The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-03-29
Why She Had Not Married.

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best society in the village, and had her pick
of the marriageable men but her cold dig
nifty and reserve raieed an elIectual barrier,
keeping both society and suitors at respect
ful distance.
Miss Ventnor had resided in the village
Of Canton ten years, and the people were no
better acquainted with her than on the first
day she came among them. She lived in a
little vine-colored cottage, surrounded by
tasteful, even elegant grounds. The trim
servant she employed knew but little more
about her than the people. She nevermade
calls nor received any. She contributed to
several magazines, and spent a large portion
of her time in reading, although in summer
she worked hours, even days, among the
flowers in her garden.
One beautiful morning, as Miss Ventnor
was busy cuIling bouquet of flowers, she
heard baby voice exclaim;-
90, pity, pity iowers"
Turning, she saw child about three or
four years of age peeping through the rail
ing, with her tiny hands outstretched.
Do you want some flowers? Come here
little one.
The child entered the gateway, and with
out any hesitancy approached Miss Vent
nor. She was dressed in white material,
richly embroidered, and with q jaunty little
sun-hat shading her golden curls. Around
her neck was clasped a heavily wrought
golden chain, from which was suspended a
locket, almost too large and too heavy for
such a child.
One glance into those deep hazel eyes, and
Miss Ventnor, self-possessed woman though
she usually was, trembled violently with
agitation.
Little girl, what is your name ?" she
questioned, her voice sounding strange and
husky.
"Graoie."
"Gracie what? Whose little girl are you?"
"Why, papa's, of torse."
"Where does your papa lve?"
Giles 'taying up there in that big house"
indicating the direction with a nod of her
golden head.
"The hotel, you mean"
"I dess So"
"Aren't you afraid to go into the street so
far, and alone?"
The little girl looked up in surprise, and
shook her head.
"Not when papa and mamma are with
me all the time"
Miss Ventnor looked around, but to her
astonishment saw no one.
"Where are they? do not see them"
"IIere," replied the child, tapping the
locket with one tiny white hand. 81 don't
kiss papa in here much, but kiss mamma
every night Don't you want to SEQ 'em?"
Miss Ventnor knelt down, and with
with trembling fingers unfastened the lock-
ct. 1t contained lile-like picture of gem
tleman, with brown. wavy hair, deep hazel
eyes, and proud, aristocratic features, and
lady's sweet, child-lke face, with large
appealing violet eyes, and crown of yellow
hair.
She gazed longest at the face ofthe gentle
man, and look of pain swept over her face
as she noted the firm, almost cruel, lines
about his mouth, and thought of the words
last spoken to her by those lips.
Won't you kiss papa ?" asked the
child.
Miss Ventnor touched her lips to the
picture, then hated herself moment after.
"Now kiss mamma"
Miss Ventnor shook her head, while
hard look came into her dark eyes.
"Why not? kiss mammals picture most,
for papa's up there, too, and mammals only
in here"
"Where is your mamma?"
"Dead, papa says. They put her in the
dark ground, but dess they took her out
and put her in here"
"Dead?" repeated Miss Ventnor, the hard
look vanishing from her eyes, and a tender
pity stealing into its place. All that word
will stop the most bitter current of thought.
81 dess must go now" said the child,
"papall be SO scared"
"You never could find the way alone.
Come into the house and will send Katy
with you"
"Who's Taty?"
"Tbe girl that works for me. She will
take you safely to your papa"
Yes, I'll go with Taty.
After a few minutes Katy, good-natur-
ell, rosy-cheeked girl, stood ready to escort
her little charge.
"Remember, Katy, do not go into the ho-
tel, only in sight of it," Miss Ventnor said,
for the second time.
Every well, miss"
al need not have taken that p-ecaution,"
thought she, bitterly, as she entered the
house. at is not likely that he has any
desire to seek me-" she added, with a
sigh.
A few days later, the same little girl was
seen in front of Miss Ventnor's dwelling,
stoutly tugging at the hand of fine looking
gentleman somewhere about forty years of
age, in her efforts to draw him toward the
gate, and adding her voice in entreaty.
"Do tome, papa She lives here-the lady
that kissed your picture and wouldn't kiss
mamma"
The gentleman had seen Katy from the
window of his room, and supposed her to be
the person Oracle talked so much about, and
mentioned as having kissed his picture. lie
scarcely gave this a second thought, judging
she had simply done so to please the child,
because she had requested itj SO, as Oracle
would not allow him to pass the house, but
persisted in her entreaties TO enter, he thought
he would call and thank the girl for his
childs safe return to him. He entered the
gate, with Grace triumphanuy dancing at
his side, and walked up to the little porch
Katy stood at the entrance, watering some
plants.
"Good morning"
"Good morning, sir"
Il called IN thank you for the trouble you
took to bring my little girl home the other