North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-05-13
d most that Kate should partake of her sor-

NaiuHei . Siauu pdIiys salu Maze 10 PeI
soon after her arrival s 1t is to be very fine
indeed, and you will see mich to make you
forget your sorrows, and you have had so
very much of late 10 make you sad, l am
sure it will be benefit to you"
Indeed" said Clara, almost sobbing with
| grief, for nothing could have been less oppor-
tune than to refer to this subject, " cannot
go to night. Really, You must excuse me,
| and will 60 some other time"
Not go to Mrs. Gardncr's Why, it will
be the very place TO enliven you % returned
Kate much disappointed.
"lndeed, dear cousin, cannot CO." was
the reply of Clara as she turned away to hide
her tears, and faster still these tears coursed
| over her pale checks as she sought the re-
| tirement of her own rom.
Kate was astonished that SIZE should re-
fuse, and secretly resolved not to extend am.
| other invitation to her if it was to he receiv-'
| ed in this manner, resolution which was af-
| terwards kept, though it was made less than
| half In earnest; but the gentle, unobtrusive
character of Clara was totally at variance
with the ambitious pleasures Of Kate. So
| sensitive grew she from the loneliness Of her
| situation, and the want Of proper Companion
| ship, that she shrank instInclively from OBJ
>ervatIon, gliding noiselessy from room to
room in the accomplishment of her selfim
posed Guties-a being whose presence was
telt by the inmates oil the dwelling, but sci
dom seen.
"You are living to much like a recluse,'
said Col. Hastings to her q it won't do
There's Kate, always where excitement is
highest. See, she is fixing now for party,
a picnic, or Irritation. Had you not bet
| ter accompany her?"
Kate turned to extend the invitation, but
saw no encouragement in Clara's eye.
81 am very happy as am" replied She
Il should he very foolish if | was not, with
>uch bountiful uncle to provide for me, and
as Tor to night, | intended to sing you new.
sorg if vcu would like to hear it,"
/" am always glad to hear you, my little
niece, " said he, but do not want to keep
you all myself"
Kate departed, and Clara soon sang her
uncle to sleep. She was ministering angel
to him. invisible, but none the less real, for
well >he knew it was his bounty which gave
her quiet, happy hone-for happy she was
at times, even in the shadow Of her Fl st
great grief. His slippers, his newspaper; his
walking stick and oyercoat were always pre-
cisely where he wished them to be, and ma
ny Iltile attention, secretly performed, de-
noted how carefully his thoughts were stud.
led. Fhe Colonel saw her seclusion from
the world with evident regret and sought
many ways to relnstate her in society, but
all importunities were resisted. Had Kate
understood her delicate formation, and ex
ercised her power, she would undoubtedly
have wrought change in her character +; but
instead Of this, she came to lock upon her,
from long habit, as something connected
with the household, and thinking, perhaps,
that her own duties would be better perform
ed IN such hands, passed them quietly over
to her, who. unmurmuring, did every thing
assigned her, and much more. Often when
visitors were expected would her taste b, re-
qulsite in the arrangement Of the viands or
the evenings programme of amusement, but
when those yiands were discussed, she heard
not the praises lavlshed upon hem, nor did
she participate in the pleasures which fol-
lowed. She found ample reward in some
volume from her uncle's library, for all which
she had done
:" think our Clara must have awakened
from her hermit propensities," said the Colo
mel one evening as he glanced ovef his quar-
ly bills and found many costly articles
g These nicknacks cannet surely all be meant
tor Kate Ii is all right, however, aed am
glad of it. I'll congratulate her at once on
her entrance into society" So saying he
summoned his niece.
HClara," said he, showing the bills, in
stead of having any objections to this, am
glad of it. Don't blush - observed he, re-
marking the color in her cheeks, for she saw
the footing was quite formidable, ana knew
the whole expense had been incurred by
Kate. Your cousin spends more in an af-
lcrnoon than you do in year, and it is my
wish that you have every thing you desire"
So saying he good-humoredly bade her sing
him song, which," said he, "will square
the bill, and leave me in your debt" She
did not intimate that he had attributed this
extravaganza to an innocent party, but COM
Piled with his request, and certainly i: must
have made him forget everything else, to lis
ten to her enchanting voice. 1t was true
that Kate had drawn rather heavily upon
her fither's purse. There was diamond
ring, for instance, costly shawl and broach
which might have been dispensed With, but
these were for given purpose, as the sevuel
will show.