Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1875-12-28


Father, did he tell you that he loved
Your daughter? Aud was it thai YOU sent
him away for Ia'ssisustas q si7fa
.s-.sYes. Gefties He might have known /
mould not listen amomspt to his suit He Is
a very worthy young man but really 1t was
very presGming to him to-" -,
= aesP Presnming, father, In an honorable, wor-
thy man to love- me 2 don't think so. /
feel honored by the love of such a one. Aud,
further, he has told you his secret; Twill do
SO too. Although he may never know il, /
love Harry Landons' 'e q 'o'
u There Wasimuch said between the father
and child.i she gently pleading fot her love,
he Gliding and nnyielting. A,year had gone
by since then. Occasionally Gsrtie would
meet Harry Landon on the street Once they
stood side by side at the church door, and
Ger.ie could not resist placing her hand in his,
and notwithstanding the probability of Mrs.
Grpudy's declaring it very uumaidenly, she
whispered:
II know all. and though may never be
ycnrs, will never wed another
Harry was nearer happiness than he had
dreamed of ever being again, Now that he
was assured of her love, her cOnstaucy, he
would hope aud work on.
As Andrew Foster stood before the window
that New Years morning looking out on the
passerssby, many pleasant>looking faces greet
ed him with smile, and "Happy New Year,
sir"
A moment more, and the room door was
thrown open, and his boy, his only one, the
youngest of his children, came running up,
crying out: 10 sost
Happy New Year for papal See papa
Eddic's happy. New Years day, with new
clothes, new boots, new everything. sm
going to be ame,o bag, too. Gertie says every.
body must try tosmake somebody happy to-
day | am going to make Nellie happy, for
I'll stop teasing her. wish !-Oh, wish
mamma was here" His blue eyes fled With
tears and his lips quivered, and in sortowful
voice he continued: 81 wish had been
new boy when mamma was here" a ,a..4
Was everybody striving to place before him,
hold up for his inspection, his hsrshuess p
Was every word intended TO deal sure blow?
When the little seven year old Eddie spoke
of "mamma" Androw Foster could scarce re-
press a groan. foe .-r-4 .at5e-.
She vas gone. Two years before she had
passed from earth. Oh, if she was with him
how different he would boz He had been q
good husband, and the gentle wife could not
find in him anything to reproach. But he
knew how much was left undone. How many
sweet were forgotten then.
Again Eddie's voice sounded in the fathers
ear. arf.T 80 81
''PapaY are you going to be new man to-
day! Papa, make me happy with splendid
pair OF skates. And Nellie and Gertip must
be happy, too, papa. Make Gettie be new
girl, please, She won't sing and plGy with
us s. she's getting old, L believe." 's5,
No argument, NO pleading, no matter how
earnest, could have made such an impression
on Andrew Foster as that child's innocent
prattlc
Again the door opened, mud Gertie and
Nellie were beside Kim. The kissos were
given and received. The father saw his child
was striving to be cheerful, aud not cast her
shadow over him.
He told them all to speak their wish, what
he should give them that day. Eddie and
Nellie were quick to tell, but Gertie said,
with a smile that threatened to be tear:
"Give me what you choose, father. You
give me 80 much, 1 have no wish to speak
but" She hesitated-she almost dared to
breathe it forth. No, no; shO would not
wild hope, and continued: "Bring me what
you think ia like; 1 trust to your decision
After breakfast he said
"YOu will lay aside your deep mourning to.
day, my child, and help me receive my friends.
We shall have many, Lthink."
She promised she would; but her father
knew il would be an unpleasant task-that
GeEtie' would much sooner spend the day
quietly with her little ones, or in acts of love
aud mercy ~, :
The guests were all gono. The tiresome
day was nearly over. Gertie had thrown her
self weariIy into an arm chair There was no
longer ueed for dissombIing tho forced smiles
could die away she could rest aud weep.-
The children had been made happy. Her
father had given all save her the New Year
presents. She had not cared for any. but she
had held lingering hope that he might come
to her with word that would break the long
silence, that she might plead anew with him.
Andrew Foster bad closely watched his
child, as she did, with SO much dignity and
grace, the honors of his elegant establishment
And he saw through the mask she wore, never
SO plainly was visible the changes that the
last year had wrought N her beautiful face.
When he saw her sink SO wearily into the
chair, his heart smote him, and be went out
quickly. Possibly he feared, should he lin
ger. he might grow weak and relent.
Gertie heard the hail door close, aud she
knew her father had gone out for the evening
likely.
How long she remained she knew not,
dreaming. Not sleeping dreams were they.
Her mood of depressing had taken wings, and
she was smiling gently, sweetly. Visions Of
happier times were before her.
a cautious step approached. She heardit,
yet moved not nor opened her eyes She
wished not to throw off the sweet influence
which was over her.
He, her father, bent gently, lovingly over
her and murmured
'"she is sleeping and happy now. Gertie ~
he called softly.
"Fatber, I've not been sleeping" she an