The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-08-14

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but little into society, and my guardi-
ans was one of the few families she
visited. Her pale, expressive face at
tracted me. and then, too, there was an
indehnable something in her dark,
liquid eyes, now so sad, and glowing
with an intense smile, that woke an an
swering 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 thn't
would he suitable for me to read, she
placed it in my hand with my name
engraved on the fly leaf in her own
hand writing. Was it strange that my
heart warmed toward her; that her
coming was looked forward to with
pleasure, or that l often begged for the
privilege of visiting her, in her quiet,
pleasant home. My visits were not
very frequent; and when there, we sat
in her bou.loir, which was fitted
up with artistic taste, and having never
been admitted to the library l had
never seen the veiled picture.
had pleasant home with Mr..
lIowe's people, yet it was glad sur.
prise when he said that conld board
with Mrs. Thornton, if / wished and
'honght could be happy there. Mrs.
Thornton had proposed it, as Mr..
lIowe's folks had anticipated being alb
sent from the city most of the summer,
and the next Sunday ! removed to her
home.
1t was my first holiday in my new
home, and had gone to the library
with Mrs. Thornton to select book
when on passing around, my eyes fell
upon the silk drapery lining the walls
in the furtherest corner, and was about
to draw it aside, when her exclamation
prevented. had promised not to look
beneath the mysteries folds of the silk
ell veil, yet | was not satisfied, curiosi-
" prompted me To try to catch hasty
glimpse when Mrs. Thornton was oc-
curic,l, but honor f"rba'le.
Summer and autumn passed, and the
long winter evenings were spent in the
cosy, cheerful library; and though l
east many Il fnrtive glance toward the
veiled picture dared not question Mrs
Thornton, and began to despair of the
dawning of that day when she would
relate the history of that picture. i,
was mild evening in spring, aud we
were sitting before the CRATE in the H.
brary. | watched the first dimming
Goals that had burned low, while Mrs
Thornton with closed eyes. sat near in
the easy chair. My reverie was broken
by the tremul"us tones of her voice.
"Lillan do you remember your
mother ?"
Then I answered that, though I
turned leaf after leaf of memory's
book, yet could leave no record of a
mothers love. She died when was
about two years old yet my father had
been kind and as far as possible filled
the place of both father and mother.
My childhood has passed happily: my
father was friend and instructor, and
my first great grief had been when
was sent to school and my father sailed
To Europe.
"Was yonr mothers name Lillian %
and here was something i'm the tone of
her voice that startled me.
"IIci name was Flora-Flora May.
Was it not sweet name %
"Very pretty" and the glowing in.
tensity of her eye, as | met its gaze,
male my very heart throb with q
strange sensation.
4" can't tell were she was buried.
Once when asked my father, he said
it was far awav, and we would go to
the place of my birth when / was older.
My father was so lonely after mothers
death that he sold his home in New
York and removed to Ohm. have
no recollection of my first home, but
shall ask my dear father TO take me
there before we return To Ohio"
" And your father loved his wife %
"What a strange question" said.
Yet she appeared to have spoken
without thought. eff he had not
loved her, her do yon think he would
have remained true to her memory fif-
teen years ?"
(" have the headache and shall re-
tire" Mrs. Thornton said, rising; and
coming to my side, she kissed me ten
DERBY, and with flushed cheek, quick
ly left the library.
For long time / sat gazing into the
dying Goals. Were her questions the
music key that had unlocked the casket
where the memories of my childhood
were stored? / could not tell. Yet
there came dim remembrance of a