Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1880-11-25

NY Wlle, ohu do Heai "e l'oH@ip'0 III
the place of your mother to you
You are all old enough to took rea'
sonably at this matter. and though it
may grieye you, you know me Well
enough to know that 1 will permit .,c
unkind treatment of my wife.
They were all very qnict while be
was speaking, but when he was
through, Amy, who had been strog-
Cling with her feelings, conId restrain
them no longer but sprahg to her
fathers side With up!llted, tearfu!
face.
"Oh, papa, don't so socn-5o uoon
give her my dead mothers place! I
will work 30 hard daar papa
He interrupted her with
"You talk like child, ANY, did
not expect this from you. Let ne
hear &C more Oft"
The girl shra"k from the cold
words as from blow, and felt as if
she were dying, as she stood there.
! Then Mrs. Marcy arose, with the
dignity ofage, still holding Zoe's col
orless face against her breast and
spoke very calmly, telling him that If
he thought he could be happier, she
was for him, but proudly
when Hillside gets new mistress
ard Annie's children new mother,
Of course ! must change my home,
"There is no need of that mother"
said Mr.. Iangdon hastily; Miss
Crawford hersel. expresses a desire
that You should remain and take care
Of your children, and expects to de.
live much assst.nce from your ad.
vice.
The Old lady lil not answer. bnt d
sarcastic smile cnr':el her lips, for she
knew why this hal been sad kne v
thai it Was a part of Emily Crawford S
lcep laid plan. Sac sad 70 more,
but turning, left tie room followed
by the chi iarsn.
''to,ne to ne Xoe, said Ter father,
AS tAe girl passed him.
The instinct of obalience was
strong, and the child paused at his
side, bat her face was qvertel.
you don't love me Zoe," said her
father sadly.
you DO rot love nv mama she
replied anil, without looking at him,
left the room.
1t was not many weeks until Emf
ly Crawford called herself Mr.. Lang
don's wife-a position for which she
aimed months before She saw him
and for which she had schemed and
planned even before the death OF his
geutle wife. 1t would be tedious
were | to enumerate the various arts
Of this youthful adept in deception
1t is sufficient tosay that they sue
ceeded.
Mr.. Langdon need have feared no
outbreak from his children; they
were too well trained for that. But
there was coldness and estrangemeht
between the parent and children that
deepehed as the days went by.
They could not spmpathize with
him in that which formed the sole
burden Of his thoughts, and never
again was the beautiful sympathy
and trustfulness that had made this a
peculiar family restored. From the
day when the disclosure was made
until he coldly announced the day of
his nuptials, no allusion was made to
the event.
Two days before tie marriage was
to take place, his wifes mother left
Hillside, with many gloomy forebyd
ings for Aunie's children. Upon the
wedding morn, Zoe could nowhere be
found and it was not until late in the
evening that Amy, In her fearful
search, found the child with her head
upon her mothers grave, her dry,
burning eyes fixed upon the inscrip-
tion-
annie, beloved wife of Carol
Langhor."
No entresty or persuasion could in
duce her to return to the house, and
just as the happy pair were crossing
the threshold Of home, she fitted past
them in the twilight like wan little
ghost.