Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-07-15
The Charlington Hardness

Helen Charlington was as white as the
ermine cloak which she had wrapped about
her head and face Perhaps it was the
night air that made her shiver; but she
faced Doctor Warren Bolton with deter
mination which needed no words Cor its ex-
| preston.
''But Helen"
Listen to me. If you cannot come to-
night, do not come to me again anywhere.
1t is the end between us"
"Helen, Helen !"
Her eyes mad not left his face
HAre you going 2" she said slowly.
For an instant he seemed to waver; but
only for an instant.
~ am going, Helen, he said as slowly !;
''if you ever want me will come back to
you"
He doubted afterward if she had even
heard the words, so quickly did she turn
away from him. He caught the dazzle of
the brilliantly lighted room which she en-
tered, turned his face to the darkness and
the cold again, and strobe off where duty
waited for him.
The Charlingtons were called ga hard
| family" not from any social shortcomings,
but on account of their well known obsti-
macy. Seth Charlington was one of the
| largest manufacturers in Riverford, and in
| the numerous strikes among its operatives,
always held his own against them longer
and more successively than any other mill
owner. He had discarded his only son for
some slight disobedIence. Rumor said that
his wife, who had died when the boy was
born, had gone gladly out of home in
which she had never known happiness.
There was but one other child, daughter,
''the image of her father" every one
agreed, and the impression prevailed in
| Riverford that she was exactly like HIM in
disposition. A few who knew the facts
asserted that she had taken her brothers
part with such determination that both of
them had been ordered to leave the house
never to return to it; Helen being pre-
vented from doing so only by the refusal
/ of her brother to allow her 10 sacrifice her
self to his interests. That Helen and her
father were too much alike to agree was
well known, though their lives ran in such
different directions that they seldom
clashed. Mr.. Charlington's time was spent
among the looms and spindles of his factory
to which he would not wholly trust any
overseer His daughter was social favor
ite. She enjoyed life of singular free
dom, and with abundance of money at her
command, gathered about her in her
fathers house whatever friends she pleased
to select Mr.. Charlington was glad to
see any display, which could be made with
his money, although too busy IN making
more to take time for any comfort of his
| wn. .
Helen, after her engagement to Doctor
Bolton, found herself for the first time in
her life in a position where she was occa-
sionally called upon for some self-sacrif1ce.
For this her previous life had wholly un-
fitted her. Much as she loved Warren
Bolton, the new relation between them had
not existed six weeks before they had
many stormy times and words. He was a
popular young physician, with large
practice among the mill operatives, and
Helen, though neither jealous nor capri
cious woman; was exacting and unreason-
able She ignored the poverty and wretched-
ness of the world That there was good
deal or it she knew IN vague, general
sort of way; for Doctor Bolton, he was
content to have it 80. 1t would have been
his first instinct to shield her from any
thing disagreeable or painful, had she
needed such protection. But for himself
he reserved the right of ministering to the
afflicted, asking no help in his work, but
submitting to no interference. His own
comfort and convenience he was always
ready to sacrifice TO her, that of his
patients, even the poorest among them
never! and slight as the causes of their
quarrels had been, they involved prin-
ciple vital to both.
The old New England fashion of q
Thanksgiving dinner had always been held
in the Charlington family, and Helen's in
vited guests always made a gala day OF
what would have been in Seth Charling-
toms house very sombre festival. On
this particular occasion she had arranged
little different programme. The preced.
ing summer Mr.. Charlington had built 8
fine cottage On the bluffs by the seaside,
five miles south of Riverford, and 1t was
Helen's fancy to invite the guests, who al
different times had sojourned there with
her, to Thanksgiving party by the side
of the sea. Her father humored what ht
called one of her many unaccountablt
whims. The sleighlng was fine, the
weather perfect, and it would have beer
hard to find merrier party than the one
assembled at the ocean at that unaccus
toned season. But DR.. Bolton was absent
Helen had not waited for him. She hac
received note from him before they lef
the city, saying that business detained
him, and he should, ifpossibla, drive dowr
to the cottage later in the day. She wa
terribly annoyed at the disappointment
She had always made Thanksgiving he
greatest holiday of the year, and never be
fore had anything occurred to mar it
pleasure. vt.
seHeartless and selfish where l am con
cerned,' was the feeling with which sh
crushed in her hand the little note. 1t wa
surely too brief and curt to be loVerike
that was true, but Helen refused to con
ader under what painful pressure 1t wa
probably written.
/ The whole day passed without his az