Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1865-02-01
A NHW YEARS STORY.

P"'eion VIII never leave one dollar of
J my estate to Lelian Delacy's children. |
said 1t on the New Years day twenty
years ago, when she left me desolate,
, chlldless old man to become the wife of a
low born artist.
well, Judge Carlton, of course you
can dispose of your property as you deem
best, sllll it appears 10 mo that when you
are conscious that your life is drawing to
close that you had better lay down all
enemiIies and hard feeling this side of
the grave. as they be sorrow and burden
TO carry beyond" She spoke without
fear, the brave, noble-hearted woman,
and she looked the proud, stern old man
steadily in the face. Judge Carlton win
ced little. The words she spoke wer e
facts which there was no laying aside, and
they confronted him now with terrible
earnestness. He gazed upon the calmly
beautiful face Of The old Doctors wife.
the only human being who would so fear
lessly have told him the truth. For once
the proud spirit of the old man recoiled
and when he spoke again there was a
change in the toue which told that the
words had struck home.
81 settled my mind upon that subject
years ago, Mrs Lawson, and shall not
alter my will. made in perfect health and
strength. because am, os you cay near
the grave"
81 do not know that you are correct
IN thus deciding. Judge Carlton it is
my opinion that our eyes are more fu lily
opened when we draw near the end Of
our journey, and we see many actions Of
our past lives in different light"
Judge Cailton did not reply, lie lean
ed his weary head back among The soft
danask cushions, galng with pardonable
pride upon tho igygly cenr before him.
The first morning O. .ac New Year was
peeping forth, modcstly clad in he some
bre-hued gray, but rs he advanced he ra
pidly change his hnes, each being richer
and more beautiful than that which pre-
ceded it; the ample grounds which sur
rounded tho family mansisn were emboII-
ished with works Of art, and all the Gle
gancies and Inquiries that wealth coIiI
procure. The foamiug river few yards
distant, rushing and leaping over its rocky
bed into the abyss below, like a seu Of mol
ten silver, with noble lakes in their calm
J Iepose, the vast forest land and beauti-
fnl valleys and the blue hills in the dis.
| lance, all combined to make "Carlton
! Hail. scene Of enchanting lOveliness.
So thought the owner of all this wealth OF
beauty. as he sat at the window enjoying
q. G fresh air of the Southern morning,
: and as the cool wind famed the old mans
brow. il brought over bis soul wind
from the land OF his youth, a soft perfum-
ed wind, stealing up and down the dark,
>asilent pathways OF his heart. Mrs Law
-. 1. IL, I, h - atNo,
his mind and women like, she had the
quick, sympathetic instincts which a
good heart and native delicacy bestow.
Judge, your little girl was left mother
less very young, was she not u
1t was years since any one hsd dared
mention the name of Lelian Carlton, in
her fathers presence. The old man
started, and shadow that was like a
(rown came and went over his marble
brow, but in moment he answered
"She was two weeks old when | received
her from her mothers dying armsI"
"And she was your only child the
second Mrs. Carlton had no child, | un-
derstand?"
"She was my only one"
After this there was pause. My old
friend, Mrs. Manvers, passed the day at
our house last week." resumed the clear,
steady voice Of the Doctors wife. per
haps you remember that she nursed your
child through long fever when she was
very young" ,,,,nr,,
with no show of interest.
"Well, she was inquiring for your iami-
". and smoke a great deal of your little
daughter, as she was at that time. She
must have been a very lively child, as she
described her; fancied | could almost
SEQ her. with the, thick, glossy curls OF
polder-brown floating over her dimpled
Shoulders, and her great blue eyes, full of
rnirth, her very lips and cheeks like the
carnaion No wonder you were so fond
ly proud Of her."
: The Judge moved uneasily in his chair,
and far off in the eastland of. his life he
saw standing the small figure and bright
face of his beautiful child. And over all
the years Of pride and bitterness which lay
between, his memory swept for moment,
and he forgot all the anger lying deep IN
: his heart os he sail; "Yes, Lelian was re-
markably handsome
"She was very like her mother, 50 thi
old lady said," persued Mrs Lawson &c
was very much lou ched when she
! told me that, one morning, when little
Lily started for school the first time, she
said she could see the little one just as she
was then; standing on the great white
step, her brown ringets clustering round
her pretty head, and her little hand slip,
ned in yours; aud how when she coached
the gate, she turned and called out, don't
be lonesome, papa, Lily woa't be long
gone" II is trAe to speak of, but II
touched me to hear Of the chlId's sweet
nraltle. and Il is pleasant to bring back
The old days sometimes to our remem'
brauco" ,,t.
The old mand leaned forward a liuis,
and frank 10 every word that dropped
from the good woman's lips. lie iorsol
| that sixty years had blossomed in ms gray
hairs, and burdened his steps; he was
once q ore a young husband standing by
The aide Of his bride. The door IN his
hoart creakej on their hard rusty hinges