Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-08-02

WI&MiPAl, eastern shore of Mich WHP '" igan, crystal clear, q mile wide, two hundred feet decp-a a very epic poem written in water by Nature s own hand.
 At a bend in it's course, half way between the two lakes it connects, stands substan- tial farmhouse surrounded by neat outbuild- ings and blossoming orchards. It is from the latter feature that it inherits it's name the Orchard House.
 And ill that pretty dwelling lives family which has a history.
 When you look at the little summerhousc in the garden, which was evidently once the pilot-housc of steamer, and sec the tall ,tapering mast with tho stars and stripes floating in the breeze, you arc prepared to be told that it is the home of q sailor.
 i very Old Weather-beaten hulk is Daniel Winthrop now, but in tho year when my story opens, nearly three decades ago, he was hale, well preserved man of sixty, whose silvery hair was the only external prcmoni- 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 to say: "The Lord has prospcred mo and my cup is full of joy," than Danlcl Win throp!
 For thirty years he had sailed the lakes as captain of his own ships. Before "thc pes ky railroads" as he expressed it, had dropped the bottom out of frcights,n he had made money ''hand over tist," and while yet enjoying the vigor of man. hood, had settled down to retirement In a sailors Elysium--a we'll stocked farm house, where he could sit on his own stoop and watch the vessels glide by and the cver-changing beauty of the lordly river But he had bigger treasures than bank stocks, broad acres and shares i'll ships his wife, Martha, who was the sweetest, simplest helpmatc that ever made sunshine ill mans home; his daughter, Nell, just twenty years old, whom he had done his best to 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 tiiousiy inclined, had taken fair degree at college, and was now occupying a wcll-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 radi- ant girl, Kate Frobisham, tho daughter of ? distant relative of his wife, who had marred Southern gentleman living in the Shenandoah valley, and the old sailor had learned to love the beautiful young Virgin ian maiden, who became especially dear to him when he learned that she had promised to become his sons wife.
 But lightning came out of clear sky and struck the Winthrop homcstcad-as it did the whole fair land which had for years been basking In the sunshine of prosperity Fort Sumter had surrendered, and the terrible war of secession was reality.
 An American of Americans, coming of an al ct of Winthrop's heart was aname 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 be free, were once moro rolling in their accustomed grandeur, Daniel Win throp sat ill the ''best room'' of his farm house in council with his women folk
 In his hand he held a letter, which boy had brought from a neighboring post-office
 "Yes," he said, in reply to the appealing looks of the ladies, as he hastily skinned it's contents; lit is from Harry, sure enough. Don't take on about it, mother but he's done just what a Winthrop should do when his country calls on him; he's-"
 Mot enlstcd!' Martha gasped, her face white as her snowy apron.
 That IS just what the high-spirited lad has done, God bless himp' the farmer chuckled. "Pshaw! Martha, am aston ished at you. What is there to whimper about! 1t won't take more than month or two to bring these stubborn rebs to their knees, and then"
 He paused abruptly, for Kate Frobisham was standing before him with flashing eyes and hcav1ng bosom.
 "Captatn Winthrop" she said, speaking more calmly for her suppressed passion, "let me retire before you have said what would make me forget all your kindness This night leave your house to return to my own people; do not make my parting more bitter than is ncccssarvn
 "Why, God bless my life" Winthrop stammered, "you don't mean to say that you are at heart rebel-you, a gentle, lovable girl not six months out of school {: The thing is preposterous
 II am Southerncr," Kate said, quietly, "and l never was so proud of the land of my birth as I am at this moment The meanest trooper in my brothcr's regiment IS, In my eyes, hero"
 And Harry; my boy, Harryl" the father pleaded.
 Is no moro to me, Captain Winthrop, than any other of the band of marauders whose ranks he has joincd."
 ooh. Katc!" Nell sobbingly reproached, "and he loves you sop
 And loved him, Nell. An, God knows how loved him. the girl acknowledged, with tremulous lips.
 Then, surely you will"
 "Never of my own accord set eyes on hlm again. It is my one hope that may be able to forget his cruelty and mourn for hlm as one who is dead"
 "Hush, child, hush" Martha Winthrop interpOScd; "yOu do not know what VOL arc saying"
 "Aye," added the Captain, soothingly. "Do not say in haste, lass, what you will repent of at leisure. And, as for your go- ing home, that is a matter which-''
 "Is all provided for, sir
 "Eh, how sop
 There was a flush of indignant surprise as he asked tho question, for it was hard for him to believe that the girl he had thought worthy to be Harry's wife had deliberately laid her plans to return home without