Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1878-05-04
. T. ID Il ENPTIoN
WOMAN'S POWER.
WRITTEN For THE ISTELLIGENGER.
CHAPTER XIII.

|
cool indifference forced upon Rand the
thonght of his going away without bid
| ding her farewell, cast 4 shadow on both
| brow and heart and. in addition to these
thoughts, his conduct made her checks
| burn with shame. Us it was humiliating
to her in the extreme to think that the
man whom she loved could so forget
himself as to angrily display his temper
before any lady particularly her mother,
whom she knew to be a lady of 4 digui-
ned nature and refined temperament
Mrs. Morton could not overlook this
breach of politeness; and though she did
not insinuate any such thought, by even
SO much as one word, her daughter was
quick to observe this. and more, stamped
visiblv upon her countenancc.
But love hides u multitude Of faults,
and when. u few days later. Clara re-
celved a long letter from Tracy, filled
with regret for his hastncss. and implcr-
ing her pardon, and promising to atone,
if possible, by submitting, in future, to
her slightest wish, her heart warmed TO-
ward HIM, and as might be expected, she
forgave him, and lost no time in ac-
quantng him with the fact.
| Mrs. Morton, however, was not so
lenicnt in her Judgment of Tracy's con-
duct-conduct ior which she thought
there was no excuse or palliation.
! More readily than the man imagined
did this woman read through his actions
on this occaSion-thc real motives by
which his behavior was actuatcd. She
had weighed the value ot his affection for
her daughter, and she determined that
the life and happiness OF her precious
child should not be given into his keep
ing ; and if, IN future, she allowed HIM
to continue his visits to her house, she
had motive--she wanted her daughter
to bs convinced of this mans littlcness
know him as she knew HIM.
Much affected. she felt sure as to the
result; tor she knew Clara would never
suffer her love to rest in the arms oi
treachery. Although now she seemed
fascinated by this man, whose manners
she confessed were engaging. yet she
knew when he revealed himself to hel
truly and fully, she iclt that her dangh
ter's very purity OF heart would cause
her to loathe and deSpi>e him.
Here Mrs. Morton tell to thinking o
Percy. whom she thought bestowed 6
little more care and attention on Glars
than was brotherly. The thought OF hcl
child being loved by one so noble wa:
pleasing. Clara was surprised that she
took Tracy's departure so calmly. anC
thinking it did not look loyer-Iike. mad.
an effort to squeeze out a few tears.
Presently 4 familiar tootstep WAS hear,
in the hall below. one that brought tn,
blood INTO her iair checks. Going to Tho
glass. she smoothed back the trcSses 0
her golden hair, and taking up heI
work she went below, and joined th'
family in the private parlor. When sh'
entered, Percy came forward to NEE
her, with visibly happy smile on hi
handsome face and il one We're to .judg
from Clara looks. she was also grcatl,
/ pleased.
f Percy was not always with them now
, for his duties rs a minister, weighty an
, responsible, afforded him but little op
pOrtunity of devoting his time or attcn
ton to anything that WAS not connected
in some way, with the great and hol
cause to which he had given himself 5
entirely: Yet whenever he could spar
h little time from his labor. he would b
sure to come home to spend pleasar
e hour or two. Whenever doubt or III
IS certainty agitated his mind, or 4 poe
: subject in his congregation was in trol
g bic. he always contided in his sister.
Clara was ever ready and willing ,
q assist him, and was. beside, an md
II fatigable worker in the vineyard
lie christian love and charity. Hers w;
= the guardian spirit that hovcred arour
the couch of the lowly and Athlete
1t was not strange that Percy recognize
Is in Clara a true help-meet, and II woms
>, worthy of the highest love that man cou
give; for how different was she from Il
ne many butterflies of fashion that,lluttert
n, in the breeze of high lie-womcn who
aim in lite should have been actuated
!, something good and ennobling. As
was, their thoughts, their inventive ia
n; ulties sought after nothing higher tn;
:, the vanities which the possession
wealth throws around one. But Cla
MS was not one of these; she never had
he desire to mingle with the giidv throl
,. of the ball room, or to enter into the
toXicating whirl of society. At first h
father was displeased with what he teri
ed 4 too reserved lite for one so youn
I'M for he was proud Of Clara, and wish
NJ her to 90 into society that she might W
de the position he was anxious she shou
-, hold. But Clara insisted that the excil
ment OF such lie was not pleasant
her Her mother, believing this trr
would not press upon her the tlresoI
h, obligations of lite in which she h
neither lot or part, but LETT her
x. exercise her own free will, which Cla
,w did as she considered most to her adva
. tage. She singled out, from the extt
ole sive number of her acauaintances. f,
ley gfrls.of her own disposition and habi
et and clung to them.
Il. Though Percy loved Clara,it was W
that hopeless love that looks not
return, for lie was aware that Clara W
''' receiving the attentions OF another. a
III came TO the conclusion that she was
oh gagged, as he could not think she wol
de encourage the addresses OF any one
ob mere pastime. No. she was too go
too free from deceit for that. Cla
ou was Ignorant of the sentiment Percy {
pei tertaiued toward her She had, Il
,e morning, received letter from Lii
who was now at her own home.
ion let her brother read it, and when he h
:an finished, asked his opinion OF it. Per
oils replied:
tsIt iS xyall ,yriftnn ho,,fifulIv 20