Loading...
The Brussels Post, 1886-2-26, Page 2Trtg, BRTTS$EI.k POST DICK'S SWEETHEART. By iho Anther of "Mittman Tnuratcmv," "1,011.1, L"ne 013ulnerolt11," "133lt.14s," MOLLY 11Aw1," Ere. mean yictOr as on'y tail yoking- Cunt strong can tight ; and, when at last see woke CO Onn:;ei0nene$$, it wag to tell the anxious watahere rouucl her that at laws there was hope --a faint one. Pale as n little suowdrop, she lay speechimes, ox- bausted, raising to therm in silent hot eager inquiry great hollow eyes that only served to render more emaciaued the white face that he'd them. "Ah, so you are awake 1" says now a strong but kindly voice that seems to come from behind the enemies. A face that snits the voiee follol'e it, and looks with very interested eyes upon the spent and broken little form within the bed. "Well, you have had a nice long sleep, and "—with a eorutioiain'g glance —" you are better—yes, 'decidedly bot. ter," Dolores ooene her lips, and turns wistfully towards her. "No, not a word," says her new friend hurriedly. " It is forbidden." Then, seeing the growing anguish on the young face, elle relenbe. ' Well, get your question over as quickly as you can," she eay8 lwgrn :ugly. " Rest is the only thine alloweel y 1,u—tut speech, believe TIM" "You," says Dolores: feebly, fighting with her weak ieetnor,;•—" You memo to me amuse the hall when—" "When you wins {hinting Tato my arms," interrnpte Mrs. Edgeworth quickly. " Qnite so. Geod'te8m knows how you brought yonreelf• to such a state of weakness; but never 1,111,11 that. When yon are stronger, you can tell me all about it." " How long ?" aeke Doloree vaguely. Speech. after all, she finds is difficult to her. She slowly stretches out one bend and feebly Wipe it luto that of the boueekeeper. Mrs. Edgeworth, in spite of the strong-iniudednes8 written ripen her broad ,brow, ie not proof against this weak entreaty. Since you entered this hone in much dismal fashion?" she supplies cheer. ily. " Why, throe weeks, I should say, or a clay more or Peas." " Three weeks 1" repeats Doloree, Paling,. " Three ?" " Yes, quite three," says Mrs. Edge- worth. Bub "—noting the misery on the pretty emaciated face—" never mind that. Sorin you will be able to write to your friends and toll theta all sheet it." She looks keenly at the girl as she eaves this, (meekly not being unknown to her; but Dolores, with la subdued cry, turns from her grid irides her face amongst the lavender -scented sheets. Two Jaye later finds her stronger, more able to converse on trying Bu13- jeote. Who is in the house besides you ?" sale asks Mrs. Edgeworth one horning, detaining her as she receives from she housekeeper's hand the breaitfast to which she now begins quite to look for- ward. " The master, Mr. ;Mildmay, for one," returns she, with a smile ; " for another, myself ; and, for e. third, Mary, the kitchen maid. 13ut she don't count, my dear, as site is of no value whatsoever. And then,, if you must have a fourth, why, there ie yon," says she, giving the girl a kindly tuck up in her little hod ; "though perhaps you didn't quite know you belonged to n8," " Ab," says Dolores, tears starting to her eves, "how good you all are to me —a stranger ! But—but I am unhappy about one thing. I have not eeeu Mildmay -1 have not thanked hills fpr all his kiudnoes." " Well, you shed some day." " You I oan never thank euotrglh in words," goes on Dolores, looking at her with clear earnest eyes. " But perhaps in time yon will know how grateful I am." She leans ber head hack 0.1 the pillow sed looks up at the housekeeper wistfully. " Why, Hese von, (1111111, I don't want Emote tell me that!" nays the good we - man, sitting do en and eudtiliegthe little nand in true womanish fashion. " De you tilillk I am blind 1' No words could lie so °lot;tett as your pretty °yea.' Beery me," she says, with a quick sigh, "'tie rainy a year einoe 1 saw those that were like them 1 Come now and tell me then, Do yon really want t0 Nee