Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1878-03-23

's~>'SA, hhu hdu
Iervent KISS upon his hand AIr. Perc
laid his hand upon Percy's head, an
My son, this hour reveals to me a
unexpected pleasure-one in which re
alize more than | expected of my nobl
BOY. May God bless you. and euabl
you 10 NIL rlghteously, and with all du
PfoPriety. the honorable avocation yo
are about to accept
'oh, father, words are Inadequate T.
express the deep gratitude that NV hear
entertains for ysu;" and throwing hi
arms around HIM. Percy embraced hi
ialher, and left the room to report hi
success to Clara, who was in her moth
ef private chamber, having confiden
'iai chat with her. She gave to no
| mother every letter she received from
Tracy, and she felt little guilty for no
| having done so before Ever since Mrs
Morton had received the letter from Lin,
tnat 50 opened her eyes to the true stat,
OF affairs between her daughter and Mr.
Myrtle, she had waited. patiently. peye
aoubtIng but that Clara would cor,s t,
hcr win an open heart upon the SUB
Ject' and now that, true to her expecta
lions, she had come to her this morning
Tor advice. she felt grateful, indeed. foi
this expression of her daughters conf
ochce. Clara, at first, was timid and
Shy; put her mother put her quite a,
ease by kissing her tenderly. Then she
read the letters, each word clothed a,
1t were, with the duplicitv OF the man's
nature. 1t greatly enraged her, for she
snew that he was only trying to ruiz
lara from purel merceuery views. with
out one thought for the innocent hear
'hat ne would break, or the Young Lie
that he would blight. After reading the
lettcr carefully, she returned It to Clara
saying: .
Tins is Tuesday-on Friday Mr.
Myrie will be here. and from the charsc
Ter ol his las, letter suppose ne vii
make an offer of marriage. Now. wha
! nave TO say in regard to any propose
ne may make is this, do not wish YOU
to engage yourself to him | greatly pre-.
Ter that you will not marry for at leas,
one year for several reasons, the princi-
pie one being that you are too Young"
"oh, mama; had not thought of such
thlng as marrying" said Clara.
Gu may not have given the subiec,
a Thought, but if you engage yourself to
Mr.. Myrle it is natural that he may wish
TO consummate the marriage vows at an
earl y day. That is why wish YOU not
to bind yourself to him. Your UncIe
Ainsworth will take your aunt and Lima
abroad this fall. He pressed Mr.. Nor
Ton TO accompany him, and solely for
your pleasure he accepted the invitation.
/, rs well as he, anticipate a great deal
from this trip, which, without YOUR pres
ence. Will not be very ENJOYABLE: and.
beside, il Tracy loves YOU, he can ION
u.s. and 60 abroad, or he can wait until
your return. If You are still faithful
then, to one another. will give Tracy
u definite answer. which | will not do
before the expiration of a year; and l
trust that | may have sufficient conf
dence In you. my darling. not to enter
tam any fears of your acting otherwise
imam IN accordance with my wishes"
NO, mama; You need not fear me.
out rest assured that | will not disre.
Sard your request, tor you are so good
and thoughtful. so anxious to promote
my interests. that l ieel that YOU have
lhe power to arrange everything that
tends to my own special welfare better,
Il thousand times, than | could, were
to try always
10 Clara the prospect of travelling for
WnoIe year was simply delightful, and
urhlng E TO her mother she questioned
1er about their trip with an eacerness
nat both pleased and surprised her, and
she told Clara all she wished to know
aging:
I'VE will start as early in September
Is we can--probably the middle of the
hohth, Tor you know Lina's time at
,ousih does not expire until the last of |
his month. and it Is now about the four
eenth OF June OF course she will want |
o spend her two months vacation at |
lomc"
Here they We're interrupted by light |
ap at the door, which Clara opened. and
'und Percy standing before her, his
andsome face glowing with the rap
lre which she knew warmed the mo-
YES, the impulses of his very being.
lara invited him in, but he declined,
aylng he came for her, thinking she
'ould enjoy walk.
IL hat l would exclaimed the younp
irli wait one moment until | get nv
In little while Clara returned, car
'ing small bundle, which she gave to
ercy to carry.
'" hat Is thiS?' asked her brother.
charity gift ? Why, think
III Will have to JON the Sisters of the
icred Heart. that you may be sent out
charitable missions, you seem to be
lch an enthusiastic worker in that
ithusiaStic cause."
Thank you. am sister. and am
Ire there's plenty OF work for willing
indS to do, right around us. without 60
9 on special missions; beside, Mr. Percy, |.
intend to class you in the category with
omen tor betraying such an unnatural
gree OF curiosity
OF course both laughed, and Clara ex-
aimed that the bundle was something 9
r Nellie, her sick patient; and she !
ought while they were out she would
he 1t to her. AS she might be needing
contents, which, for some reason, she +
pit to herself. Mrs Morton watched >
EN- go down the avenue together, and =
ought that they understood each 9th q
5 disposition remarkably well. Percy n
d Clara went cheertully along, their =
lrlts buOyed up as 1t were. by the n
auty which smiled around them. The q
'sh balmy air seemed to intuse 10Y into \
ara heart. which was already filled +
overtlowing with happiness. but her G,
tie OF JOY was changed. ere long, to G,
OF sadness. for on reaching the cot II
re she found Nellie was dying, and /,
IN the little sufferer would be released II
III vital pain. no longer subjected to the III
ture which consumes the mortal q,
me, and she would pass through the bi
k valley, and the shadow of death, h,
| lay down the burden of her young n[
at the foot of the eternal cross Nell I'm
was still conscious. and the moment ri
t her eyes rested on Clara, shc beck r.
ID to her. Clara bent her head low. Fri
'rder to catch the almost inarticulate So
nds OF the feeble voice. which SAID: M
Miss Clara, am going. they saw. us w
ere the angels live. You have been ~.
rood to me that | shall think of you AT
IN l am at home up there-that place An
beautiful and so bright" Here the so
e, wasted hand went up, pleadingly, wi
Clara caught it in her own and ten or
y chafed it. A smile OF such perfect ba,
,e overspread the child's face, that its ae,
1tenance was beautiful even In death. ooi
lips opened once more, and from de-,
q issued one word Mother" Then nre
e was quick-drawn sigh, slight rat
ering of the half open lips. one brief the
ggle. and and all was over land little
les soul, as brig 6t star. was added A
e sacred arch, which oyerhanos tho