The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-03-26
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ROBERTS FIRST EARRINGS

Gideon Lawrence shook his Saatsd ~ :: %.
he uttered the homely Ytiilca library. where
pacious arm chair in a Xron, n,ea the Selection
Judgment and taste Melons as we'll as as the works
OF furniture ana asX adorned the walls, few who
OF az. anu gehiIE in would have dreamed OF
might have io9kim yet to the old man, all this
was,.ns PiS 6fort only made his misery more
WSAitu Hnd the fact of ohildless old age more
R nIaIIae' contemplate.
q loneliness he exclaimed Il have no
~ in my cid age: may not longer remain
soHis rooin so filled with ghostly memories.
he weather is Indictment So much the better.
It will suit my mood, and, perhaps, cool the fe-
verish excitement"
Ere long he was battling against the fierce
wind that, at every turn, threatened TO tear him
from his foothold.
Gideon Lawrence was man OF wealth and
position in the community in which ne lived
His reputation for honesty was unrivalled, and
his word was as good as his bond but love and
respect are sometimes very far from being twin
sisters, and in all the large number Of those who
knew him, there were none who accorded him
that affection and friendliness without which life
IL barren indeed. He was of cold, irascible dis
position; unyeldng as adamant when once re.
solved careless alike of his own or others feel
ings and an implacable hater. He had married
early in life and when his wife died, leaving three
their welfare and faithfully performed his duty
by them In return he required the most abject
submission to his wishes, and was harsh and un.
Hinching in hls chastisements for the slightest
disobedience.
To children, educated in such school, was it
surprising that time should come when al OPP
en- rupture was inevitable. 1t came at last from
q source SO fruitful of similar estrangements-
the marriage of his youngest daughter, Baby
l. IL L., ~ ~, ~ =
eyer been known to yield oGo iota Of his strong
iron will.
But to his eyes her offense was of the rankest
Robert Fenton was young lawyer of high prom.
Use, spotess Ill fame, one i'll a word to whom q
parent might safely yield the destiny of his child.
But, to Gideon Lawrence, he broke darker
stain than could affect name or fame, in being
the son OF a man to whom he had sworn eternal
hatred, and whose death, long since, had not eff.
faced the memory of the feud. The young PEG.
pie had met and loved even before he had known
their acquaintance, yet the Introduction Of fur.
Their intercourse had been none the less positive
on that account.
Who shall teach forgetfulness to the young
hearts who once have learned the rhythm of
loves language? The prohibition was disre
garded, and ten years ago that night, Robert
Fenton. conscious of his own integrity, and Flor.
ence, relying on her lovers worth, and hopiug
against hope, had presented themselves to Gid
con Lawrence to ask forgiveness and invoke his
Blessing on the union that, within the hour had
been contaminated.
Never were bride aud groom met with greater
Goodness or harsher terms. Blinded by lmpo-
tent rage, wild with the knowledge of how
Utterly bis commands had been disregarded he
lowered above them in his fury, heaping curses
upon their heads, declared that az they this
night had made him chidess, SO might their
home be ever desolate that misfortune mi .ht be
familiar guest, and death knock frequently at
their door. In vain Florence entreated that if
he could not bless, he should, at least not curse
them her pleadngs were in vain, and with
Es,sgy heart the bride Of an hour turned from
her father door, feeling that his curse must bear
its bitter fruit, although convinced it was ut
least, unmerited.
The old mans rage was not even stated by her
exile from hs heart and home. Ascertainiug
that his only had not only sanctioned his
sisters disobedence, but had likewise accom-.
panied her to the altar, he sought him and from
that interview, the young mau, who shared his
Gathers uny yielding temper, had gone forth,
rying with him the b,ightlug breath OF his ath.
er's ma!.iiction, to die among strangers without
seeking or obtaining forgiveness
To his remaining child his manner had thence.
forth been ever harsh, and, embittered by what
he called his childrcn's black ngratitude, he
made her life as bleak and sad as his own, until
-udely awakened to the fact that she was slowly
fading, and that the grim visitor he had invoked
for his child was already knocking at his own
door. OF Florence he had heard nothing, and
never cared whether she was alive or not, until
he found that he alone, of all his kindred. was
lett, and his heart had soitened towards her in
manner ne had thought impossible; the old ob.
etlnacy was still uppermost, and for three
years he hadsa alone at his desolste reside tor.
tured by remorse and snavailing regret for
when, at last, few months previously, his pride
yielding TO his desolation he had sought for
Florence, he could find no clue to her where.
abouts. Despair and black remorse had then
taken possession of his heart, and he seldom left
home, unless driven FORTH as tonight, by bitter
memories and the ghosts Of the past.
"Say, mister, If you've got any bundles to car.
ry, let me have tho job" and Mr.. Lawrence felt
MS hand grasped, and looking down, saw child
OF some seven or eight years, who looked wst.
fully ~ into his face. Gideon Lawrence was
too busy with his own thoughts to heed the child.
out the little fellow was not to DO SO easily re.
pulsed. Just try me, mister, I'm sure Iii not
break anything you'll have to carry, for IN do
my best, which is all we can do, so my mother
says"
ne words, SO different from those usual to
chhdren allowed to run tho streets at that hour
caused ME-. Lawrence to give the speaker a Sec
ohu iooK, and his gaze met pair Of fearless black
eyes, quantity of dark clustering curls. and a
aaee that altogether seemed strangely familiar.
The chiid's clothing, though coarse, vas clean
ana comfortable, and his feet were encased in
STOUT, good shoes Altogether he showed care
that Is foreign to that class OF little unfortupates
VINO earH scanty pittance by such odd j,bs as
he now crayed.
SWELL my LITTLE man u,d NJ.