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E R A NK M O R TIMER,
Editor end, Proprietor.
"Vol.
Hi
Js Published Weekly,
At New HloomlicM, Pciin'a .
BY
PRANK MORTIMER.
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Lindsay's Wedding :
OR
THE TWENTIETH OP DECEMBER.
I WAS only her father's housekeeper,
Marian Douglass Aunt Manny slio
used to call me a decent Scotch body, and
old-time nurse to Lindscy's mother.
Mrs. Walton had been Scotch. It was from
thence that the girl got her name and her
bonny yellow hair.
Colonel Walton was rich, and Lindsey
was his heiress, but when she was little, a
fair-faced bairn, slumbering in her tiny cot,
I used to shed teais of pity over her, for
"lie's but poor that's ill loved," as they
used to say in the old country, and no one
on earth loved Lind.sey when she was a
child but her old Aunt Manny. But, as
she grew older, I used to treniblo, looking
at her. Her cheeks took on a hue liko the
sunset, her blue eyes grew more and more
wiusone, and then her hair was a glory
about her when she was scarce fourteen.
Her father was always surly with her. lie
had hoped that the child would have been
a boy it was Jeanies only one and when
he found that it was a daughter which God
had given him, ho glowered on the little
sleeping face, turned away, and it is true
for mo that ho did not know his own child,
two years biter, when ho met her in the
porch walking with a servant.
" Who's little one have you there ?" ho
asked Nan.
"Yourown, sir," straightway answered
the honest girl.
lie gazed a moment on the little pink face
then oll'ered the child his hand but she
would not take it ; and ho shrugged his
shoulders and went away.
.It was jiist after this that wo came to
Larch Lunes to live, the new country seat
which Colonel Walton had named after his
old English home.
There were beautiful grounds to it. The
larches grew everywhere, sometimes in
long rows wit h wild grapevines lacing them
together. Only tho undergrowth was kept
out, and tho shade was beautiful. But the
garden was highly cultivated. A great deal
of the ornamental shrubbery was foreign.
Thero was a doublo row of graceful French
poplars along tho terrace, and below lay
the whole smiling garden, a great web of
color. At the south end was a summer
house, all open, and the pillars twined with
vines roses, jasnmino and clematis. Here
Lindsey used to sit for hours with her book
and her dog. He was no blinking little
Blenheim, but an enormous great wolf
mastiff whom Lindsey had adopted when
he was a mendicant puppy, and cherished
into the most magnificent proportions.
The two were inseparable. She would sit
upon his back and rido down the garden
path as if he were a pony.
AN INDEPENDENT FAMILY
She was a happy girl. I don't think un
til sho was twcnly, that she ever thought
she had a trouble excepting the loss of
her father's love, if that can be lost, which
was never gained.
Her life after nil was not a lonely one,
for she studied a great deal, having several
masters from the city, and then she was
very popular in tho neighborhood among
the young folks. Both at Grussmere and
the Willows were large families of merry
girls who were rather led by Lindsey. The
few young men she knew admired her ex
ceedingly, but Lindsey kept all lovers at a
distance until Ben Arundel came. He made
his appearance first as a visitor at tho Wil
lows. There Lindsey met him.
It was beau! i ful to seo them so fond of
each other, two young people, all in all to
each other, and life all before them. For
myself I was heartily glad that Lindscy's
wedding was coming in my day, for I was
near sixty when my darling's twentieth
birthday came and I could not bear the
thoughts of dying and leaving her alone in
the woild, for 1 loved her well, and al
though she was a beautiful, wealthy young
girl, and I. an ugly old woman, we were
much to each other. Many a sweet little
secret she told mo that summer after Ben
began coming ofl en to Larch Lanes, and
tho sweetest of all was that sho loved him.
"Well, my lass,' I said stroking her sun
ny head that lay upon my knees, "I'm well
pleased with this. Ben is gude, and 'gude
folks are scarce take care of one,' the old
proverb says, you know."
After awhilo I asked her if sho had told
her father.
"No, not yet," she answered.
" Then tell him soon to-morrow," I
said.
"Maybe I will," she replied, dreamily.
