Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-06-04

~ I'LL up ner soul anu uer bp1rltH TO CQecT,
And though the tears fall when she's silent and
lone,
She'll know it is best they are scattered and gone
Silent and lone, silent and lone,
Thy will . Father, not my will, be DONE
THE SECRET OF A LIFE.
Clarence Kane sat in sumptuous-
ly furnished library, lost in thoughts
evidently unwelcome to him, for his
handsome face was clouded and
the stern lips firmly compressed as
he gazed vacantly into the red Goals
in the CRATE.
Though forty years had passed
over him, neither form nor face in
dicated that age, for proudly erect
and graceful, besides possessing dark,
flashing eyes, waving hair, and regu-
lar features, he was strikingly hand
some man, appearing scarcely more
than thirty.
Reared in luxury, for his parents
had left him a millionaire when but
a college student, he had never known
poverty though wandering life of
many years in many lands had shown
him that there existed more want and
suffering than happiness and comfort
in the world, from the lack of the
almighty dollar, and his noble nature
aided ever, where circumstances
brought him in contact with his fel-
low beings in distress.
Three months before this bleak
December evening when he is seated
in the library of his magnificent Bal
timore home, Clarence Kane had re-
turned from wandering tour abroad
which had lasted two years, and the
circumstances which brought him
home again is the subject of this
sketch.
| Sitting there in silent meditation,
he was aware of the coming of one
who was very dear to him: though
no wife or sister had ever frightened
his doorway, or made happy his bach
elor home. Clarence Kane held the
responsible position of guardian over
young girl Of seventeen, and hav-
ing received from the fair maiden a
telegram that afternoon that she
would be with him in the evening,
having left her boarding-school tor
the Christmas holidays, he had re-
mained away from the Club to greet
her.
''If she had only stated by what
train, or what hour, she would arrive,
so that | could have met her." he
murmured, in rather an ill-humored
tone, and then as the sound of car
riage wheels on. the pebbly drive
broke on his ear, he started up sud
denly and walked quickly to the door,
which was thrown wide open by the
butler to usher in a bright face al
most hidden, as was the form, by
warm wraps, for the night was bleak
and cold.
"Juanita, you are indeed welcome!"
exclaimed Clarence Kane, checking
himself as he was about to enfold in
his arms the maiden, whom in the
three years that had passed since he
had last beheld her, had grown from
girlhood to womanhood.
"Thank you, my dear guardian; l
knew you would like a little sunshine
this cold winter weather, hence have
come," laughed musical voice from
beneath the wraps, and as if divining
the reason why he had not kissed her,
the young girl quickly raised her
poutlng, ripe lips for kiss.
Twill not assert that Clarence Kane
had never, in his varied existence,
kissed lovely woman before, but be
that as it may, he appeared perfect
novice on this occasion, and was as
awkward as school boy, for his face
flushed painfully, and then turned
deadly pale.
But recovering himself, he extend
ed a warm welcome to the maiden,
and then aided her in unbundling
herself from hat, wraps and furs, and
his surprise was evident as he beheld
what metamorphosed form his ward
was.
A form supple, graceful, and slight
ly above the medium height, yet per-
feet in mold; face radient with
strangely fascinating beauty, for the
eyes were midnight in blackness,
liquid in expression, and filled with
slumbering fire, while the hair rival
ing them in hue, was worn in lux
uriant folds around the proud head,
and confined by massive silver
comb.
In undisguised admiration Clarence
Kane forgot his good breeding, and
stood and gazed.
"What! was this the girl of four
teen he had left at boarding-school
a few years ago?" he thought, while
the object of his gaze, flushing Grim
son said, almost timidly, "Don't I
please you, my dear guardian?"
With long-drawn sigh Clarence
Kane shook off the beauty-struck
spell upon him and answered honest
ly, "Juaniata, l believe only angels
could possess your beauty"
"rhanks; but your angelic ideas
will have fall, for I will astsnish
you by proving what affinities earthly
angels can possess, for, do you know,
/ am almost starved?"
"True, had forgotten the polite
ness of a host in my joy at your ar
rival, but / will now atone for it"
And calling to servant girl he
bade her conduct his ward to the