The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-12-27
BLOOMSBURY, PA, FRIDAY DECEMBER 27 1878.

was continually planning some pleasure for
them, and interesting himself so helpfully
iu their affairs, little and great that they
felt him to be indispensable to them. and
made habit of running to him with all
their joys and sorrows.
They could not have found a kinder, more
sympathizing friend in the wide world. He
had known much sorrow himself-had his. |
ory of his own folks who had long known |
him said, in mysterious, pathetic way; but |
Whatever bitterness had been his lot it had |
certainly not made him bitter. 1t had
served rather to make him open his heart
wide to all who were called upon to suffer
as he bad done, or in any other wav, so that
he got healed by trying to heal others and
in his advancing years, instead of being A
grabbed, morbid complainer of life and Its
evils, he was as bright.spirited, tender an
old gentleman as could be found anywhere
in the empire. His mission seemed to be to
show experimentally how much brightness
a man may get out Of an ordinary, even a
sad and lonely life, and difFuse it amongst
others
He took peculiar interest in young peo-
| pie and their love. affairs manifesting
| playful yet tender curiosity that was almost
provoking to those who liked to keep their
secrets entirely to themselves. Over Dora
Gray he exercised sort of paternal control
exhorting and directing her in this, that,
and the other matter pertaining TO Henry
Carleton, in a manner which Miss Dora re-
sented sometimes by playfully snubbipg him
and fatty telling him to mind his own busi.
ness unless he was prepared to marry her
himself! But in reality Dora gave more
heed to him than she cared 10 show fol
in her opinion, there was not truer friend
a wiser, kinder counsellor in existence and
then who but he was it that introduced hel
to good Henry Carleton, and helped to far
the spark of friendship into the flame o
pure love, which now burned so brightly il
their hearts for each other, and lent sucl
warmth and beauty to their lives Henr,
Carleton was the son of an old LondOr
friend of Mr., Halley's, and it was through
mis- influence and interposition that he cam
to Dor3etshire, to fill the post of confidential
clerk to the first lawyer in the town wher
Mr.. HALEY lived. He had discharged tn
} duties of his office with great honor to him
self, and satisfaction to bis employer, to
! some four or five years and so highly val
: ued were his services and character tina
hints had been dropped of his being take
into partnership with his employer at N
, distant date.
Carleton was young man of twenty-tw
when he left London for Dorsetshire, and i
three years he found himself-thanks to Nj
Halley--engaged to Dora Gray. He wa
one OF strictly honorable principles, and sin
: pie, inexpensive habits and as Dora ha
, been most sensibly trained to be goo
housewife, and to thnk no more of dut
than pleasure, there seemed to be a pro-
pect of their being able to begin marie
life in year or two, at farthest, from the tim
of their betrothal. Dora had not much
expect from her father beyond the exceller
education he had given her. He had larg
growing.up family, which would be exper
, sive to him for many years to come; sti
Dora knew he would help to give her a con
Portable start in life; and with her hu
' bands savings of the last few years, and h
present fair income, she had no fear of tai
ing upon her the responsibilities of marie
life in the following spring. as Carleton
earnestly proposed.
a Hitherto all has been bright with then
- but now at the Christmas time, which Do
r had hoped would be such a happy one Fl
v them all, great mysterious sorrow was ov
n her, which threatened to darken all her
- ture. What could it be ? Half through th
# weary night she in vain tried TO find apswe
to these questions; and nothing remain
~ but to wait patiently for the morrow's rev(
y alton.