Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1871-11-02
WILLIAMSBURG HOLMES COUNTY, O. THURSDAY Nov 2, 1871.

ment, than if they wanted my ser
vice they would let me know. As ]
was leaving the last place the editor
gave me the address of gentle
man on-street, who frequently
employed copyists. followed the
| direction, and was soon in the prem
ises of an elderly gentleman, who,
when / told him what l wanted, sug-
gested that l should learn phono-
graphy, adding that if would learn
| it.. he would give me situation as
Isoon as l was competent to fill it.
| He recommended teacher, whom
engaged on my way home.
/ shall never forget the first les
son; the alphabet and outlines,
curves and hooks, looked like Greek
to ine, and l believe l should have
given up but for the fear of the
ridicule, which l knew would be
showered upon me at home so with
this stimulative preserved, and at
the end of q year l was able to re-
port. 1 presented myself before the
gentleman who had offered me the
situation, and my labors began at
once. 1 received larger wages than
l expected, and carefully boarded
every cent, with only one thought of
ambiSion-to free my fathers name
from dishonor. ."a
A year had passed away. DIR.
Clifford called frequently to see us,
making the sombre old house bright
with his presence. He always treat
ed me with a great deal of attention
and when we were alone there was a
tender Difference in his manner to-
wards me, that ] could not account
for. l had never tried to define my
feelings towards him. 1t was suf-
ficient for me to know he was my
friend, and that in trouble that
might befall me, / had one who
would support and comfort me.
| 1t may be imagined that but for
DIR. Clifford my sojourn there would
have been anything but pleasant.
Ny uncle and aunt rarely spoke to
me; Mabel never, unless 10 ridicule
or censure. So the days passed on.
My salary had been increased, l had
economical so closely, that already
1 had discharged portion of the
debt; but such close application,
was fast breaking down my consti-
tuition, and though 1 blinded my
eyes to the fact, it still remained a
tormenting reality. At the close of
a week of. excessive labor, l was
suddenly taken ill with typhoid fe-
yer. Dr.. Clifford was Immediately
sentfor, but when he arrived l was
unconscious. / did not see the anx-
ious face that bent over me, or hear
the soft, endearing words he uttered.
1 should have been q happier wo
man if l had. ...
For MANY weeks my life was de-
SPARED of, but with constant and
skillful attention, l was soon pro
nounced out of danger, and things
glided back to their old routine,
with one exception. DR.. Clifford no
logger treated me with the shy def
erence that had so long marked his
conduct. Love showed itself in
every slight caress, and fingered in
every look and though he had never
spoken of it, or asked to be his wife,
L read N'thc soag without words" !"
and its glad music filled my heart
with joy and happiness, making my
life, which had been so long dull
and cheerless, blossom with strange
beauty and fragra zee.
"Mabel, l want TO tell you some
thing; may l: - -
l think Harvey Clifford regretted
the question, or at least, the manner
in which it was worded, the next
minute, when he saw the flush of
pleasure, and the bright, expectant
Hook upon the fair face of Mabel
Gray. ..... ...-.
Certainly, Harvey. / am always
happy to listen to you," and the
soft, musical voice was tremulous
with emotion, and the white lids
vciled the dropping eyes as she an
swered him. If
"Well, Mabel, 1 have learned to
love this little cousin of yours, or
rather, l have loved her since the
first time saw her, and / want you
TO tell me if the field is clear, or if
some happy man has already won
the prize covet.
This was said with an assumed
play fitness, but there was a lurking
earnrstness in the voice, and Har-
vey Clifford waited anxiously for the
answer. .
"I cannot tell you, Harvey; we
are not intimate enough for me to
know, but even if there were no such
impedimentto your wooing, l should
be sorry to have you betrothed to
such q woman"
"What do you mean, Mabel?" and
in his eagerness he took her hand
and almost crushed the whole jew
eled fingers. For a moment Mabel
hesitated, for artful as she was, she
was not wholly lost to honesty, and
there was something in bold, de-
liberate falsehood she shrank from.
But against her scheming policy
and crafty reason, she had given her
heart unsought, into this mans
keeping, and, night and day plotted
how to win: and was this to be the
end of her labor? She knew his
great regard for integrity and truth,
and the temptation was too great.
q would not tell you, Harvey,
did I not think it my duty. Alice
intends to do right, / dare say, but
she is not truthful, and though we
have expostulated with her, time
and again, it seems to do no good;
and mamma has actually forbidden
me TO have any intercourse with
her." and her eyes met his without
wavering.
Harvey Clifford was very pale
when she had finished speaking, and
for moment Mabel regretted what
she had done.
"God only knows the disappoint
mcnt and anguish your words have
caused me, Mabel, for if there is
one thing l revere more than an
other, it is truth-loving woman.
All! Alice, Alice Gray, how could
YOU so deceive mer' and the strong