The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1888-11-03

'+4e NhAI k'/c carlh more prone 10
~ lavish rapturcs on the
- 3. !. q. 8. 7. !. !. :. q: ! ]. ]"
Ixk "X beauties Of other lands
ILI8Y.lfA ..~<s-s| than the Americans.
2zxT <fTLR You, who have per-
ktL}k4XEfHI% chance ravcd over the
EE6%N7Hs - Rhine, have probably
M - nj '~~ little conception Of
.>sfslsyt- , the glory Of the River
E : ::: = =::: a.: ::: ::::; !: Z :: q; : s; 5:: 4:
milo wide, two hundred feet deep very
epic poem written in water by Natures
own hand.
At a bend IN its course, half way between
the two lakes IL connects. stands "A substan-
tial farmhouse surrounded by neat Outbuild-
ings and bIOssomng orchards. n is from
the latter feature that ~ inhcrits It's name
the Orchard House.
And in that prcttydwciling lives a family
which has "a history
when you look a. the little summcrho house
in the garden, which was evidently once
the pilot house Of a steamer, and sec tho
all,tapcriug mast with the stars and stripes
floating in the brcczc, you are prepared 10
be told that IL rs the home Of a sailor.
A very old, weather beaten hulk Is Daniel
Winthrop now, but in the year when my
story opens, nearly three decades agO,hc was
hale, we'll preserved man Of sixty, whose
silycry hair was the only external Fremont
tiOn Of advancing age
When the glad spring sun Of 1861 was tint
ing the surface Of his beloved river with
every hue Of the rainbow, who had "A greater
right 10 say: "Thc Lord has prOspcrcd mo
and my cup is fun Of JOY" than Daniel Win
thrOpi
For thrtyycars hc had sailed the lakes as
captain Of his own ships Before "thc pes
Ky railroads" as he expressed IL, had
"drOppcd the bottom out Of frcghts,n ho
had made money "hand over fist" and
while yet enjoying the yigor Of man
hood, had settled down 10 retirement
la sailors Elysium a well stocked farm
house, whore be could sit on his own stOop
and watch the vessels glide by and tho
cvcr-changng beauty of the lordly river
But ho had bigger treasures than bank
stocks, brOad acres and shares IN ships
his wife, Martha, who was the sweetest,
simplest hclpmatc that ever made sunshine
In mans home; his daughter, Nell, just
twenty years old, whom ho had done his
best 10 spoil, but whose gentle nature had
been proof against every indulgence; and
his son, Harry, four years older than his
darling daughter, who had never given
him an hours anxiety, but had been stu
diously inclined, had taken a fair degree at
college, and was now occupying well paid
position as teacher in the public schools Of
"A distant city.
Moreover, during that winter his home
had been frightened by the visit of a rad-
ant girl, katc Frobisham, tho daughter
of "A distant relative of his wife, who had
married a Southern gentleman living in the
Shenandoah valley, and the old sailor had
learned 10 love the beautiful young Virgin
ian maiden, who became especially dear 10
him when he learned that she had promised
20 become his sons wife.
But lightning came out of clear sky and
struck the Winthrop homcstcad-as IL did
the whole fair lard, which had for years
been baslSing in the sunshine of prosperity.
Fort Sumter had surrendered, and tho
terrible war Of secession was reality.
An American of Americans, coming OF an
old Puritan stock Of Now England Daniel
Wmthrops heart was ailumc with honest
Indignation.
Thus, one day in spring, just as the big
ice barriers of winter had been swept away
and the glorious waters of his loved river,
rejoicing to bc free, were once moro rolling
in their accustomed grandeur, Daniel Win
]
house in council with his women folk
In his hand hc held letter, which boy
had brought from ncighborIug post-olllcc.
"Ncs,' hc said, m reply to the appealing
looks of the ladies' as hc hastily SKINNED
its contents; at ~ from Harry, sure
enough Don't take ON about IL, mother;
but he's done just what Winthrop should
do when his country calls ON him; he's -"
mot cnlistcd' Martha gaspcd, her face
whto as her snowy apron.
"That is just what the high spirited Lad
has done, God bless hlml" the farmer
| chucklcd "rshawl Martha. | am aston
/ ishCd at you. What is thcrc 60 whmpcr
| about II won't take moro than month or
! two 10 bring these stubborn rcbs 10 their
| knees, and thcu-'
He paused abruptly, for Kate Frobsham
| was standing before him with flashing eyes
and hcavug bosom
Captain Wuthrop,' she said, speaking
more calmly for her suppressed passion,
"lct me retire before YOU have said what
would mako me forgot all your kindness
! This night leave your house to return to
my own people; do nc, mako my parting
moro hlttcr than is necessary"
"Why, God bless my life" Winthrop
stammorcd, "you don mean 10 say that
] YOU Nlt tl N'tIl 20 ItN'l YOU, u EtullN,
/ lovahIc girl NOT six months out of SCHOOL,.
/ The thing Is prop1stCrous
81 am a SuuthcWcr,' Kate said quietly,
"aud | never was so proud OF the land Of
! my birth as | avn at this moment Tho
mcanCst trooper m my brothers regiment
is, u my eyes, n hero"
"Aud Harry my boy, liaryy.' the father
! pleaded.
"ls NO moro TO me, Captain Winthrop,
than any other of the band of maraudcrs
whose ranks he has joined"
"Oh, Kate" Nell sobbiugly rcproached.
"aud ne loves YOU so"
"Aud | loved him, Nell An, God knows
how | loved him. the girl acknowledged,
with trcmulous lips
"Thcu, surely You will -"
"Ncvcr of my own accord set Cycs on
! him again. IL is my one hope that may
he able TO forget his cruelty and mourn for
/ hlm as one vino is dead
"Hush, child, hushw Martha Winthrop
/ intcrposcd; You do not know what you are
saying
aye" added the Captain, soothiugly.
/ ado not say m haste, lass, what YOU will
] repent Of at leisure Aud. as FOR your 60
/ ing home, that Is matter which"
lis all provided for, SIR
"Eh, how soi'
There was flush Of indignant surprise as
! he asked the question, for d's.rds hard FOR