The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1882-07-15
GOLD, NOT DROSS.
by K. IDA WILLIAMS

oA NJ LIZA MAbLlAMbS
My herione was just eighteen when she
met Carol Leighton, and so pretty and
winsome that there vas no disputing the
fact that Bertha Ashby was the belle of
K.
Many young lady would lave had it
otherwise; fond mammas eyed her ask
ance as dangerous rival to their daugh
ters entering second season, and looked
lynx-eyed if their sons choose 10 honor
her with their attentions.
1 suppose she was not a desirable
daughter-in-llw; though mothers usually
lack sympathy with the tender PASSION
in their SONS unless the Object of it be
like Hoods famous Miss Klllmausepp: -
and then how fond they suddenly be.
come of the demoiselle, though she may
have no more intrinsic value than lay
figure upon which to show off marvellous
toilets aud rare gemsl "She is Just the
one woman in the wcrld"-that is, in
their world; of course princess would
be better mate; but after them, this
butterfly of fashion would best adorn the
house of her young, perhaps dissolute
s'hopeful.
But with fathers it is different; their
sympathy is alive at once to the first
awakening in their sons; they watch the
I5feyeloping of it, step by step. with an
undisGuised interest, remembering their
own early notwithstanding at tired,
disappointed mothers, (for mothers and
wives are generally disappointed). they
think it would be refreshing to see rosy
cheeks and laughing eyes visa Yis at the
table; forgetting how much of the pallor
and yearning look from the tear. .dimme d
eyes has come through their own short.
comings. But pshawl women expect too
much; they expect-and Why should they
especially in this nineteenth century,
that the VOWS, men make in the days oi
their courtship are longer lived than the
mushroom. They really think the lover
lives in the husband, and when they find
themselves mistaken, accuse him of de.
ceiving them, and fret away their charms,
and wonder all the same that he can have
eyes for or fnd any woman tairer thar
themselves. For my part, pity men
and hope-but what is the use of hoping
in these days of enlightenment We know
we have no fairy god-mothers to give u.
what we want for the asking of it, and sc
wishing, and all that, had better res
while we save breath to seold if we fint
a button off or n sock undarned. But t.
my story.
B rtha Ashby met Carol Leighton a
an evening party, herself the PLANES
dressed, yet as usual the prettiest young
lady in the room. Young ladies in silk
and satins, who wore costly gems as erna
ments, wondered that the young lad,
whom they treated with plying conde S
eenSion dared come among them in
plain muslin and natural flowers, ant
thought every beau devoid of taste anC
breeding who in the face of their charms
would go over to her from them and ever
receive their snubs. Bertha could snul
young men of whom even breath o
slander reached her gr' ciously. Not on
of these young ladies would admit even t,
herself that she wa, jealous-but the,
unreservsdly admitted that they did be
lieve in the fitness of things" and i
Mr., Ashby couldn't dress his daughte
for the company she kept, she should keel
the company she could dress for: au(
though each at heart blamed her neIghbo
for keeping the yonng person in society
not one had the courage to take the LEAD
in leaving her of their visiting list. An
he father WIS such courtly gentlem l
t. at they couldn't do without him. Hi
only fault his eccentricity.
William Ashby had G me to K--somt
two years before, reuted small house
furnished it simply, put his daughter in
to the best school in town, paid as b,
went,said nothing Of Lis past, talking no
of his future, but living with frugal car,
that had stamped him in the town ofK--
as broken down gentleman" Wher
Bertha had finished her education, accord
ing to the regime of education prescribed
by the Misses Madden for the seminary
the young lady was introduced by he
fond papa into the society he frequented
Her charming simplicity of manner wol
all who had no reason to fear her as
rival, so it came about that those who di,
. dared not exclude her, for the very con
fession such a slight would carry; and S,
Bertha AsLby was to-night,a as many time
before, an unwelcome guest at Johl
Leighton's house at one of his sister
} charming receptions
Miss leighton felt keenly. and coul,
not conceal her uneAsiness when he
brothers ly son, @ rol, who by som