Year: 1869




Such was Ellen Buel when ru in over
whelmed her father. Being the eldest of
the family, she had always lived like boar
der at home-not even busting her own
pretty room, with its pictures and nick
nacks. Three OF them were away at board
ing school, and the youngest, a curly -pated
darling, was scarcely out of frocks.


For the first time now Ellen took her
natural place in the family, and decided,
with promptness and energy no one had
dreamed of her possessing, that the re-
moval out West should be accomplished as
speedily as possible. Mrs Buel's nerves
would not allow her to think or act She
retired to her bed, had the room darkened,
and every breath of fresh air vigorously ex-
cluded. Mr.. Buel was stunned by the blow,
and Ellen was obi ged to be head and hands
for everybody. Before the day of the auc
ton sale came round she had disposed of her
watch and diamond ring, both of them birth
dag presents, and friend bid in for her a
few of the articles her mother most heartily
priced.


1t was cold, drizzly evening, late in the
fall when the Buel family assembled at the
cars in jersey City, prepared to take their
fight into Egypt. Mrs. Buel sat in the
sleeping car, with her handkerchief pressed
to her eyes, surrounded by few condoling
| friends The healthy animal spirits of the
| boys made little breeze through the place,
while they slowed away their bags and
| bundles. Life in the Western wildS, as they
pictured it. did not seem so dreadful after
all. Fred, the eldest, strapped up his gun
case, containing a capital rife, which his
uncle Lathrop had given him, with visions
of wild turkey shooting and buffalo hunts.
Ellen had hung her hat upon hook and
made herself at home She was talking to
Chare Morton !, md during the last minute
or two had grown quite confidential, and
had acknowledged that the figure looked
very dismal to her young eyes. She hard
ly knew why Charley Morton had appeared
at the cars that wet evening to say good
bye; for. although they had skated and
daaced together score of times during the
| past winter, nothing like intimacy had
| sprung up between them. Charley Nor
ton certainly had an idea or two in his head
and Ellen thought him the most sensible,
manly young fellow she knew, although he
was rather savage on modern young girls,
and without mercy aimed his sarcasms at
the frivolous, half dressed creatures who
float through New York society.


Il think you are acting very bravely." "
Charley rcmal ked with little flush.


''Oh, you would not say SO, replied FL
len, looking up at him with her frank eyes,
''if you knew how much this exile costs me,
and what hard work it is to keep cheerful y


THE more thing costs the more pre-
cious it is, - returned Charley, putting up
his hand to cough Then he added, abrupt
ly, changing the subject: Il am going to
take run out West myself one of these
days, and shall surely look you up.


Beware of Egyptian darkness. And
Ellen laughed, with something of the old
pleasant ring to her voice.


Il shall have bright particular star to
guide me On my way" responded Charley
and he bent his tall person down towards
Ellen, and whispered some earnest words,
which brought bright flush into her cheek,
while little bouquet of LIE Mark rosebuds
and heliotrope fell upon her lap. Afterward
Charley pulled out his note book, and wrote
down post office address with special care
and then there was warm hand shaking
all round, until the last screech of the steam
whistle gave him notice to depart.


Some weeks later we see Ellen established
in her new abode-a staring, boardy, un-
painted pine tenement, dropped by accident,
as it seemed, on the brown waste of the
prairie Nothing more desolate can well be
imagined. The frost was late in closing IN
this year. The roads were still deep with
mire Everything was contaminated with
black mud Taken from the heart of the
great city, teeming with life, the Buels were
stranded on the treeless fat prairie, with It's
monotonous horizon. and here and there
corn stack or an Irish cabin visible from the
windows.


As soon as the moving from the distant
railway station was partially over, Mr.. Buel
departed on collecting tour for the New
York mercantile firm which had employed
him. He left Ellen what little money he
could spare, then he clasped her close in his
arms:


BE good girl, Ellen, and comfort your
mother. l might better have died long ago
than have lived to lay this burden on your
young shoulders. y


"How can you say such dreadful words,
father, when it is only money that we have
lost? There are better things in this world
than money, though 1 don't despise it.
Mother will come up, am sure, as soon as
we get put to rights; and, for my part, am
of so much importance to everybody just
now, could not be unhappy if | should
try


The parting over, Ellen sat down and
cried; and then she washed the red from
her eyes, and went into her mother room.
1t was the best the i'll contrived, fraif dwell
ing afforded; and she had fitted it up with
the few comfortable luxurious articles bro t
from their old city home Mrs. Buel lay in
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