NUT-BROWN HAIR.”
Brockport, N. Y.,
October, 1877.
CONTENTS.
| CHAPTER | PAGE | |
|---|---|---|
| I. | The Storm, and what it Brought | [9] |
| II. | Village Gossip | [27] |
| III. | Nine Years Later | [35] |
| IV. | Oliver and Mildred visit Beechwood | [50] |
| V. | Lawrence Thornton and his Advice | [60] |
| VI. | What came of it | [72] |
| VII. | Lilian and Mildred | [93] |
| VIII. | Lawrence and his Father | [111] |
| IX. | Lawrence at Beechwood | [119] |
| X. | The River | [131] |
| XI. | Lawrence Deceived and Undeceived | [142] |
| XII. | The Proposal | [157] |
| XIII. | The Answer | [173] |
| XIV. | What Followed | [201] |
| XV. | The Sun Shining through the Cloud | [214] |
| XVI. | The Ebbing of the Tide | [228] |
| XVII. | The Deserted Hut | [238] |
| XVIII. | The Guests at the Hotel | [256] |
| XIX. | Lawrence and Oliver | [276] |
| XX. | Oliver and Mildred | [285] |
| XXI. | The Meeting | [299] |
| XXII. | Natural Results | [314] |
| XXIII. | Conclusion | [321] |
MILDRED.
CHAPTER I.
THE STORM, AND WHAT IT BROUGHT.
The sultry September day was drawing to a close, and as the sun went down, a dark thunder-cloud came slowly up from the west, muttering in deep undertones, and emitting occasional gleams of lightning by way of heralding the coming storm, from which both man and beast intuitively sought shelter. Ere long the streets of Mayfield were deserted, save by the handsome carriage and span of spirited grays, which went dashing through the town toward the large house upon the hill, the residence of Judge Howell, who paid no heed to the storm, so absorbed was he in the letter which he held in his hand, and which had roused him to a state of fearful excitement. Through the gate, and up the long avenue, lined with giant trees of maple and beech, the horses flew, and just as the rain came down in torrents they stood panting before the door of Beechwood.
“Bring me a light! Why isn’t there one already here?” roared the Judge, as he stalked into his library, and banged the door with a crash scarcely equalled by the noise of the tempest without.