Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-01-01
s New Years Surprise.
by FRANCES HENsHAw BADEN.

lQH steep HcNcf Nio tcu IiiA uuilDS
tflisse long, last hours of the old gear
nor the first of the infant successor. Al
tho best of times, when mans or wO'
n,an's heart is free from the burden O.
Hisapproving conscience, there j:
soEaething deeply impressive about
'-oH-year's night" AS we watch
passing, passing so swiftly, dying out
these last moments, how many a heart
is klled with vain regrets! But there
is Smother chance-a better time, we
say: the morrow we will begin anew,
make amends for the past, to him OF
her. Yet, O! if, with the passing year,
that one that we might have made
happier has gone too-gone beyond re-
calt-then ours are ceaseless regrets.
1t was not thus, however, with An
drew Foster. The particular one whose
| happiness he had marred still was with
him. Daily, he saw the face, once SO
bright and beautiful, growing paler;
missed the merry, bird-like voice that
filled the house with the sweetest mu.
sicl Yes; although she was fading un-
der his hard, unbending will, he would
not bring her back to life-aye; for
what is life without love? Constantly
during those midnight hours, as vainly
| he wOoed sleep, there would come in
steaG, the plaintive little face, with the
great beseeching looking eyes. Why,
because Pride said Nay. Could he, An
drew Foster, one of the wealthieet men
OF the city, give his child to one so far
| beneath lleI in position, and possessing
nothing but his good name?
Harry LandOn was one of her faith
er's clerks; and Gertie Foster, despite
the great gulf between them, grew to
love, with all the devotion of her ma
ture, the handsome young man. Ev-
cry one liked Harry, and respected
him; and no one in Andrew Fosters
employ possessed more fully his conf.
dence. Many times he would.remark
to friends, 'Landon is a fine fellowI a
noble fellowI' But when the truth
came to the proud father that this
young man had dared to love his child,
his opinion must have undergone a
great change, for he could scarcely re-
strain his wrath sufficiently to treat,
with any show of decent politeneS,
Harry Landon, when he came to him
in a manly, truthful manner, and told
his love.
Have you presumed to tell Miss Fos-
ter this, sir?' asked the indignat father.
No, sir. L came to you first, scarce
ly daring to hope you would give me
permission to speak. Still, there was
possibility, and l seized it. But am
sure Miss Foster is not ignorant of my
feelings -
tWby, why are you sure, SIR
sWhy? Oh, 81 why do the blind
know that the sun is shining, when
their whole being is filled with its
Warmth? Need we tell them what it
Is? Every true woman knows when
she is beloved. Her heart tells her. Oh,
sir, I ask you not to give her to me
now-not until can prove my worth
iness. But let me speak to her.
Impossible! never will consent.
'Tis useless to say any more on the SUBJ
ject. And after this conversation 1
suppose you will not feel so well con-
tented in your position with our house.
Il was about to ask, sir, if you would
give me letters of introduction to some
other establishment?
Certainly, certainly, Landon. / will
see that you have position quite as
good, TO say the least, as your present
one. IL am sorry this has happened.
L am your friend in every other way.
You must remember and command
my services whenever you wish
And so the young man and his en-
ployer parted.
Days passed until fortnight had
and Geriie had not seen Harry |
Landon. She missed him from the
store too, and with ber usual straight
forward, candid manner, she went to |
her father and asked:
Where is barry Landon, father?'
'He has left us for better position at |
DIack's,' answered her father, with his
eyes still on his paper.
why did he leave you, father" ! I
I heard you say you were going to do
more for him.
Andrew Foster raised his eyes then,
and looking sternly into his daughters, |
replied:
HE presumed too far on my friend
ship. and it was desirable TO both him !
and myself that he should seek EN-
elsewhere
Her beautiful, truthful eyes were still |
gazing into his with an eager, anxious
expression. She sunk down on a stool |
against him moment, and then Whis-
peTeQ, Will d oiuoIi SuiiuolH5 IEt prev
ty, child-like face:
Father, did he tell you he loved
YOUR daughter? And was it that You |
sent him away for?'
Yes, Gertie. He might have known |
[ could not listen for moment to his |
suit. He isl very worthy young man,
but really it was very presuming In
him to
sPresuming, father, in an honorable,
worthy young man to love me? l
don't think so. / feel hOnored by the |
love of such one. And, father, he has
told you his secret; L will do so too.
he may never know it, Il
love Harry Landon.'
There was much said between the
father and child, she gently pleading
for her iGve, he chiding and unyield-
ing. A gear had gone by since then.
Occasionally Gertie would meet Harry
Landon Oh the street. Once they stood
side by side at the church door, and
Gertie cOuldinot resist placing her hand
in his, and Notwithstanding the prob
ability of Mrs. Grundy's declaring it
very unmaidenly, she whispered:
Il know all. And though may new.
er be yours, / will never wed another
Harry was nearer happiness, then,
than he had dreamed of ever being
again. Now that he was assured OF
her love, her constancy, he would hope
and work on.
As Andrew Foster stood before the
window that New Years morning,
looking out on the passers-by, many
pleasant looking faces greeted him
with q smile, and Happy New-year,sir.
A moment more, and the room door
was thrown open, and his boy, his Oh
ly one, the youngest of his children,
came:running up, crying out:
Happy New-year for papa. Eddle's
o,,. x,oorJ, ,1ax- with na,u