Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-06-19

beneath those fair. perfumed flowers petals,
sharp, piercing thorns were hidden" Her face
was pale as death, and those deep, dark eyes
moist with pearly tears
| saw that her heart was deeply panied ;
that swelling from memorys fount came pain
ful remembrance, and truly penitens | said,
Forgive my thonghtless words, and | promise
never to raise the veil from this picture, nor
paln you by my questions"
An intense smile stole over her pale fea-
lures, and kissing my cheek, she murmured
Dear child, perhaps some day may lift the
veil aud tell you all
Then turning away to hide her tears, let
me standing before the yelled picture.
| 1t was rather curious how / came to be
dweIler in the house of Mrs Thornton. Two
years before, when but fourteen years old,
came to New Haven to attend school, and soon
after my father leaving hcme for Europe, where
he expected to remain three years, intrusted
me to the guardianship of Mr. Howe, an old
friend Of his coege days. 1t was at the house
of Mr.. Howe, that | first met Mrs Thornton
She went but little into society, aud my guar,
! dams was one of the few families she visited
Her pale, expressive face attracted me, and
then, too, there was an ndefnabe something
IN her dark, lqull eyes, now so sad, aud glow
| ing with an Intense smile, that awoke all
answering echo in my young heart. She always
| called me to her side to ask me about my
! studies and when new book was announced
which she thought would be suitable for me to
read, she placed it in my hand with my name
engrayen Gu the lily leaf in her own hand writ
ing. Was it strange that my heart warmed
toward her; that her coming was looked for
ward to with pleasure, or that ctten begged
for the privilege of visiting her, in her quiet
pleasant home. My visits there were not very
frequent; aud when there We sat in her boudoir
winch was fitted up with artistic taste, and
having never been admitted to the library
had never seen the yelled picture
l had pleasant home with Mr. Howe'S
family, yet 1t was glad surprise when he said
| that | could board with MIS- Thornton, if
wished. and thought could b. happy there.
| Mrs. ii OF ton had proposel il, as Mr.. Howe's
family anticipated being absent from the city
most of the summer, and the following Satur
day removed to her house.
1t was my first holiday in my new home,
and [ had gone to the library with Mrs. Thorn
ton TO select IA book when on passing around,
my eyes fell upon the silk drapery shading the
walls in the furthest corner, aud was about to
draw it aside, when her exclamation prevent
ed me. | had promised n t to look beneath
the mysterious lo.dS o; t. at Siiken ye yet
was not satisfied; curiosity prompted me TO try
10 catch q hasy < limpse when Mrs. Thornton
was occupied, but honor farbade.
Summer and autumn passed, and the long
wuter evenings were spent in the cosy, cheer.
full library; and though | cast many furtive
glance to ard the yelled picture | dared not
question Mrs. Thornton, and began to despair
of the dawing OF that day when she would re-
late the history Of the picture. 1t was mild
evening in spring, aud We were sitting before
the CRATE in the library; watched the fast
dimmiug Goals that had burned low, while
Mrs Thornton with closed eyes, sat near in
the easy chair My reverie was broken by
the tremulous tones of her voice, saying:
Lillian, do you remember Jour mother p
Then | answered that, though | turned
leaf after leaf of memory's book, yet [ could
fnd no record of "a mothers love She died
when | was about two years Old, yet my faith
er had been kind, and, as far as possible filled
lhe place of both father and mother. My
childhood had passed happily; my father was
both friend aud Instructor, and my first great
grief had been when | was sent to school aud
| my IdiUeT Saieu lOT Europe.
"Was your mothers name Lillian p and
there was something iu the tone of her voice
that startled me.
"H Her name was FIora-Flora May. Was
| it not a sweet name ~
{" Very pretty" and the glowing intensity
of her eye, as met its gaze, made my heart
throh with strange sensation.
" can't tell where she was buried. Once
whea asked my father, ne said it was far
away, aud we would go to the place of my
birth when was older. My father was lonely
after mothers death that he sold his home i'll
New York and removed to Ohio. | have no
recollection of my first home, but shall ask my
father to take ne there before We return to
Ohio.
:" And your father loved his wife ?"
What strange question" said. Yet
she appeared TO have spoken without thought.
" If he had not loved her. do you think he
would have remained true to her memory ff
teen years"
81 have headache, and shall retire." Mrs
Thornton said, rising; and coming to my sida,
she kissed me tenderIy, aud with flushed
cheek left the library.
For long time sat gazing into the dying
Goals. Were her questions the magic key
that had u, locked the casket where the mem
ories of my childhood were stored | could
not tell Yet there came dim remembrance
Of lime when | was playing alone in the
garden, and strange face peered into mine,
as some one cIaspng me in her arms kissed
me again aud again. while my face was wet
with tears. n yer knew whence 81 cane or
whittier she went, and it seemed strange that
| dim mpmory shOnld come bark then / bass
ed, and q bright dream fitted before my wax
ing vision, my father would return in few
months be would meet Mrs Thorton she
was so gentle and winning he would not tail
to be pleased with her. and might be per.