You see I had no thought but that Colo
nel Walton would consent to their being
married immediately. But he said :
"I have no objection to tho young man,
but you can't be married now."
Lindsey did not venture to ask why.
She came to me, looking a little serious,
and asked mo what I suspected was the
reason her father should wish to delay the
wedding. She knew well enough, poor
child that it was not becaut.0 of his fond
ncf s for her.
My heart sank. I had a foreboding, then
that all would not bo well for my treasure.
After I went to bed I could not sleep for
the dull roaring of the sea which I never
had minded before.
When Lindsey told Ben, ho said cheer
ily :
" Well, ask him again in a month."
The two did not mind ; they were sohap
py together. It was only foolish old Aunt
Manny who feared trouble. But I was that
bad with my presentiment that I used to
turn away and cry when I saw the two
frolieing among the larches, or nestled up
to each other in tho porch in the moonlight
murmuring their fondness.
Tho Arundels were of tho best families
in tho State, but they were not as wealthy
as they had been. Ben hud littlo beside
his profession, but I don't think that would
really have obstructed the marriage. Tho
difficulty camo of Colonel Walton's evil
ways.
Ono evening ho brought company homo
with him from tho city to. pass tho night.
When tho carriage canio up from the land
ing, I saw that tho colonel had two mcu
with him. One was a large, florid-faced
man, with a boisterous laugh ; the other
was an elegant, polished gentleman, with a
diamond on his hand, and singular eyes of
light hazel. Ho carried a light cane with
a fawn's head of pure gold at tho top, and
very soon Jack the coach man told mo,
that this last was Boss Guthrie, of Guthrie
Falls, the richest landholder in the county.
The other waa Major Southly of the cav
alry. Thongh it was near nine o'clock, the col
onel ordered supper, and sent to tho cellar
for wine.
Mcanwhilo I knew the gentlemen wore
IVoav 131ooiiificll, Isi., Mny
playing raids in the drawing-room, and
talking very freely over their wine. Lind
sey Mas a lit lie excited, and had such a
beautiful color that I was only too glad to i
remember that her father seldom desired j
her attendance at table when ho brought I
company out to simpers- as ho had done
once or twice before. 'For I especially dis
liked the looks of those two men.
Lindsey wreathed the peaches with white
roes, and trailed scarlet honcysucklo vines
from the lit ilo silver vases, and sent Tip
in with them, and then said, yawning :
"That's all I can do for you, Aunt Man
ny. I'll go to bed now, I belie vo ;" for it
was past ten o'clock.
Just then Tip came back and said that
the colonel wanted Miss Lindsey to make
her appearance at supper.
"O, Aunt Manny," sho exclaimed, "I
don't want to !''
I did not speak for a moment, but stood
wiping a little ashes from the silver coffee
uin, and trying to think what could be
done. I think I would havo scot in word
that sho was ill if I had not been ashamed
to let the clear eyes of my darling see mo
descend to an untruth.
"But you will have to go if your father
has sent for you," I said Anally.
I saw her go iii.nnd heard the softening of
the men's vo'ecs. There was no morebois
teious laughter. I confess that I stole up
into tho chamber overlho dining-room, and
listened to the rounds which roso from be
low, hoping to get a hint of how things
weie going. L'nd.iey ha i dly spoke, but I
knew how gracefully sho was presiding at
the board, how liko an angel sho looked
with her sweet eyes and falling hair.
When she camo up I ran out to her.
" How have you enjoyed the cvcnlnginy
dear?"
"O, it has been vcy tiresome! I mi
sleepy," sho answered, and went into her
room. After ten minutes theie wasn't a
stir there ; the child was sound asleep.
There weie meals to bo se;edfor thoso
men for a week. Tho Colonel seemed to
have given himself a vacation from business.
They went to the city, but came out at all
hours, riding, diiving, or hunting. They
made up a yacht party, and took Lindsey
with them, sailing.
Meanwhile I detected something b! range
about the colonel. Ho had lost flesh, and
went out of sight of his guests, his manner
fell fiom one of excitement to one of gloom
and impatience. I had known him long, and
I knew that something was wrong with
him.
