The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1867-01-29

! TIE uOOT
Dead! no. Better if he were."
"No, no, father; you cannot have such
desperate news as that for me"
ANNA, you must tear him from y"n
heart, blot him from your life. Norris
Leslie absconded TO day with the funds Of
the bank of which he is president-be is
swindler."-
"But, father Harold"
"Eis son accompanied him"
She dropped at his feet as if the sentence
had shot her dead.
at is pretty mess, altogether" nut
( tered the merchant as he lifted the little
/ figure in his arms, and carried it to a sofa,
~aud nv little pet will be the worst sutfrer.
I'd like to have them for one hour" and
he ground his teeth together "Now, if |
cal! folks in, this viii be all over town to-
morrow, and I won't have Annals name
/ banded about in this connection. Forum
ately the engagement Is not much known.
Anna darling Anna"
/ But there was no answer to his loving
call As pale as death the girl lsy, uncon-
scious of her fathers voice and loving
caress. Crushing the bright dress and
flowers she had put on with such dainty
care TO please the eyes of him she loved,
she lay cold anI irsensible like crushed
/ lilly.
Anna! Speak to me, pet" pleaded
her father Il must call Kate Confound
the fellow
. Aud lIr. Leigh strobe of to the parlor
again, TO find bis sister. OF course she
had to be hunted up, as people wanted in
a hurry always Do, but he found her at
last, and, taking her place, sent her, with
whispered caution of quiet to the library.
Utterly ignorant of any cause for the
illness, the good lady was bewillered to
find her niece in fainting fit on the sofa,
as unlike the gay pretty little belle or an
hour previous as it is possible to imagine
Her womany skill and tenderness soon
put the proper remedies to work, AID when
the father returned short time later, lie
found Anna conscious, but evidently I'M
abe to face her guests again that evening.
all carry her up stairs, Kate" he said
and YOU must make the best excuse yon
can"
But what is the matter ?" inquired the
bewildered lady.
TO morrow-Tll tell you Tomorrow.
Go back now, and make the best story you
can. If she don't know herself she can't
tell anybody else" he muttered, as his
sister left the room. 'Come, birdie, put
your arms around my neCL, and I'll carry
yo. to your room"
). She cung to him fondIy. This was
love she could confde in, pure, true, un-
shaken from her infancy. Her little fig
=. ure nestled into his strong arms, as he
lifted her from the sofa, and her head sank
down YEARLY vet :rustingIy upon the
broad shoulder that never yet turned away
from Its pressure.
Yes" he said, as he put her on her
bed, and sat down beside her, ives, pet. |
see what your eyes are asking me, and |
will tell ~ou all l know. Better tell you
than have You in brain fever with con-
lecture. You see they cacu ate9 to have
a twenty-four hours start, as this IS hol!
day, but there was some suspicion reused
by Mr.. LeSIie's proceedings yesterday, and
to DAY some Of the directors went to the
: bank, too late 10 prevent, but in time to
discover the abduction. They went at
once to the house. The old gentleman
left early in the morning; Harold at noon.
1t IS a bad business. fit was only mon
ey los, pet, l would nor play the stert
father to your love, but disgrace has never
touched our name
"And shall not, through mel 1t will be
/. hard fight, father, but l will live it
down"
That's my brave girl! Shalr'-aud tie
loving voice sank to a whisper-''shaiI l
say a prayer Tor my child tonight"
4 "Here-now-Papa.'
/ And while the echo of the band playing
a Strauss waltz came floating up the broad
staircase, and the faint sound of moving
feet and merry voices mingled with the
, music, in the room above the father PRAYED
) that The young cir. for whose pleasure the
gayety had been awakened, might have
. strength to bear the sorrow that evening
had brought to her happy life.
4 Many of the guests had departed be-
fore the host entered the drawing room
= again, and soon the quiet Of the house was
unbroken, save by the stealthy feet Of the
i, servants as they made all fast before retir-
/; ing. In the cold gray light Of the early
} winter morning, alone in her room Anna
Leigh looked upon her dead past afl her
g. future. She was a very fairy in fisce and
e form, this little heroine Of mine; was small,
graceful, and wonderfully prett7. Her
deep blue eyes were chlldHke IN their frank
Innocence, and round her shoulders clusters
: of sunny curls fell Ike shower Of golden
! threads From her babyhooI she had
? known 10 grief. Her mother bad died be-