Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-11-24
full that Won had a jolly time when you

| N~~-~N y
were young"
"My dear" replied my mother, "of
one of my admirers, one who without
doubt loved me dearly, have been
thinking all day, but his love did not
make me happy; on the contrary, IL
gavs me more bitter grief than ut that
time I had ever experienced.
{" Emile Cardolet was lad of sixteen
years, but of precociously developed
mind and character. had known him
but a short time when il became appar-
ent that he had attached himself to me
with all { he strength OF ardent tempera-
ment did all l could to open the
boys eyes to the mistake he bad made,
but the endeavor was useless. He
rushed headlong to the end, and then
his self willed character played the rest
! of the act. He came to me the day be-
fore was married to beg, entreat, i'm
plore. beseech me TO listen to his love.
I tried to be gentle with him, but no
case of mine could alter the essence OF
my answer. pointed out to him that
l was twenty-three years of age, but /
loo ked so childish that my looks belied
my words. / told him that / might al
most be his mother, and offered him my
warm est friendship, which offer he dis
dained almost violently, and loft the
no use. For few days he was missing,
then we learned that he had gone be-
fore the mast, on whaling vessel which
was to be gone three years. He, an
cnly child and heir to a vast fortune.
had left all. Twas a nine days won.
der among his acquaintance, but /
could understand the nature that could
n OF bare its wound to the hand Of man
for treatment, but would carry it alone
to its God, away from society to the
wild, free winds of heaven for succor
and support. Prom that day to this /
have never heard of Emile Cardolet.
but am certain | did not offer my friend
ship to one unworthy of it, and that
wherever he is he is noble, earnest
man, albeit somewhat has.y and impetu-
ous.
Next morning mamma surprised me
wit b little hoard of shillings which
| she had saved from the fire and light
money, for Thanksgiving turkey, and
desired me to go to the market and
make the purchase. This I did, and on
my return I beheld gentleman on our
steps. / mounted them, with my tur.
key-lsden basket on my arm. The
stranger, turning toward me, naid.
"Does Mrs. Brentner-" then raised
his hat, and with sentence unfinished,
gazed at me an instant, while expires.
sions Of amazement and bewildcrmeni
chased each other over his face; re-
covering himself, however, sufficiently
soon to render an apology unnecessary.
Seeing his confusion answered at once:
"Yos, sir, mamma is at home" and ad.
dressed myselfto the opening of the door,
that he might have time to collect his
scattered senses; then added: "Will
you walk in? Can IfAke q meAAge to
mamma for you" He bowed, and handed
me little en- yelope directed to mamma
in turn utely showed him into the
parlor and sped to mammals room with
the note. "Ohl such handsome
fellow. mamma, such a handsome
fellow" I repeated, as mamma drew
forth the card bearing the name:
EMILE CARDobET.
Emile Cardolet," exclaimed 1; "Why,
mann ma, this is young man."
He must be about thirty-six," said
mamma, 81 will see him" I arranged
her silver curls about her frail face,
drew her feecy Grape shawl little
closer, laid the bunch OF bright pinks I
had brought her on the stand at her
side, and then ushcred up the hero OF
last evenings story and of my nights
meditations.
On entering he approached mamma
and bent over her dainty hand with
a manner almost reverentiaL Then
mamma presented me to him, and az
soon thereafter as ! could / slipped
from the room to wrestle with the, 10
me, herculean task of preparing a
Thanksgiving dinner. With countless
questions and doubts did | torture my.
self. II l had only kept that little
maid she would have known about the
Gre, and possibly about the turkey.
Then I could have gotten along well
enough. I could lay very respectable
table in mamma's room for three, and
our guest, IL he remained, need moi
[ hr--t It sss 4. 4