Ono day Lindsey bur.it into the china
closet where I was cleaning silver, and ex
claimed :
"That Major Southly has been making
lovo to mo 1"
"Hush, my dear I" I answered closing
tho door, for sho had spoken quite loud in
her excitement.
"Gently, gently, my dear. You are
inconveniently pretly, Lindsey," I said
trying to smile. "You must not bo too
haul on tho poor gentleman."
" Ho is not a gentleman, Aunt Manny ;
ho is a wealthy sensualist, alibcrtino! It
is an insult to bo adiniicd by him !"
I was astonished at tho girl.
"I wish they we: o all gone," sho said
wearily. "I am ) irod of so much excite-
mout. Father does not look well either.
Have you noticed it Aunt Manny ?"
I said that I had.
" If my fa her only knew I loved him,"
she added, sadly," I think it would be a
a comfort to him, though I am not a boy."
Poor dear 1 The old yea'-iiing over her
which I had felt when sho was ababy,caie
up strong within me. To bo sure sho had
Ben, but tho passion of nil enlhusiastio
young man is not liko the affection of a
mother or father. And these, as I have
said, Lindsey had never known. Only 1
know what a pure, strong heart my darb'ng
had, and I never belioved that if her father
had known he would have appreciated it.
Major Southlcy's attentions wore tho be
ginning of Lindscy's trouble Ho actually
NEWSPAPER.
S-1-, 1870.
persecuted her with them. His want of
tact was astonishing to me, who had ob
served lrom afar off Ben's graceful manco-
vei
irs w hereby Lindscy's love had been won. j
he major's persistence was insolent. i
The
Finally Lindsey had to shut herself up or
complain to her father. Sho chose the lat
ter, though I had tho feeling that it was
not tho wisest way. I almost suspected
that the major's audacity had some ground
work we did not know.
It was so. The colonel heard Lindscy's
appeal wi.h evident dissatisfaction, and no
sympathy.
' Do you mean to say that Major Sou (li
ly's attentions arc disagreeable to you?"
Ho asked coldly.
" Yes sir. I can give him no encourage
ment, and his persistency annoys mo."
"This is hardly what I looked for," ho
replied. " To f ell the truth, I was in hopes
you would throw over that young doctor
for Ihis gentleman. I would very much
prefer to see you Major Southly's wife."
"Why, sir?"
"Principally becauso ho is a very wealthy
man. In fact, Lindsey, I need his help. I
am afraid that I shall go down without
it." '
" Become banki upt ?" she faltered.
"Precisely."
The. e was a moment's impressive silence
Perhaps each was thinking how much the
daughter owed to the father. Tho colonel
could not have thought it wa much, but
Lindsey was morbid on the subject of her
father's love.
"Father, if it were not for Ben," she
moaned, at length.
I think some comprehension of the st rug
gle within that young bosom must have
penetrated the man's i-cllishness as ho look
ed at the gill's face, for ho said, hastily :
"Well, well ! I insist upon nothing. It
is truo that I have not much claim upon
your affections, Lindsey. Go, now. I will
speak to Major Southly on this subject."
She arose, but hesitated, ibr her tender
heart was melting within her. In spite of
all, Lindsey loved her father, and it was
the one passion of her lifo (o win his heart.
There was a great siiugglo wilhin, and,
after all, tho words would not bo spoken.
Trembling from head to foot, she left the
loom. It was as if sho had wished to leap
off a precipice, and an instinct of self-preservation
held her back.
It was on iho seventh sad night of these
men's stay that tho tiagedy occurred. On
tho evening following Lindsey s interview
with her father, I saw the colonel walking
with Mijor Southly in (ho garden. The
moon was up ; I could sco that tho colonel
looked badly and talked eagerly, and that
the Major was far from gracious. As I sat
at my window, wishing, for my darling's
sake, that I could know the import of their
conversation, I heard Lindsey trip along
Iho piassv.a he'ow. I looked out and saw
her just going down tho steps.
"Lindsey i" I called.
Sho looked up.
"Is that you, Aunt Manny? I left my
Dante, which Ben gavo me, down in the
summcr-houso. I am going down to "d
it."
"Not in thoso slippers, Lindsey," I an
swered. "The grass is drenched with
dew."
"But it will bo ruined if it stays out all
night," she answered.
