Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-08-19
New Series-Vol. 20. No. 80.

been for the misunderstanding with his
brother, Clarendon would have been
truly happy. AS it was, he soon ceased
to brsod upon it, and threw nimself.
heart and soul, into his work.
Lady Clariee was in reality well meas
ed at the breach between the brothers.
AlgernOn often spoke of writing. and
explaining all to Clarendon, but be was
one of those cheerful, easy-going. good
natured men, who always put off until
tomorrow what should be done to-day.
SO time passed on, and his loving broth
erly letter which was to heal the smart
was never written, for when least ex-
pected, the grim visitor came again to
the gaand old mansion. This time Al
gernon Vernon and his young son and
heir were the victims.
The proud young father was taking
the son out for drive in the country,
and CHANGED to pass where some work
men were blasting rocks by the roadside.
To all appearance they were at a safe
distance from the explosion; but one
immense bowlder was thrown into the
air with great force and fell upon the
unfortunate occupants of the carriage,
killing them instantly and painlessly.
So the proud Lady Clariee was made
widow and homeless at one stroke; as
her remainingchildren, Viola and Grace,
being girls, could not inherit the Vernon
property.
Clarendon was now Lord Vernon, and
his gentle wife was mistress of the state
ly home, which had been such a source
of arrogant pride to his sister-in-law.
IDid Lady Constance revenge the slight
put upon her (as she thought) on her
wedding day? Yes; in most effective
manner.
She wrote at once to Lady Clarice to-
remain until they should reach their
new home. Her letter was cOldly polite,
and did not give the slightest clue to
their intentions, so the stricken wife and
mother fully expected to be punished
for her former naughty indifference.
The meeting soon took place. Clad in
sable robes the widow and her children
awaited their arrival. Lady Constance
was also dressed in mourning. She came
in leaning on her husbands arm. She
was tall ;:nd to the full as stately as the
proud woman who counted her anees-
tors back to "a time before that of the
Norman conquerOr. But the wide dark
eyes, and the tender, smiling lips show
ed in her catholicity of spirit wanting
in the other.
"Clarice, my sister," said the low mu-
steal voice, your SORROW is our own.
Let us comfort you and these dear chill
dren by mingling our tears together.
Take your choice of any suite of apart
ments in the house. Your girls shall be
educated with my little ones, and it on
ly rests with your wishes to make us a
loving, united family; and when my boy
comes of age we will make an arrange
ment to break the entail by mutual con-
sent, as can be done between father and
heir, and your children shall have one
half their grandfather's estate.
Thus did Clarendon and his wife re-
taliate for those years of neglect. Their
words and acts of kindness acted like
the mythical Goals of fire. They burned
away the foolish old-time prejudices,
and melted the previously cold heart so
that it Overfiowed in tears which carried
healing with them.
In time Clarice grew to love the young
heir almost as much as though he had
been her own. He was but q babe in
arms when his father entered upon his
inheritance, and was still to be chTisten-
ed. They gave him the name of Alger-
non, which had been borne both by his
uncle and cousin, and, strange to say, he
reSembled his uncle far more than he
did his own father.
In time the plan for breaking the en-
tail was carried out, and Lady Clarice
and her children received One-half of the
property.
1t would be impossible to find nObler
boys than those of Clarendon, Lord YER
non, or girls of more patrician beauty
than the fatherless daughters of Lady
Clarice; and added to their other attrae-
tiOns are the ornaments of a meek and
lOwly spirit which they have acquired
by their love for, and constant compan-
ship with their Aunt Constance.
"This thought give you all to keep;
Who soweth good seed shall surely reap.
The year grows rich as it groweth old,
And life's latest sands are its sands of
gold"
So, as Lady Constance sowed the seeds
of forgiveness and forbearanee, she is
now reaping the fruit of the pure and
unallOyed happiness arising from the
wOrshipping affection of husband and
children. and of the helpless ones who
have been lifted out of dependence by
her unselnsh influence.