Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-10-10
Traey's Second W1Ie.
RY nELEN FORREST aRAyEs.

Tracy r
Frank Tracy laughed and Redeemed
a little as his room mate, Howard
Leigh, carelessly put the question.
"Blushing, ELI 2 pursued the latter
with a spice of mischievous malice in
his voice, "then of course | am to
conclude that you have been in the
charming society Of some young lady
"Your guess is partly right" said
Tracy lightly, "but the lady is a very
little lady. TO tell you the truth, /
have been spending the evening at
Mrs. Waltons, and playing with that
charming BABY of hers, | never saw
such little Hcbe in my life. Why,
| could have sat for hours with that
baby on my knee"
"Then | am to conclude that she
neither chewed your cravat ends nor
ierlSed at your watch chain, to say
nothing of crying"
"Not bit of it. She's the most
perfect little piece of flesh and blood
| ever saw in my life if / thought
she would grow up half as pretty as
she is now, upon my life I'd wait for
her"
"And what would Leonore Warren
say 2"
"Ah, what indeed I'm glad you've
recalled me to loyalty, though Ger.
tainly Leonore can't very well be
jealous of my tiny flirtations with
Mrs. Walton's pretty baby. Heigho,
| sometimes think I've made a mis-.
take in engaging myself to Leonore
Warren. She is as beautiful as an
angel, and yet somehow we don't
seem to be congenial."
"Rather late to think of that, /
should imagine, when the wedding
day is fixed and passage taken in the
European steamer for the wedding
tour. By the way, Frank, how long
shall you remain in Europe z"
81 cant say, some years l believe,
Leonore thinks residence in Paris
will be delightful. don't agree with
her, but brides you know, are priv
ileged to have their own way. I'll
tell you what, Howard, the prettiest
pink coral / can find in Naples shall
be sent to hang around the ivory
neck of Mrs. Walton's baby
"Frank, how fond you are Of chill
dren p
"You're wrong there, my boy-l
am not fond Of children, generally
speaking, but | don't know who could
help loving that little brown eyed
seraph."
Frank took up the newspaper as he
spoke, and the conversation gradually
merged into the all-entrancing subject
Of politics, foreign and domestic.
Twenty years have ebbed and flow
cd in the broad channel of time, and
Mr.. and Mrs. Tracy had Just taken
possession Of their elegant home, after
a long residence abroad. 1t was eve
ming. The gided clock on the mantel
pointed to the hour Of seven, the fire
burned clearly in the oruamented
CRATE, and the flowers in the several
vases on either side of the chimney.
piece were scarcely brighter in their
hues than the pictured blossoms on the
superb velvet carpet Frank Tracy,
who had changed from a handsome
youth into tall, stately man of about
forty, stood thoughtfully before the
fire, while his languid, faded looking
wife, reclined on a satin sofa in the
lustrous shine of the glowing chande-
liers. There was only one guest pres
ent TO break the monotony of the
coniugal tete-a-iete, and he was our
old acquaintance, Howard Leigh.
81 do wish, Frank, you wouldn't
keep drumming with your fingers on
that mantle, it makes me so nervous,
but of course you do not care for that,
exclaimed Mrs. Tracy, petulantiy.
81 beg your pardon, my love; |
was not aware that ! was annoying
you"
"Why don't the servant bring up
the chocolate z" pursued Mrs. Tracy,
elevating her eyebrows.
"Shall | ring and inquire ?"
"No, it isn't worth while. If we
had only remained in Ia belle Paris,
wh9re the servants understand their
/ business"
"Then you preferred Paris as
residence, said Leigh.
80, by all means, but Frank never
could be contented there. 1t is the
most absurd whim of his, returning
to America !"
"You forget, Leonore," said Frank
somewhat gravely, chat America is
home y
Mrs. Tracy tossed her head and
took refuge in a bottle Of smelling
salts. Her husband turned carelessly
to Leigh and resumed the conyersa-
tion that her petulance had disturbed.
81 haven't asked yet whether my
old acquaintances, the Walton's, are
living or dead You have not forgot
ten my penchant for the beautiful
baby"
"Oh, the Walton's disappeared long
ago from the current of New York
life. He failed, or something-blew
bis brains out, | believe. She died of
broken heart. La Belle was sent, |
understood, TO an orphan asylum,
where she has already sprouted up
into a gawky, red.haircd woman"
Tracy was silent moment, com
menting upon the sad facility with
which people slip from the cares and
memories of their friends in the whirl
of large cities.
All at once the door was thrown
open, and two or three rosy little
children bounded into the room, with