Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-11-21

]
much bnt still love him as father And
you will love him, Mark, as you come to know
him. "There was much wondcrment in society
when it became known that old Jotham Wilton
the retired banker had dsinherited his son;
and tie goSsipmongers had busy time of it
for a while Some said that old JOt ham had
done right others said that he had done
wrong, though they could not fully exonerate
the son. Others there were who, knowing
Clara, sided with the youthful couple, and de-
nOunced old Jotham as monster of the first
water. The more sober and rational ones
those who had known Jotham Wilton through
his long and useful career-were at a loss
how to understand the matter. At first they
were unwilling to believe that he could have
done such thing. as diseuhert his only child
1t did not seem reasonable. " OF three prom
iSiug children they said Mark is the only
one left to him : aud it cannot be that he has
thus cast him off" But, finally, when they
found it was really so, they shook their heads
and said that .Jotham Wilton was damaged
In the meantime how was it with Mark
Wilton Like q new being he stepped forth
from the Old inheritance, aud put forth his
hand to work for himself He remembered
his solemn pledge, and he was determined to
redeem it, lie said that BE would show to
the world, and 10 his father, an independently
seifSusjalniug man, and be ment to do it. Aud
then iu his lest new home he had an angel to
sustain him. BY every word and deed, and
10y every look and thought, did Clara seek to
su>lau and encourage him
For the frs, SIX mouths Mark made but lit
/ tie apparent hcauway. Yet he WAS yrrg dill
/ gent aud hopeful, aud laitered not, lie VAS
puuctnal at his Office attending 10 such bust
ness as was let with hun with faithfulupsS, and
devot ug all his leisure moments to study. In
/ his Office and at home he studied aud the
harder ne worked the more did be fad 10 work
4 for. HIS pride his pride was leading him on
pride, shurpened and intensified Icy resent
meEt- the most powerful incentive that could
/ have been given hun and he was determined
! TO rise 10 distinction. lie attended the courts;
. listened to the best pleaders aud then, when
alone with his wife, be held impromptu courts,
aud tried important cases over again.
At the expiration Of six mouths be was en-
/ gagged 10 defend party who had been sued
for trcspass in removing building belonging
to the plaintiff from land belonging to said
defendant. 1t was case involving somc nice
points Of law, out Mark Wilton proved him
elf equal to the emergency, and gained yer,
u.Ct Tor his ClieNt.
Mark had now gained the first ronnd Of the
laGder, and he kept his gaze fixed eagerly mp
on the top. Another case was soon gaiucd by
L.m, in the conducting OF which he displayed
such marked ability a. TO call forth the en-
comum5 OF the court.
When i became known that Mark Wilton
was rising nau, he had business enough but
he would not put his hand to all that was offer
ed. il soon became known in the courts that
| he was L conscientious man. And, further
more, it was discovered, as he did more busi-
ness, that he was puuctual, faithful and honor
able.
1t was an eniya6le reputation for a young
lawyer but he had worked hard to gain it
Aye-he had worked with, cut ceaSing. At
home, and iu his office, over his books and
over bis thoughts, he had been busy with an
eye to the one idea OF Ills life Step by step
he had worked his way tp, feeling, at every
advance, that he was coming nearer to the
station from which he could demand of his faith
. er such recognition as Que man is bound to
give another, who merits it in honor Ah
that was the high goal of his pride-to reach
a station in life equal to the one his father had
reached before him. o, how proud would he
/ be when he had gained it
But when he had gained it, what wonld he
be How would he meet his father how
! present the crown he had conquered He could
not tell He would wait Until the time come
And did he see his father during these years
of struggle Yes he saw him occasionally.
They met sometimes in the street, and some
times in the courts. They bowed aud passed
the bare compliments of recognition, but moth
ing more.
And how was it in Mark WiIton's home
Go ask the angels of Peace and Love, for
those were the angels that guarded the spot.
! A better wife mau never had. Mark never
regretted the step he had taEen-neVcr. And
I yet, sometimes, when the memories Of child
hood came back to him. bis heart would go
/ forth in yearniug after parents love. And
IN those moments he prayed that bis father
might live TO bless him. But he suffered not.
HIS wife read all his thoughts aud she minis
tered TO all his needs aud when she saw the
old recOllectiouS were upon him, she sound her
arms about his neck aud whispered to him of
the bright promises of the future.
Five years had passrd-fve years Of up bill
4 toll aud yet how rich III result. how freighted
I with reward that toll had been. II had been
most truly up hill ; aud far far up the hill had
he worked his way.
On the 18th of March, IS, the large
courtroom was packed in every part and all
over the country, where the newspapers were
read. were anxious people waiting to learn ,he
result of that day trial 1t was an action of
giant monopoly against the rights flhe peo-
pie, and Mark Wilton was for the defence
During three days the trial lasted, and during
those three days Wilton fairly outdid his own
hopes and expectations. He knew that his
fathers friends were there. He knew that
thousands were watching him, and that great