The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-03-26
A WHITE EASTER.
ny MARGARET MANToN MERRILL.
copyright. 1894, by American Press Asso sia
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copyright. 1894. by American Press Asso ,ia-
toni
So you want me to tell you the story OF
the White Easter, do YOU? Well, bring
me my knittin an shut that wipder, for the
nights amt none too warm, even here in
Californy.
dunno's ever told you that your gram
father, lijah Vanx, was sea capt'n once,
but he was He never said nothin bout it,
though, an when you've heerd the story you
won't be s'prised that he didn't.
Your great -gran'fathe ole Colonel Vaux,
was hard mans ever / see. l reckon he
had the worst temper Of any man on earth
when he got started You see, he was born
down in Virginny, an his father, ole Pierre
Vaux, was Frenchman. He'd fit with
Napoleon, an he used to say that Bonypart
was the only general the world ever saw, an
he was ready to knock anybody's head of
that thought or said different.
SO, you see, your great gran'fa come
honest enough by his hot temper. Hemar-
ried Virginny girl, an the Lord knows
how he ever come to get her, for she was
Just about as much like him as canary
birds like buzzard. She never had much
comfort, an she didn't live very long.
Lijah-that's your gran anfather-wa'n't
but years ole when she died, an remem-
Der s well g can be hearin my mother tell
how Colonel Vaux shook the child cause
he cried at the funeral.
After his wife died the old colonel grew
crustier an more overbearin than ever, an
poor little Lijah had hard time Of 1t, for
he had gentle disposition, like his mother.
There didn't pear to be mite o. Vaux blood
In him, an seems if that made the ole colo
mel hate him. But he managed to live
through It, an grew up straight, ham
some feller's ever you see. l alwa's be
lieved the colonel was kinder proud of him.
But he wouldn't let on-not he.
1t just seems II he got colder an harder
toward the boy every year. He wanted him
to be a lawyer an Lijah was willin to be
one an studied hard for it. / spose every
thing would "a gone all right, an they
wouldn't "a been no story to tell il Lijah
hadn't "a fell in love. But he did, an O.
course it was with the wrong girl.
Hand me that ole degarrytype on the toE
shelf of the whatnot Therel Wait till
wipe the dust off-beats all how dusty
things do getl Now you can see it. That
was your gran mother. Prettyf Well, ]
guess she was pretty. They want no girl
anywheres round that could hold Il candle
TO her for looks. An she had spirit of hei
own too. Why, what do you think she
donei You see, she was of Irish descent,
Her maiden name was Nora McHenry. But
she didn't like Nora. and so she called her
self Ora.
Well, ole Colonel Vaux used to sneer al
her every chance he got, an one day he said
In her hearin that folks who hadn't no re
epectability o. their own was anxious tt
borrow some from their neighbors. Every,
body know'd just who he meant, an he
spoke loud on purpose, SOS Ora could hear.
bn 1nnl-aJ nj hin, IA iptt ta m har bS
walked straight up to him an says she,
"You'll be safe, Colonel Vaux, for man
that'll make such a speech as you did JUS
now hain't no respectability to lend" Aft.
er that the ole man forbid his son speakin tC
Ora.
Lijah had alwa's been willin to do any,
thing his father wanted him to; but, you
see he'd never been in love before, SO this
was different matter, and when his fa
ther said, II expect you to obey me, sir
Lijah answered: Il can't obey you in this,
because it's a matter that concerns only me
an Ora. l love her, an she's promised to
marry me. I'm sorry to displease you, but
my minds made up"
Well, the ole colonel nearly had fit, he
was SO mad. lie ordered him out of the house
an told him to go to his lowborn Irisl
girl and starye. He needn't look for any
thing more from him.
VERY well, sir" said Lijah, an he went
Some folks said he was glad TO go. His
life at home hadn't been none too pleasant
He went straight to Ora an tol her what
had happened.
''I've got to 20 away says he. "There's
no chance for me todo anything here. VIII
you marry me, Ora, an wait for me to comC
back2 I'll come" says he, 'as soon's In
able to take care O. you" .
Il will, Lijah," says Ora, ian I'm sur,
you'll succeed very soon"
You see, they was both young, an success
always looks easy to young folks, specially
when they're In love. So they was married