"Then chango your shoes, or send a ser
vant for it," I said.
Sho did neither, for just then Ben camo
up the path, and sho quite forgot tho book.
. I have never been satisfied that I went
solely for tho book. I was certainly full of
desire to know what thoso men were talk
ing of or rather to know if it concerned
Lindsey.
I put a shawl around me and went down.
The dew drops sparkled on the flowers, and
a whippoorwill was plainting among the
larches.
I went on until I came to the summer,
houso. There I found the volume, and
when I had taken possession of it, I stop-
Terms: JN ADVANCE.
One Dollar per Year.
IVo. 21.
ped and listened. The two men hrfd paus
ed just beyond a clump of shrubbery near
me, and I could hear, distinctly, every word
that they said.
"Do you threaten me?" exclaimed tho
colonel, in a voice of intense passion, ' ' do
you threaten me ?"
"You may call it what you like," re
plied the other, coolly. " I will cither have
tho girl or the money.
"I have fold you Southly "
"You have told mo nothing that makes
a song's difference, either ono way or tho
other 1 Your word doesn't amount to a rush
in this case ; you are perfectly, helpless. I
loaned you tho money when I bid for tho
girl. If you have no power to make her
marry me, the money must be refunded to
night, and I start for Washington to-morrow."
I saw stately Colonel Walton shrink un
der theso words as if they were lashes.
"Southly," ho said, in a broken voice,
"give mo a week longer."
" Curse you ! I will not give you another
day !"
There was a cry, a flash, a groan some
thing fell heavily among the shrubbery.
An involuntary cry for help roso to my lips
but I stilled it, for a horrible fear camo
over me. As I looked through the 'vines
I saw only ono of tho men standing tho
other lay quite stiff at his feet.
A cloud had passed over tho moon. It
drifted away and showed the man who was
standing to be Colonel Walton. I knew
what ho had done when I saw his face. Ho
had kPlcd tho other.
In spite of my horror, my first impulse was
to goto his side, for ho was Lindscy's
father, and in great grief. Ho raised his
clenched hand to heaven with a groan I
shall never forget, and then his head sank
upon his breast and hn stood like a statue.
All was so still ! The whippoorwill call
ed plaintively ; that was the only sound
save the sighing of tho wind in the larches.
The seeno was first in light and then in
shadow as the clouds drifted over tho moon.
Something rose in my weak old throat as if
I were suffocating, while I waited.
It was strange, but I never doubted that
the man was dead. Into that awful silence
Hope never intruded. It was a moment
of utter dispair, and I felt that tho man
who stood there, in the dreadful stillness
would gladly have cursed God and died.
A rabbi) bounded through the grass. Ho
started, and looked around, wildly, as if a
hand had been lain upon him in arrest. '
Tho ague of guilt shook him, ns ho bent
over the body. Ho examined it for a mo
ment, then l a i.scd himself and looked around
eagerly. Ho seemed to deliberate some
thing in his mind. It was probably what
should be dono with tho corpse.
CONCLUDED NEXT WEEK.
Couldn't Mate a Speech.
-X7-ASIIINGTON never made a speech.
' I" "'0 zenith of his fame ho onco
attempted it, failed, and gave it up con
fused and abashed. In framing tho Consti
tution of tho United States, the labor was
almost wholly pei formed in committee -of
tho whole, of which George Washington
was day by day tho chairman ; but" ho
made but two speeches during tho conven
tion, of very few words each, something
liko ono of Grant's speeches. The convent.
Hon, however, acknowledge tho master
spirit ; and historians aflirmthat had it not
been for his personal populaiity and tho
thirty words of his first speech, pronounc
ing it the best that could bo united upon,
tho conveut ion would have been rejected by
tho peoplo. Thomas Jefferson never made
a speech. Ho couldn't do it. Napoleon
whoso excutive ability is almost without a
paralel, said that his greatest difficulty was
in finding men of deeds rather than words
A hon asked how ho maintained his influx
ence over his superiors in ago and experi
ence, when coinmandor-in-chief of th
army of Italy, ho said, "By reserve" Tho
greatness and goodness of a man is not
measured by the length of his speeches, or
their number.