Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-09-06


ting there with her blue eyes 50 full OF
light, her fair, round checks kindled into
quick bushes, End her glossy, golden curls
flickering like lights about her face.
May Darling had been the only daughter
of a clergyman, who had been Tor more than
thirty yearo Installed over the south Church
in the quiet old country town Of Winsted.
The daisies grew over her mothers grave
before she could remember her; and about
the large grave clustered company Of small
ones telling the number OF her brothers and
sisters VINO were angels in Heaven. May
was The light Of her father'. eyes. She was
a generous, impulsive, fascinating little
creature. and her life was much like the
robins, which made their nests every May
in the branches of the pear tree that grew
close to the kitchen door.
She had just touched her eighth year when
Ralph Upbam came to the parsonage. He
was three years her senior, one of those Off
hand, sparkling, fun-loving boys that are
sure to be favorites with everybody.
He was the son Of the minister's Oldest
sisters first husband, and he WIS left quite
alone in the world when bis parents and his
step-mother were called away from IL.
So the kind-hearted clergyman received
him into his own family, and be became as
son to him and as brother to his child.
But Ralph caused his foster r-fa.her many
hours of anxiety and pain, for, despite all
his bright. merry ways, the minister could
not fail to discern the lack OF truth and fixed
principle which the boy SO frequently indi.
Gated, and without which there is no foun-
dation to build up a character either perma-
neut.y good or beautiful; and as the boy and
girl grew up to man and woma nhood, the
old pastor watched with vague regret their
growing attachment to each other.
He resolved to send Ralph to college, but
he passed all his vacations at the parsonage,
and, on his entering on his junior year, May
was betrothed to her cousin with her faith
er's consent.
She had blossonied, in that quaint old par
sonage, into a rarely beautiful girl-womau,
and she gave to Ralph Uphsm all ,he sweet
flowing fountains of her womans faith and
tenderness.
But terrible blow was appointed her,
for though Ralph Upham graduated at COL
lege with the highest bonors Of his class,
his conduct during the first year of his pro-
fessional studies made the clergyman with
draw his consent to his daughters engage
meht.
May yielded to her fathers will; but her
obedience cost her long and severe illness
from which she had scarcely recovered be-
fore her father was engaged to his wife and
his chiliren. Afterward May went TO reside
with an aunt of her mothers in the city, and
It was not strange hat her lovsliness won
her many admirers.
Her aunt, however, was judicious and
Christian woman, and softened and nourish-
ed by the rains which had fallen into her
life, the character of May Darling blossomed
into new strength and beauty. aud the man
who at last won her affections was one to
whom her father and mother in heaven would
have rejoiced to commit the earthly welfare
of their child. ss 4a4 tHa' n ~
May Darling had been for three years the
happy and dearly beloved wife of George
Denson, when one afternoon, on coming
out Of dry goods store, she suddenly stood
face to face with Ralph Upham. q
The meeting was demonstrative on his
side and embarrassed on hers, for May had
not looked on that graceful figure and those
rings Of bright brown hair since she watched
them go out Of the parsonage one May NOR
ming seven years ago, when she was the
betrothed wife of Ralph Upham. n
|, No wonder she was huttered and embar-
rassed when she looked into that handsome
face, that the o Id memories arose and knock.
ed at her heart. a.
Mrs. Dens"n had known little Of Ralph
Upham's career subsequent to their parting,
save that he was practicing law at the
West He congratulated her on her mar
riage, and to her inquiry whether she should
respond with like sentiments, he answered,
half g.yly. "Oh, no, May, l am an ordsined
ole bachelor, you know"
But the glance which accompanied the
words could not be misinterpreted. and shs
knew that Ralph Upham meant her to un-
derstand itlwas for her sake that his heart
could never, hold another love. ar s.a. -
He accepted her invitation to call, and
the next day-but you know this, reader.
Ralph Upham was a skill ul reader OF
human nature, and he was bad man. Per-
hsps not exactly SO, as the world goes, but
be was bad in comparison with truly good
and noble ideal. vsnity and ,selfishness
were the great underlying motives Of his
life. He was impulsive and susceptible,
capable Of rising into temporary apprecia
tion oe all that was good and true in man or
woman, but incapable of noble, persisten Mt
life. The stream was corrupt at the foun-
tain, and his was the more dangerous be-
cause of bis fascinating social qualities. No
man was q greater :syOrte with women, and
no man ever studied their hearts and char.
acters. their hidden lives, of emotion and
feeling with more analytical shrewdness
than he did. sYaia-9
He had conversstionar powers of no ordi-
nary kind. and as he was sympathetic and
reflective. he had a remarkable degree oi
social plianey and adaptation; he could be
brilIisSt, tender, gentle--whatever the time
and circumstauoes domanded-snd nothine
stimulated his vanity somuch as the know.
ledge of,his success in awakening an inter.
est in the hearts of women. and wicked anf