Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1891-07-02
FOURTH OF JULY STORY

n ~ ~ IL Ill VI - " LII OlO1t
1t was a wonder to all Snowden how
Mrs Ely and her daughter managed t.
live They had COW. it is true, but ;
procession of small boys came every
night and morning to the widows pretty
cottage with pitchers and pennies il
hand for the daily measure of milk One
little egg cup full Lefty poured from the
pail as she brought it in frothing for hel
mothers tea The rest was all convert
ed into money, and except the micro
scopic insurance that came from the
friendly brothers of something to which
the late Mr.. Ely belonged very little
other Iucre found its way into the small
cottage.
Not a hundred yards from this tiniesi
of cottages was an imposing stone gate
way leading to the well kept grounds Of
Squire Melville. His grand house was
closed all winter. but one of the symp-
toms Of spring well known to the villag-
ers was the renovating and house clean.
ing which presaged the coming of the
family 1t was the only house of any
pretension near. and was the tangible
evidence of the great financial success
which had been won by this one of the
town boys of the previous generation,
who had left his early home and taken
his chances in one of the worlds great
marts
The battle Of life had left Squire Mel
vile cold, hard and purseproud, and
with enough pride Of another kind to
make him take pleasure in exhibiting
his glory to the eyes of his old associ-
ates.
He had meek and invalid wife,
whose fortune had been the stepping
stone to his prosperity, and son and
: daughter. who were well liked in Snow
den
The latter was engaged to California
nabob's son, and SO was Of more conse-
quence in her gratifed fathers eyes than
she had ever been before But the son,
around whose future every ambitious
hope of his worldly father centered, had
fallen in love with pretty Lefty Ely,
and the fact had but just come to that
disappointed fathers knowledge.
John MELVILLE he had said, you
are driveling idiot Do you suppose |
am going to see the fortune have spent
my life and health in getting poured
into the lap of a beggar. a scrub, a dairy
woman? A low creature like the sery-
ants in my kitchen?"
There was a storm of angry words be-
tween them, for no man could listen
calmly to abuse of his loved one. Then
the older man, more polite than the
younger, forced his tongue to mildness
that found no echo in his heart, and
tried pathetic appeal to his son, beg
ging him, for his sake, to surrender his
heeting fancy. but threats and entreaties
had no effect Raging with anger, the
son flung himself out of the home, fol-
lowed by the wrathful insults of his
father
In the vine arched doorway of the lit
tie cottage, Lefty stood with her flower
like face lifted as her eyes looked
dreamily into the blue glory of the sum
mer sky Roses massed themselves
above her. delicate sprays heavy with
bloom waved about her. and a clim bing
vine of the York and Lancaster wreathed
the pillars that upheld the roof There
were roses on both sides of her, and in
the pink perfection of her setting she
was the loveliest flower of all
- I
Jack Melville, swinging himself over the
low rail and stealing an arm around her
slight waist.
"You are worth fighting for" he con-
tinued, as they stepped together into the
little house.
Fighting, Jack?'
yes, my precious, have just had a
battle royal with my father" and he
flushed as he remembered the scoffing
sights which had been heaped upon his
darling.
Lefty grew pale and wept as Jack
gave her an extended account of the
stormy interview which had left its
traces on his words and looks. When he
finished he saw look of severe resolu-
ton in her lovely face that astonished
him. He bent to kiss the red lips that a
few moments before had worn such ten
der curves but she turned her head
away.
"Listen, Jack" she said solemnly, II
will never, never, never marry man
whose father refuses to welcome me-"
Lefty" he exclaimed, 'sis your pride
more to you than your love? Don't you
know that can make you happy far
away from all this?'
"You win not be happy if you dis
obey your father. and if you are un-
happy shall be wretched."
Pleadings and protestations, although
her own heart echoed them all. failed to
shake her resolve. Her only answer was
the repetition of her determination never
to enter family without a welcome
The painful interview was ended at
last by Mrs. Ely's hurried entrance with
message brought in hot haste from
Mrs. Melville. The squire had been
found unconscious on the floor of his
library, and the frightened wife had
sent for her son where past experience
taught her he could be found.
There were several days of grave anx-
iety for the family and much excitement
and sympathy among the neighbors
Then for time all danger was over, and
Mr.. Melville, pale. broken and aged,
was seen driving about again. But it
was well known that the family doctor,
summoned by telegraph at the time of
his seizure had said that his life de-
pended upon an equable, quiet routine.
Any sudden event or shock might be
fatal to him
For dozen years the great social
event of the summer in Snowden had
been lawn party and evening dance at
Melville Court, given always on the
Fourth of July. Mr.. Melville enioved