The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1882-07-01
AFTER YEARS.
BY ANNIE NOLAND.

1t was a dewy, bozy morning in Sep
tember. The village street lay dreamy
and quiet. was bnsily arranging my
little shopi ribbons, iaces, and such
triles must be made to look as tempting
as possible. This morning felt partic-
ularly happy in thus displaying my
goods, and when all was done I stepped
back proudly into my pleasant sitting
room, where I had pretty lace curtairs
looped lack from the windows and over
them tasteful lam brequins-made from
rich silk of my departed glory--and a
comfortable lounge covered with fabric
from the same boarded store; still, as
watched my goldfish sailing Industrious
ly about in tie globe, oil around which
flowers Were blooming, solilcquzed, -
Well. am just as much of q lady as
Mrs. Ashbury, who lives in the mansion
With towers, aud drives up to my humble
door in her splendid equipage, and
haughtily handles my boxes of ribbons,
but seldom finds anything which suits
her fnstidous taste. Yes, quite as much
Of lady"
So I sat down contcntedly in my low
rocker, and hummed an old, familiar
song cheerily as I looked out on fairy
form fitting gnvly about beneath the
naples, now turning scarlet and gold
was happy--happier than 1 had been
for long time. I nodded gayly to Daisy.
and wondered what could be going to
happen that I was so rpusaaily bright.
| Oh, nothing, of course-at least, nothing
pleasant. Everything had happened AMI
done happening me long since. Then /
wandered off into the past, and remem
bered the old heart-ache and heart-break
of long ago.
What if Fred and I had married? I
suppose I should have heen n lady after
his fashion. shut mp all day long in some
gloomy horse, with no company but my
servants; fashionable solitude in a city
honse, perhaps-my husband away from
home most of the time. Yes l felt quite
inclined TO forgive my quondom lover
| thst he never married me, but took him.
self of. So l had ceased to love him, ,aad
loved my little shop.
I am fond of color-adore all things
that are heautifrl. Fred used to say that
! was something Of an artist: hut then he
was great hltterer in those DAYS. am
delighted when the village girls come in
and view my pretty goods. and glance
with arch and bewitehug smiles into the
mirror. as they try the effect Of cardinal,
gold and blne. I seldom dream of a
bright life now for the truih is that Daisy
leaves me little time for building ''castles
In Spain" If she were nv very own, !
could not love the child more. Aud this
reminds me, kind reader, that must
tell Won the secret
About eight years ago. went to open
my windows one morning, when, in a
basket on my doorstep, I found little
Daisy. Where did she come fromp |
never knew. All the explanation she
made was to reach out her dimpled arms
and COO something quite unintelligble
to my nntutored ear. Everybody COM
mented Friendly advice WIS not want
ing with regard to the foundling and or
Phan asylums But 1 did not take any
advice. SIMPLY cnred for and loved the
baby, until ! think, had anyone come to
claim the child But that was altogeth-
er very unlikely, comforted myself
by thinking. / should just as soon think
of Fred's coming back again some day,
aud that is one of the imnossibilities.
Yes, Fred bad gone for good, as the
children say. Oh, how happy we were
in the long ago! aud drew tiny locket
from my bosom which always lay there
close to my heart-and saw the bright
eyes looking lovingly into mine, and the
curly hair clustering about the white
iorehead. Yes; too happy to last, as
Fred had said on the very last night We
We're together.
ITO lasl2" said 1. "Why do you SPEAK
50, Fred?"
My heart gave a great bound, for ]
suddenly remembered the talk that ,c
reached my ears about him. A fine ady
bad come 10 board at the village hntt /
q beauty, had heard, with a fortune al