer
Der exactly-I was coming home ut dusk
In the Strand think 1t was, met womi
In shabby black dress, with child on b
arm; our eyes met, and then somehow
other we were the center Of a crowd, and
was raising Violet's head from the ha
pavement. She had tainted on seeing N
and had just contrived to save her and Z
little one from severe fall