DIr. Mildmay? Ho has soon you u.tei enough, I warrant." • " Seen me :" • " Ay. Couldn't be kept from the teem after his sight hest fell on yon, And well 1 know the reason, poor gen. tlemdu !" Shc rifles from her seat, 131111 • with auother sigh Haab has nmt!ling to do with Dolores or any one of her rein- eratiou. "If you wish to Bee hien, dear. I will tell bite S0," she says gently, 1113 - int; down absently at the fragile tone ie :1e bed, "To thank him," mermen Deimos softly, In a little while he comes to her. The 11000 is opened with extraordinary slowness, and a tall Man, bent some- what, and of a very elderly aspect, creeps lobo the room ; he advances lice wards her on tiptoe with the nervous trerul of one to whom- ilium is nn. known. With great care he parts the heavy curtains of she gaunt old four-poster, and looks down upon the pale child resting (lathe pillows. • Then all at onto, DA it seeing to Deletes, she knows that some at least of her feverish dreams were realities. Not 01160, but many laves, this sante worn face had gazed at 1 r during her ilium- And now she In thee° balf.unconsolous hours ne had etolei into her room, seeming to hor, in her mieerable incoherency, 30 blend and !Slake 0118 with the motley crow that !ledged her in on every side aid made havoc of her hind. During those sickly visions he had appeared to bend over hor; a few words had fallen from him. Now thou° words had comp bank to her main ; sonic ring clear and thoroughly distinct. Again she `seems to be listening to them, although throughout the whole of this lash ortha• dos. visit he ie singularly silent and dir- t.rail, . "Ha, dear me! Bless my soul! TA, tut, tut I" So Mr. Mildmay used to mut• ter on every occasion when be appeared at her bedside. The rich elogoenee of these remarks was never improved upon ; ;perhaps there was no room for improvement. They were alwaye the same, and filled with a vivid concern that used to bring comfort in some odd Cashion to the little languid sufferer. The absnrd torrents, never sabered, but it never, too, lost its eweetneeS for her. Somebody felt for her; in that lay the charm, Now, as he leans silently over her, elle eau see him more clearly, can co: wince herself more positively of his reality. kle is a tall moa, bent more by the scourging of fate than by 'oars—e. man ee033101y more -since d agamet than sin - Mug, but nevertholees bound iu oheias of wine sort. There is a weakness, aosn suipe:eon of nervous irreaolutou, shout the lower jaw which sleeken ono impalpably •,bub the clear large oyes are open anti fell of kindliness. Abonb his whole aspect there is a savour of unworldliness, and the air of one who for many years has withdrawn himself from hie fellows and found his sole com- panions in the voicelege children of um - We. " I hear you are better," he says et last. breaking(, through a sudden revere that heti evidently arisen out of eight of her. 1' The thenght is a great comfort to ale. I felt for you. Yes, yea." His tone is awkward. He does nob find easily the words he would gladly 1180. Ah, Mr, Mildmay, come here. l" says Dolores, with some of her old impulsive - segs. She name upon her elbow end pushes back the cretonne curtains that help to shield her from the glare of the after- noon 91111, that she may the better look anon her host with the gentle gratitude that is overfilling her. Coma here," she says, with pretby persistence, " that I may thank you properly 1" No, my dear, no ! No thanks are nocessary, 'says Mr. Mildmay nervously. Even whilst saying this a curious ex- pression crosses his face, a vague won• der, a painful uncertainty that renders him mute. He had a rather pretty speech to make to her—arranged in the study before became up—but now 11 for- sakes him, and he stares at her pro - roundly, no words upon his lips. " But yes, indeed," says Doloree, tears rising in her eyes. "I have been a great, great trouble to you. AU the gratitude of my life is owing to you, be- cause you have