Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1855-09-20
BY L. G. GOULD.
New Series.


came in and told me never 10 come up there
again. But oh, ldid want to see mamma's
picture so bad, and before thought told
Miss Lena il was my own papa's parlor, and
that bad better right there than she, aud
then they whipped me and shut me up in the
cellar. closet"
The red blood rushed IN q fiery tide 10 Mr.. !
Clay's cheeks, but he restrained himself aud
said calmly, you should have told me Of this
before, Netta."
"Don't blame me for il, papa" said Meta
imploringIy. "They would have killed me,
nd besides didn't think you would care
Miss Lena said you didn't C re anything about
me, now that you married her handsome moth
er. And thought you didn't think papa, for
you never come and talk with me as you used
10. There hasn't been anybody 10 love me
since mamma died, has there" and the blue
eyes npllled 10 his very earnest
The father gaZed mournfully down on the
pale swee, chid he held in his arms, and as
he remembered all his neglect OF her for two
years, he almost shuddered. And III that
moment of silence the image Of his dead vile
seemed 10 raise up from the far country grave
in which he had laid her, and stand before
him. And the dead blue eyes, just like those
of the child, gazing up al him, had saddeheJ
look lingering in their depths, and the dead
lips wore a Ieproachful expression, ard
spirit voice seemed 10 say in low uPbraldlne
tones, "Hast thou forgotten the pale child
lett as an only remembrance 7" The father
sighed as the sad vision faded away and lie
bore the pale little Meta up into one oil the
gorgeous parlors and laid her by the glowing
FIRE on q pllowy lounge, where She could see
o sweet, grIish face cleaning out oil lrame-
the face.of her dead mother.
As Meta laid there in the luxurions still
ness, the soft eyes in The picture set med Ii {
angels eyes and the red lips wore Seraph
smile, and the golden hair seemed like acfown
ofglofy.
Albert Clay was only twenty-five when he
married gentle girl with winning ways
Ten summers Aunetla Lee blessed him with
her love, and then faded from earth, leaving
one little girl Netta-to cheer his loneliness
Two years he lived alone in his stately man
sion with Meta and his widowed heart. Bu
after long commun Mon with himself, he re-
solved to marry some lovely, amabe woman
10 be mother to his little gi.l who was Ter
years old. After carefully studying the char
acter of his female acquaintances, he ioun'
none among them so gentle and amlaGie' 81
sympathising with him, the wealthy wldower
so ilolzing his moiheress daughter, as TIT
y beautiful widow, Clara Arlington. Anc ne
d only daughter-Miss Lena-a beautiful girl o
:, fourteen, loved Nelta so dearly,-aiways witt
IS ber-oh, it was all so fascinating that the TIC!
Mr.. Clay married Mrs. Abingdon, and took he
II and Lena from their small cottDge to his state
n ly mansion.
t For few months the utmost Difference wa
paid 10 Mr. Clay's slightest wishes, and lltll
g Meta was pettei more than ever; she wa
II always richly dressed and kept in the parlor'
'e and when visitors paid fashionable calls, th
~ beautiful Mrs. Clara would point to her an
h Lena and say-"My two darling daughters! !!
'g especaly when Mr.. Clay was present.
wen: on as well as marriage bells, and MI
rs Clay congratulated himself on possessing SUI
lr fcien, sense to have selected such vile irOI
,e the mutitudes OF msdens, ladies' and dscOI
te sola,e widows, and schemng daughters VII
TO had crowded his path "lhick as leaves IN va
" ambrose"
!, But afera while there began TO be chang
~ Mrs. Clay anG Lena did moi always wear swe
smiles, and the intona,ion of their voices WI
" not always the scftest; and somehow Ne'
;, was not as Joyous as she had been at hrSt' d
, face was paler and sadder, and she vs. /
~ ~, more plainly dressed; and not SO much IN u
~ ~ parl0rs. Thus matters went on ana MI VI;
:" never saw his moiherleSs girl save IN the ri
=" ~ chen, and he seldom went there, his mlnd W
~ :, so occupied by business cares and ms Oeau'
~ full bride, and for long while he did not n
"o tice her absence. But when Clara anu Lei
:. both openly abused her, his fa,herly teeIln
h. ,s were touched, and the old love for his chi
~ awoke, anc at last he saw his mistake IN ma
al rying, but two late. Yet lie Determined 'i
III. they should not abuse the only child oil
h.. first wife.
- II was a chilly, my day, and everyth'
:" looked dismal and cheerless in the city. Cia
ho and Lena sat in their rich boudolr "heit
w., blazing fire glowed redly in the crate maue
M rI' warm and cozy. Meta was there, too Tor
'h.. Clay laid down strict orders, and they uld
. dare disohey them by sending her mo
a. kitchen, and now she wore as costly roCes
nd Miss Lena did, and was provided with Doc
ne and teachers.
rs 70 Meta was reading arichly bound book-t
,ot "a Cooks Poems. For she IN her lohelIh
had found deep love for al that was Deau
The ful, and poetry to her was as stars are 10 W
,.,S ,. liners far out on the painless sea. Meta
'eo altered much in two months. There wa
-, soft light in her eye rosy flush on 0er chez
."' as and the wearied toll worn look had vanlsh'
,ou. ov but the smile OIL her lips was always sad.
md MIS-. Clay in 5rocade dressing robe, was
, o ing on a sofa, reading "UucIe Toms SsDi
he and weeping over The misfor'unes OF Eliz'
and for Mrs. Clay hadone Of those peculiarly lot
Cen ed heads which could sympathlze with all ~
oan uar sorrow.
,in, Lena sat in richly cushioned rocking cf
Tel busy with her patterns, zepher worSled
velveis.
him Bu, she soon threw them down, pettlS
by exclaiming. "There, can do nothing m
so until have two more skeins of that part'
had lar scarlet and two more Of that light azure
her What shall do ought 10 finish 1t Tor
n a Ladies' Fair"
INK 81 don't know what you will do. Wh
,eIy did YOU select ?" asked the mother, LOOK
sob. up from her reading.
At one Of the further shops on Broadwa
go replied Lena. "l must have some more
the medlaely some way"
"You will have 10 go, Annelta," SAID
lime Clay, "the girls are all basy down stars
20 cannot be spared, and LenaS health IS TOO
icaIe To think Of going out IN such Slo
dsr. weather. and the worSted must be had lml
dia,ey."
said Net,a shuddered as she shut her en'rane
me book and looked out on the cherries SUI
Mrs. and ~ at the eaden sky from which Inc
me came steadily down, and mol one lady pei
tvian IN he eaen nm ihe street, HAh, II II