Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-10-05
a(llSttllaueons.
E DIT H

She was an orphan In her helpless ba-
gy.hood they laid away in the quiet church
ward the parents she was destined never to
know till they met on the shores Of another
world
Harry AinsIie and Herman Clay had been
intimate from boyh0od and it was with
feeling Of perfect confidence that the for
-er placed his one treasure in the arms Of
friend ere his feet crossed the dark riv-
s to Join those Of the idolized young bride
r,t gone before Homeless, penniless,
.ra,css, yield my birdling up to you,"
We're the last words syllabled by the white
.Es and well was the trust repaid.
Taken alike into the large old-fashioned
farm house, and the great, warm heart Of
is owner, the little Edith never realized
t4e .css that had clouded her earliest days.
Only one bud had opened by the hearth
stone Of Herman Clay his little Claude
gentle, fragile, loving with a face like the
l.en walked together through the years
mat led to womanhood Edith gay, affect
nate, content if only his hands would lead
.r Claude looking with reverent love on
.4ch toss of the bright little head or smile
the dimpled mouth caring more for ba-
" words than for all the world besides.
But rosy childhood fitted away at last
lhOugh her benefactOr was in the humble
walks of life, Edith was allowed a good ed
cation Claude toiled through the college
with limited means until at length the dar-
Ing wish of his heart was realized, and he
vas all prepared to enter the sacred desk
l the service of the All-father he adored
ind thus it was that years of struggle and
change had passed, ere the two again met
beneath the lowly, yet cherished roof of
home.
NCiaude had loved the little baby-girl
who had shared his early joys and sorrows,
4 us no wonder he worshipped the peerless
Hman Tall, graceful, with her round,
Il right face and raven tresses, she was
are flower in that old homestead ; possess
cd Of a warm, loving heart, although away
Gown n It's depths lurked the seeds Of that
.1yuon which had blighted her fathers
h -eath and life, and which needed only the
Tam OF temptation to bring them forth to
-.l
And Claude soon found that he was not
Tie only one that loved her. Often and oft
stylish horse was fastened to the next
.-.a that enclosed the pretty yard often
'-' often there was another who sought
society.
--aEes Warrcn-young, fashionable,
u ."',y-had left his native town to restore
> -aAng health had seen the farmers
1'eSS blossom, aud resolved to call her
NJ ->o"h. True, she was poor country maid
. -out such loveliness would grace his city
n '.Ie and Charles Warren understood the
d.. 1 winning woman's hearts. So, all
Il ,.e though he was, Claude learned to
-'s the sounds of that firm tread up the
n 7.'''Ied walk to shrink from the sight of
NJ n. n. proud head bending over Edith--hiS
Fl 'D l1r although he had never spoken
N 'eI Of love, 1t seemed as if he could not
n ,..s Aer up. At last he would summon
I"3e and know the worst
4 -'~u SO one afternoon when Edith sat idly
~e open parlor window window, Claude
N ''sIeu' lI took seat near by, and said:
Ioung Warren comes here often, Edith"
N r ,-s WQu9ht he spoke calmly, but the tone
III ~ 4a'ky and abrupt There was start,
.-yL .T and then the simple word,
4 q. .."1de did not pause He had begun
,., ask d * and painful though it was he would
N Hl+i nave u always been brother to you,
~~.' he went on. (how that word smote
# ~" may ask if he ever speaks
anS- a.I,e--ot marriage"
cnTi. III Doth = picking up a rose from the
@snu5 vine outside little nervously.
: y3r anu anu, Is that love returned, Edith ? Do
cent 'Ttnk L;, you will at some future day ac-