The sun., 1862-01-06

.UNTEDDOWN
ny ms. ANN s. STEPHENS.
CHAPTER IT.

mother's house, busilJ occupied with . piece oi
needisvork.
Il was bright spring afternoon; tho window,
were Opss, she wind stole in fragrant with the
sosnt Of lilscs and apple blossoms, the trees In
Oh. little yard withou, svsyed TO and fro and
cast . network Of shadows across the grass plot,
WHARF the sunlight lay warm and beautiful.
Ths ham Of bees rowing among the carly how.
ers and select ng he blossoms with dainty
care, filed the atmosphere, q robin had p rched
himself upon the great maple tree in front Of
the porch, and wae pouring forth such guShes
OF melody that Il seemed mlrveous how any
one could hear It and 60 quietly on, with any
occupation whatever
Bat Clata Anderson scarcely once raised hof
oyes tut from the expression Of her face it was
evident that ber thoughts wero far from the in
tsrminshe . sesm that grew 40 rapidly under her
slender fingers. $40 80 sol mechanically. pro-
baby almost unconscious Of her task and the
sad thoughts In her mind hispered 80 loudly
that the CD. orfdl rotcs Of the robins were com.
plstsly drowned,
She was = lovely girl, although her p,lo fca-
turs lacked the gent enoss shich ia necessary to
a high type Of female beauty. Sho looked 10th
proud end passionate as she Eat there, robellious
and stern, as IL she were a war with her dosti
ny, and won d s'ruggle furiously with It rather
than settle into the monotonous quiet which
Il offered.
Poor girl che had becu fighting az linst dc7
tiny, almost from childhood, but possessed
neither the nerve or the steady ural orablo
will necessary for the strife
She was the orly daughter Of poor widow
the only child nov, Tor a few year. before her
ouly brother had died, a Will, di.sipl,cd Young
man, who had brought much trouble to the
parent whose prop aud comfort no oush' to
have been.
Mrs. Andcrs, had made every struggle to
give her taughtor al education, by which sho
could a, lear pl ,cc herself in q moro indtpen
dent position than she had found since hei
iu.bAnd's death ClA'a's natural talents were
good, her p,rc p,ions quick and she improved
the time spent at school. liut tho trihs OF
her mother part bad been hard indeed.
The giil'a own life h ii been no summer sol-
son OF cont-n'; when rot occupied with hor
school dutic- she had been obliged to assist her
mother in sewing, or in any other work which
tho old lady chsnc d 20 have on hand, aud by
which she gained livelihood.
Somewhs, more than year previous, they
hAd NOV od from their oil home to tha, pretty
village upon tho Hous ,tonic. Clara had cN.
poc;ed TO tit d tohool soucwhcro in tho yicin
ity, but after hor sons death tho old lady s
haalth gave way completely, and Clara was
forced g. remain a home Her mother required
much care, ard shs was obliged to teko ia sos-
i,g to exc ou' their slender income.
Her very leauty stood in tho WAY OF hcr uc-
G, ", oven in this humble object.
Of course the dau. .hters ct the village mag
nstos di,lk,d her NJ once aud yehomontly, and
probably more than one malicious report which
got abroad in regard 10 her sprarg from the
vory jealousy and i'll naturcd remarks Of those
girls romarks doubtless more frequently male
from though'lessness than deliberate cruelty,
but which worked the p,or girl as much harm
a. if they had been prcmelitatod.
The family Of Judge Lane was ono Of tn
veslthiest aud most prominent in the county
The father himself was an arrogant, purse. proud
man, and his two daughters r,sembled him ia
disposition. Their mo her had died many years
beior possibly had rhe lived, her influence
might have suf enod and cnnoLlod their charac.
ters, but that ctowning moIcy OF life. mo her
holy care, had been denied them. Edward was
the only fOn. noble hearted, impetuous, WrOng-
headed youth NJ ever caused q parent trouble.
Ills fi,her dit not understand his character,
aud work vi incaioulaNo harm hy his altornato
intuigeI ces and in-'im,d severity. II wa
during a village vacation that Edward mot
Clara Anderson, and the acquaintance snon ri
peuei into fervcrt attachment on bo b sides
They W,ro rot unlike ia the impetuo-i y and
w,fulnes', bu, Clara sdi,d to these ccncrou,
Ianlts AN Lnyi'lGiug pride, which would have
made hor prcl,r death to the suspic.on Of having
riied the wealthy young man into a loy,
match.
So 1t vas that when tho father and sisters be
came aware a. the attachment i.i idko harsh
Iy against her, the naughty spirit ros1 at once
She had parted ljly with Edward. bu' how
terribly she had suffered during his rhsor,o M
ore, not even her mother, ever knew.
She had passed long, dreary Wln'er; most
Of tho time Mrs. Anderson had been corlinod tC
her bed, and the poor girl was oiton compelled
TO watch all night and pass the ncNt day IN un'
ESmitting toll.
Work was not 30 plenty rs she could haNe q
wished; the amount gained barely sufficient fol
their comfort, and in addition, she was force,
10 endure all manner Of slight, and covert in
suits.
OF couIse, every young lady in the Lane SCI
were loud in tleir animadvorsionf Srl DO
nouno,d her as an upprucirl,d, d sl,mirr grl
She had seldom been invited OUT when som
Kind neightor did cN'cnd that courtcsy and sh
accepted it, the ciyiliy Wa, otly turned lot
an added torment by the gils sho mot, VIII,
were skilled like ali f,malc5 of tina, a,;o, in th
art Of tomontiug beautiful rival.
AId the sprinI had come, Ia, /; brousat lii
te hope or J, y 70 poor Clara. She had mlu
times card OF Edward, bu. the tilint onl
gave her new pain hey told ,' his rc.Sl,
ness, his bad habits, aud when he wrote To h.,
his Letters n'arly drove her mad with ,Aoir @.
treaties and litor reproa h.
1h' family bln ned her opsuly a the oa4-o
the yourg mans taul3 n,N,r one, tasus o..
G cnsidtration IA ir own tar,hrc.. nl unju
rratm nt, or IT th.y d,l. t .fi, m.A. lho'
uro litter asai-s Clara, NOR, de'e al 81 tina
siy ties b,twcll Lur end f.aat a..ub {
xhan, lac, W.