The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-10-23

| was not pieHsuuN W seSs
"she was here yesterday. But tue ex'
cltement of the day wearied you, and yor
leli asleep upon the sofa. Are you aware
Mr.. Mrlrose, that you tOlk in your sleep?'
The bold eyes Of Albert Mslrose dropped
for moment under his wile's steady gaze
but t,3e next moment they were raised de-
family.
at was scarcely gallant Of me to slecp ~
YOUR presence. my love, and | apologize
But where have .you sent Cela"
81 do not know. We might as well un
derstand each other fu uy now. Celia il
away from my control entirely her proper
ty is in the hands Of a new guardian, and
do not know, and shall not know, where
she isi unless" and The mothers lip qulver-
ed, "she is III. If you were to kill lHe,
could not tell you any more"
"Kill you What sensational stuff are
you talking2 am not an assassin, though
you appear to honor me in your thoughts
by supposing so."
The rest of the breakfast was farce foi
both, but as Mrs. Melrose left the dining.
room, pair of half-closed, evil eyes follow.
ed her, while a low voice hissed
"Baffled this time, my lady. 1t had best
not occur again !"
Society spoke of the second marriage Of
Mrs. Melrose as one ofthose completely con
genial and happy matches seldom seen in
perfection. The appearance of the hand
some middle-aged couple was always a de-
light to heir friends, they were SO admiral
y at home in all society demands, so pleas
antly cordial to every one, so exquisitely
courteous to each other. 1t was whispered
that Roger Mclroso's fortune was melting
very rapidly in the hands of his successor,
his wife being too deeply IN loye to deny
Albert any qualification her money could
purchase for him, but no hint Of this ever
passed the lips of Kate Melrose.
Nine years had almost gone, and in two
months more Celia Melrose would be OF
legal age, aud her guardian would give her
property into her own hands. In all these
nine years Kate Melrose had not once look
ed into the face Of her idolized child, and
her face had grown wan and pale in the
weary heart sickness Of her hollow life.
But, one morning, standing 10 her own
room alone, she read letter that had fallen
accidentally into her hands, Mr., Melrose
had dropped it upon the floor of his Office,
where lawyers sign and a few books rep
resented all the business transacted. His
boy had brought the letter to the house. and
the servant there had handed it to Mrs.
Melrose.
With start she recognized the handwriL
ing. White as corpse, with staring eyes
and trembling fingers, she opened aud ica
it, Read it, to know that all the sacrifice,
the heart starving of nine years, was vain,
if within few hours she had not met the
second great emergency of her own life and
Celias.
She was not a woman to stand shivering
ami helpless when action was called for, ana
in less than an hour her carriage was once
more at James Carriers door, and she was
with the old lawyer.
In grove of trees, not far from the Semi
nary of Mount Hay, just before dusk, upon
an October evening", a fair, beautiful girl,
stood talking with an elderly man, OF great
personal attraction, and with a sweet, win
nlng voice. Two figures creeping softly to.
ward them, half hidden by the trees and tue
gathering twilight. heard these words:
"Your mothers coldness and indifference
must be proved to you, my dear child, by
nine years of exile from your home, and by
her present plan TO force you to enter a con.
vent.
"Oh, no--nol have no vocation for
nuns life should die, shut up forever in
a gloomy convent"
"Your death would please her well She
is not willing to introduce a beautiful child
to society, but fully aware that she must do
so, if she allows her to come home. Your
mother, Celia, is a heartless woman Of FASH
ion, who lives upon admiration, and she
will never endure a rival upon her own
hearthstone. l love you, dear child, as your
uncle and step-father, Trust yourself to me,
and will take you to q home where your
mothers inhuman plan can never bee carried
out"
At this moment an old gentleman, with
slvered hair, stepped into the small, clear
space where the two were standing.
Cecilia" he said, gravely, "it is scarcely
seemly for you to be away from the semi
nary at this hour, and with a slranGor,
The young gIrl blushed deeply, but in
stead OF greeting her guardian lovingly and
cordially, as usual, she drew back a little,
saving.
"Thls is my uncle and step father, Mr..
Carter He has come to take me from the
seminary, TO save me from my mothers
heariless plan for me-"
"Your mothers heartless plan lam your
guardian. your mothers representative, but
have heard Of no plan for you that was
not loving and tender"
as is tenderness to shut me in conventl'
cried the girl passionalely. as it loving tu
deprive me Of all love best, sunlight, flow
ers, the pleasures Of companionship, my
liberty?"
"Nine years ago." the old lawyer said,
gravely, "your mother put you into my
care. She worshipped you. Never was
mothers love stronger aud purer thau that
in her heart. But she tore that tender, true
heart, and put away from her, starving her
love, wearyins night and day for her chiid.
She grew old in her heart hunger, her health
broke IN hor starvation for her cnlId's hiss
and carsss. /, who nave kuown her iroun
an iutant, grieycd for her resolGiiou, but
never questioned her Judgment. Yet
never knew, until tu.duy,the reason OF your
Punishment aud her misery"
"Celia!" Albert Melrnse crioi, "why Will
yuu listen 70 that Old dotari? Can you Eot
see he Is influenced by his drsire 10 hohi
your property even after you are o' age ?
Come with me, dear child, away from theso