saved that life. It al - motet belongs. to you, doesn't it? At least, I fuel it so," she mule sweetly. "Tut, tut I You must not speak like that. But get well, get strong. That will show gratitude," says Mr. Mildmay, knocking hie eyeglass against his fore- finger in a desultory fashion --indeed his words are desultory too. He glances at her furtively. Again the shrank° reflective look covers his face. It seems au though he is strug- gling with some force that would keep back from him a memory lying hidden in the troubled past. Is' 1t a memory of some one whom she, Dolores, x68601• blas ? The odd part of hie that he tem seems familiar to her. Is the transmigration theory true ? And have they perchance hobnobbed in Some earlier existence ? This thought brings a smile to her pale lips. ertainly there% Sams little indefln. able expre8siou about him that reminds her of some ane. She is:Melee over it. Is it that sensitive movement of she lips, or that idle contraction of the eyebrows? Beyond denbt be is like some one she knows—but who? That its it. The tor- ment of not being able to " place " hor discovery irritates her foolishly, as she lies there weak and'powerleas. Then some sound strikes on her :lulled senses, and she knows that Mr. Mildmay has beau talking to her for some time. lou have been a good' child, very good," he says. " So Mrs. Edgeworth tells tee. Excellent woman—eh 9 But she says, too, you are nob bo talk." " Al, but I must talk to you I" say* Dolores. holding • out to him an implor• rug nand. "Yon are my preserver. May I not toll you " No, no ; tell =nothing," interrupts he hurriedly " except that yet are on the high -reed is recovery. "Yee, I shall recover," says Dolores brightly. "I feel Mite equal be getting up already!. I are yeriag, you see, and so strong." is almost laughable to hear her say this—ouoli a Utile Argil waxes lit as she looks, smiling up at hire out of (1011- Date pillows. But Mr. Mildmay fails to see the joke. An expression of intense sadness makes itself discernible upon his 1nob11e. lips and sensitive brews. "Ay, youth id ever strong," he says; "yet there have bees sad, stat 69t08P- tions." Again his voice grows dreamy, again that strange concentrated gaze fixes it- self upon the tektite hivand. Beneath return. 0000ly mete 'la n0 rummy in the gentleness of the glance directed at her, or in the almost 'womanish sweet- ness of bho benevolent smile! "And now I meet leave you, child," he ears presently, rousing himself from his abstraction, ' unless I would under- go a scolding at the hands of Mrs. Edge- worth.. Get well, got strong, and then you obeli tell me the story dhow it was you were driven hither." Dolores shrinks from btu, A groat terror grows within hor eyes. The deli - cat(' hand lying upon' the aovorIet be - gine to tremble convulsively. Is he asking her to deliver up her secret? Now—now, when she has endured so far and so heavily ? Would'he have ber mid* all her work in one evlift moment, and .east the agonies of many hours-- that have been longer than etla longest years --to the winds ? Oh, pre loot that I To be again the 08.080 of ohame and misery to those two to whose happi• 11893, when weighed in the balance of her soul's reckoning, hor own happiuoss is as naught! It must iswe be, eo00 though by her refusal to aggo the sum of her sorrows be ineromeeti a thousand- fold by the thought that gross ingrabi. Mule will be. imputed to her. Mr. Mildmay, noticing the instant ole: nge in her expressive face, is shocked ley it, and by the knowledge it betrays to hitt. Poor child ! Does eho imagine ke would heap another grief upon her air"ady,ovorburdhoed ened hee "Do not mistake me," he says bur. riodly. "Whatever you wish so keep sacred te yourself shall se be kept. I seek 1s know nothing het what you de. :erste telt. All I would hear is how I seta Berm. you." He pauses abruptly. He in evidently greatly distressed. by her Rahn of con- l:,ieaca in him, and very anxious that *ha eboald 