The Somerset reporter., 1891-07-02
A FOURTH OF JULY STORY

1t was a wonder to all Snowden how
Mrs Ely and her daughter managed to
live. They had COW. it is true. but a
procession Of small boys came every
cottage with pitchers and pennies in
hand for the daily measure OF milk One
little egg cup full Lefty poured from the
pail as she brought it in frothing for her
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 lucre found its way into the small
cottage
Not hundred yards from this tinest
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 renovatlng and house clean
ing which presaged the coming of the
family II was the only house OF any
preteusion 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
mis- 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 We're well liked in Snow
den
The latter was engaged to California
nabob's son. and SO was of more conse-
quence in her gratihed fathers eyes than
she had ever been before But the son
around whose future every ambitious
hope of his worldly father centered, had
fallen III love with pretty Lefty Ely
and the fact had but just come to that
disappointed fathers knowledge
John Melville, he had said you
are II driveling idiot Do you suppose /
AIN going to see the fortune have spent
my life and health in getting poured
into the lap of II beggar. n scrub, IL dairy
woman? A low creature like the serv
ants in my Kitchen"
There WAS IL 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 a pathetic appeal to his sou. beg
ging him, for his sake, to surrender his
feeting fancy hut threats and entreaties
had no effect Raging with anger, the
son flung himself ont 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 us her eyes looked
dreamly into the blue glory of the sum
mer sky Roses uassed themselves
above her delicate sprays heavy with
bloom waved about her, and Il climbing
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
My Rose of summer" whispered
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 L
battle royal with my father and he
flushed rs he remembered the scotfine
Sights which had been heaped upon hi
darling
Lefty grew pale and wept rs JacI
gave her an extended account of the
stormy interview which had left it
traces on his words and looks When he
finished he saw look Of severe resulu
ton in her lovely face that astonisheC
him He bent to kiss the red lips that
lew lllOIlltHlS btIplC llft'i WI ~ 0hNil " u
der curves but she turned her heac
away.
Listen, Jack" she said solcmnly. "
will never, never, never marry MAJ
whose father refuses to welcome me"
Lefty" he exclaimed. "is your pride
more to you than your love- Don't yot
know that can make yon happy fal
away from all thisT
"You will not bo happy II you dis
obey your father and if sou are un
happy shall be wretched
Plcadinys and protestations, although
her own heart echoed them all, failed to
shske her Resolve. Her only answer was
she repetition of her determination never
to enter family without welcome
The painful interview was ended at
last by Mrs Ely's hurried entrance with