Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-12-03
WILMINGTON DEL, THURSDAY, DECEMBER g. 1868.

the world to prove her fathers dshonor.
And so he read
Mother and child listened without a wor
or a cry to the reading.
''It is Julia's mother" said Clara at lust
"Wo must go to them" said her mother
I'VE will go to-day-now. You will e
with us, our friendf"
''Perhaps," thought Mr.. Cross, left to him
self while the preparations for their depar
ture were being made-"perhaps 1t will bl
as well for Clara to spend the rest of her day:
in the partial oblivion of insanity II si,
were not the daughter of man who had
nerve equal to anything that could happen
to mortal l w0uldh't answer for her rea
son one hour. But as long rs she endures
there will he no flinching in her child.
would to Heaven / had Bently here to see
these splendid women whom he cared
faugh! Lord is it possible the fellow killed
himself?-he must have seen something was
ahead that would ruin him."
How quietly affairs were moving at l35
Cottage Place! While these three approach
ed ON the swift wings of destiny, the house.
hold pursued the even tenor of its way.
Julia was etching; Joseph had come home
and was busy over bundle of papers; Mrs.
Bently was quietly sewing and thinking
who can guess what thoughts ?-when the
three appeared.
The door was open, and when they stood
on the landing opposite the occupants of the
room, II they chanced to lift their eyes, could
not avoid taking il the group at glance.
They did lit their eyes and did take in the
group at II glance.
'Clara my dear, dear Clara /" exclaimed
Julia, running forward the first words that
passed between them, whatever speech might
f0llow-the first words, all must bear wit
ness-were words of love.
"Thls is very unexpected honor" said
Dorcas, apprehendng in an instant the oc-
casion OF the visit, and, strong though she
had been In the prosecution of this business,
she felt for moment that she was not suffl-
cient for that now before her.
" intended 1t as n mark of respect" said
Clara's mother, throwing back her veil. She
had hesitatcd for moment, thinking, hoping
that Mr.. Cross would speak for her, and in
his straightforward, mans way explain why
they were there. And, as if under sense
of the fitness of such manner of proceed
Ing, MIR. Cross had attempted to do so, but
for the first time in his life he found himself
unable TO meet an emergency.
We are women she continued. "Ict
us not turn against each other. What years
you have passed through your hair is
gray came here 10 beg you TO understand
that we consider your evidence sufficient
my daughter aud |. We have left the house:
we give up everything. We do it, not be-
cause we must, though we must we do it
in the spirit which must have actuated you
all these yeais-for his sake, for human ma
tures sake. We do not question rights. We
are panied to think of what you have en-
dured But llc years have given yOn noble
children thai is great reward. Let us part
Ihank (nnn hay Ia.
say this --myself-so-you cannot doubt
She spoke these last words with less rapid-
iy than those which had preceded, and with
a fainter voice. But with noble strength,
which had the effect of proud trumpet's
half waiing blast, she ended with Let us
bury his Damt as we have buried his body
with honor"
Joseph had sprung forward when Cara's
mother began to speak as If moved by
spirit of flame. He had caught the meaning
CT these words, and would now have spoken
had not his mother laid her hand on his
shoulder, and said -
"My son, shall say nothing you need
blush to hear. Madame. IL these girls are
ike sisters, as they are sisters in reality, |
may we not be the same? l have not sought |
vengeance. have had no lesire to punish |
the innocent. 1 have sought for nothing
but my chldren's rights. And l do not |
claim them at the fullest, expected it of |
them That the would refuse any portion of |
what the law should give them unless you
should consent to division. 1t is for this
reason that up to this hour they have known
nothing ut all Of this wretched business"
IL was fortunate thing that at that in
slant the woman she addressed again
swooned away. This time il was Joseph
who supported her in his arms. When she
regalned consciousness it was evening, and
she was lying on Julia's bed. And there for
weeks she lny.
Perhaps it was that Clara might retain
without question the title of Hosea Bentlys
widow that Dorcas cOnsummatcd so speedi-
y her marriage with Mr. Troll.
There had been u division of the Bcntly
'stnte when Clara recovered sufficiently to
% nto the country. There was no return
% Beech Grove; the house with its entire
contents passed out of Benlly hands-they
who had owned it as eager to lie rid of it as
Dorcas was now to be rid of :he old farm in
Manchester.
The Bcntly estate proved to be worth
less than was anticipated. All
he irons had not been drawn from the fire
when that sudden death startled so many
ives. But there was still money enough to
make people envy the heirs, known and
Unknown.
Mr.. Enos never turned back from the
narrow path he entered. Julia told her sis
er Clara what she had done with her gift.
md added, :" | am going to give him myself
lext." When that huppened--a happy
went it was to all concerned-Joseph and
'lr. Enos we've in fair way to obtain
arge practice in the higher courts.
And so all this misery ended Docs it
rot seem as if "hearts prepared for any
ate" were usually prepared also to prove
Fate the weakest of the powers?
TIE END.