11110W bow good a friend he minae to be to her. "Ah, sir!" says Dolores. Ne words emus to Itis elven these, bhengh she would gladly „have made larger awkuowledgment of his goodness • brit is her gentle eyee there Hoe a work of theukfubiees. Her band has ceased to tremble, cud, tleough her 'sensitive Po:-. bun quiver sorrowfully, her whole tate is expressive of the very keenest grealtutie. " Pell Mrs. Edgeworth how itis with eon 84 lar se yon can," aays her now 'lriend gently, "end how we can help you, and be guided by her my dear, where it is possible to you, because she 1s a good and kind woman, and the ad- vice of :inch a woman. is always of the extremoab value." "I will obey you as far as I dare. I would that I could tell you all," says Dolores, with emotion. " But — my secret is not all mine ; it involves the happiness of others. The telling of it 'might destroy their peaoe. 1)o not think me ungrateful if 1 withhold mach from you; but—it is all, so. cruel l" she breaks out, miserably clasping her hands. "Even the consolation of speech ---of sympathy is denied me! I want to tell' you everything, but I can- not! I have suffered terribly—Oh, how I have suffered I—but I must be firm to the end." Her low voice is choked with grief. Mr. Mildmay draws nearer to ber. Since fleet he saw her—lying insensible —hie determination to keep and com- fort 'hor has been a strong one; now. be tells himself, no earthly considera- tion shall turn him from that most hastily but .honourably formed resolve. But some ground to commence on must be formed. " Have you a, father—a brother ?" he asks delicately. Even to himself he cermet explain Cho 'almost 'p8.esionate interest he feels in the history of this little outcast whom the world has flung upon hie hands. Thee waves of life have stranded mer upon, his threshold ; shall he not therefore epoeour. her? " My mother is dead ; I do not know if I have a father," replies she Badly. Ibis an intense comfort. to bo able to answer him so far. To have a refusal for ever en her lips for this 'rind friend would be specially painful. " You have a guardian ?" he goes on, still very genbly, aslciog his question in a tone meant to assure her that he will not be offended should she decline to answer. "Yes," says Dolores lingeringly, thinking of the tender gracious, woman at home whose love. had created die sunshine of her life since first her. eyes opened on the world and she knew the difference between eighb and day. Heaven grant that tow she deems !ler demi !. " Hae he been kind to yen? Do you love him ?" "It is a woman," says Dolores simply, "and I dot love her with all my hetet." " Why, that is well 1" exclaims the old man cheerfully. "Love is a great brightner of life's troubles. And now toil aro—it love be in your heart for her, it must be there for others also—I would fain see hope for you iu the future—and there are other frieuds, are there nob? Yon love some one else besides your .geardian ?"• He scope abruptly, startled by the change in the girl's face. All at 01100, lea flash as it were,.there colne3 to her 8. strange, a meet vivid. yieion of Dtek, at he stood before her. in t11 meoniit corridor on that jaet memorable occasion whou their part* 10315 80: nigh —during their last sad interview whim!' he had 50 little known to' be their la8t, AS;aln his eyes, so full of levo aria...hope, gams teadly into here ; again her lutea groves warm within his grasp ; and once —once more her heart throbs wildly' agaiset his. • The blood recedes from hetbrow, her heart' grows chill; but elm vision Nfill °is share. Smiling, as though in the recollects that ester with the bongo of it rhe grows ueryo00. Is thus kindly Old )lush, Bouverie stands, before her, tall his main had come tod• a strange ore • than eeceetrlc, or—or ]nems ? An irre- and eager, with the old glad light within taiuty of peace, jlreasible pang of fear se,tes her for an, Ills eyos—now—now, whop ghe is lying instant. and then dies away, 130000 to