Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-06-28
CHAPTER. XIV

Black Nanny was wrathful over
Dare's going away.
Pears ter me lik' marster done clean
lose he min. hit do, now, tell yc." she
said to Suse. "All de darter he cher had
went erway FIN here rosy as dc flowers
an come back dead. Ye'd think now,
wouldn' we, he'd member dat IN not let
dis yere po' chile go rusfin off ter 'struc-
ton wild her aunt lik' pc Miss Margaret
done l amt got not no coifsait or dat
Miss Townley nohow. Look lik' ter me
she's made outen poplar bark an yaller
dirt, so stringy she is, an all Off dc same
piece, skin an ha'r an eyes. Sides, FIN de
looks or dat dar ca'idgo an dom mules,
dey mus be poly bad OF fer money dar
ut her house, Exeter, dough members
twas or fine place when young marster
married is wife dar She didn' live wild
'cr sister, but dc Towlleys wanted ter
make or splurgc over dc we,ldin. Metty
proud dec WIS ter git mixed up wild de
Overtons; but, sho's you's black, Dare
better had staid at Ridgcloy. I'm 'ston-
ishcd ut niarster. Dat oman ont do
ter tic to-
Dare had no such misgivincs. Indeed
It was tho eager delight III her eyes that
had overboriic ut the last her GRANDPA
Tiers scrnples, his distrust of this so
long neglcctfnl aunt Then, TOO, Mrs.
Townley's thrust had weight. Sure as
Major Uvcrton was of himself, it had
reused deep down in his consci ousncss
question as to whether he, who was so
nearly through tho burden and battle Of
life, had the right by thus thrusting
aside either surrender or compromise to
mako poverty tho portion of bis one
grandchild. Truly the claim had wasted
his substance, drained his purse as it
had his life. He had parted with every
thing save life interest in Ridgoley. If
no should die tomorrow, Dare would be
homeless, penniless, except for the few
hundreds her mother had brought, and
which remained to her child Somehow
the old man had thought but little here
tofore Of the girl S future. Indeed, wrap
ped in this legal coil, he had hardly
noted her growing up or his own whiten-
ing hair,
1t had como rs shock to him to find
her woman loved, asked in marriage
Of his enemy and showing that she knew
what was due her race. He could not
think Of that day without glow at the
heart She had shown his spirit no less
than his blood, this unregarded, unwel-
come child, and he began to love her, to
think pitifully forward as to what must
b. her portion.
II she could marry, marry as became
her station. not just yet, Of course, but
in two or three years To do that she
must know somewhat of the ways, the
lives Of other women of the big world
outside that never came near her home.
She might go with her aunt for little
space Later he would take her to the
capital, where it was likely he would
need to spend a large part of the winter.
and where few faithful friends would
make her welcome for his sake.
So, by the workings Of most diverse
causes, Dare was demiciled at Exeter
there to stay for the next three months.
Though tho outside was picture of
weather beaten desolation, the inside
seemed to Dare's home bred eye fine
enough for a palace. for the big square
drawing room was hung with silk, and
oil the floors We're laid with thick Per-
sian carpets in dull delicious hueS Faded
damask, silk lined, hung at tho win
dows over carefully mended lace draper
les, oil and several mementos Of the re-
furnishing wherewith Elton Townley
had made ready for his bride.
Most Of the rooms overran with heavy
carved mahogany, but Dare's especial
domain was free Of its gloomy splendor.
It was cool and white and dainty. with
= bare, polished floor and a smother 81
fresh dimity over everything-in fact,
20 nearly the counterpart Of her own
room at Ridgeley that she felt at once
at home
She nodded pcrtly to her image In the
odd little swinging mirror, saying, with
need aaide and uplifted finger:
Mis- Overton. you must mind your
snu Q'A II you disgrace your Aunt
- yoo'H be sent home tomorrow. and
yoa NOW You want to see q heap mors
80 plase You look well enough