here se far from Idle. weak and lonely I ;, 1:4 THE Man BEST Ham TUE BE ST W. BA. Morris, Exam,s101tl803 "Violets, i\'LITOnsLL, Ox'r y71Idd ils, The 91mpper of 11edt,etroe I ng stand mon t os 1. setismotory • 11wing wood,choppi ng gres made .11or ain driving e0Y light maehinerY they hare no equal, 9(Y OCLEnBATOI) PIIMPS 11avese °ured,aworld-wide reputation. X guarantee in the mar a ,and equaboing al too any ever to r made, '0118y willthr0w water 1100 leet,0r forest t a mileen the level. Yarm ere and stockmen are re- questedt01ondtor parti0nlarebefoore O that eteteer a Windmill or Pump , mfnoere the hW•'lcL thOHitmark et ,MltOlio11 Unt, ONEY TO LOAN. Droner to oat0'1 arm property -at LOWEST RATES. PRIVATE AND COMPANY FUNDS W. B. DxolasoN, Solicitor,, Brussels, Ont. Money to Loan. PRIV,l�TE FUJVDS. $20,000 ofpv.vatePundshaveiustbeen placed in my hendsfor Investment r AT 7 PER CENT. Borrowers can have their 1 dans complete three day s if title is satisfactory, Apply to Fxeo• 26. 1! lG GUELPH r3USINEESS COLLEGE, 11iIELI'II •-- —. UN'1'x t�7HI3 bl)OOND SOHOLASTIO YEAlt g�inigU0a1 801,1. let, 'Uaolt department I sin °Large 04 e4 auooi,glet, To impart.a proc - ;Leal training for the oil0ln0t oondnot 01 b narm a1fnirele tL a uphore and work of the ta0tl- 1541011. lbs¢raduatoe aro already holding ro• uponsibit1,03itlourin4hoo0101n000ia1 tontrts nftt0 Dominion . EuOrgoticyoung moa 8041 1000)00 aro thorough' y prepared for posltions o1oienden te, or Telegraph Short -hand erators . 841100030 received et anytime, For clrnulnr told 0eta- Iorme rlvinetelllnlortestinr,nddroes 10-010 Af, ileac O0'D11OIt, 3(11081(0 E. E. WADE. 0 0 VIATOHMAKING• The undersigned takes pleasure in in- forming the people of Ethel and surround- ing country that he has opened a shop where he is prepared to attend to the re- pairing of Watches, Clocks, Jewelry, Elie., In a manner that will give the best of teethe faction. A11 work guaranteed to be done in a satisfactory manner or no charge made. A ()all solicited. -Shop opposite Robertsons Hotel, Ethel.— lllr DOIg. READY /ORK. \:HONEY TO LEND. Any amount of Money to Loall Farm or Village property' at 6 & 6 PEE CENT. YEARLY.. StraigbtLoans with privii'ege of 1.1 • paying when required. Apply to A. HUNTER, Div. Court Clerk, Brussels. 011 The undersigned ,vonld intimate to the people of Brussels and surrounding country that he has moved his large stook of Har- ness from Manchester into the shop lately 'feasted by Robert Htoven0on, Graham's biotite whore he is prepared to attend to the wants of the pub e. I have la complete sto Light and Heavy Harness, Collars, Whips; Blankets, Brushes; Combes, Trunks, —Bells, Valises,— And )31 orything in the Harness Lino. NOTICE. —0 -- The undersigned still keeps oil hand the Genuine Bell Organ Of Guelph ; New Raymond Sewing Machine. Harness made to order from beet mater. MI, on short notice. Regairingprn1PCly attention to, Satis- facti3n guaranteed in every instance. (live me a call before yen purobaao else- hani s Mock, Maion't n strethe ot,13russolts. Crra- z Cr Richards. Ho also keeps the Pest GRAIN GRINDER In the World, STRAW CUTTERS, Large and Small„ ROOT CUTTERS, At prices to suit Purchaser. BARN TRUCKS, CLOTHES WRINGERS, or Anything you want, except money. G• DICINT OPPOSITE TOWN HALL Brussels, Dec. 10. BRUSSELS WOOLEN I11ILLS. I beg to inform the farming com- munity that I am now prepared to take in Carding, Sjinning., And Weaving, at my Nov Brick Woolen Mill, and promise to give Satisfaction to those favoring us with their trade. I have on hand and will keep constantly in stock a full as- , sortment of eletks. ' lelasnels, Blankets, Tweeds, Denude ]'lame, knitted Goods,. Dress Cecil a, Cotton Sblrtings,' Grey Cottons, Fr. Also Fine Canadian- Tweeds;, PARTINGS & SERGES for Suits which wo wi11 get made up on short notice and a good fit warranted every time. Highest Market Price PAIi) 7011 BUTTER EGGS, 6'e. EiWY ME LCAAA at my New Mills before going elsewhere. Geo, Howe..