Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1884-02-14

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come to her as her best existence. Her
words came back to the old man now
Father, do you know anything
against Harry Church,"
"Yes," lac had answered, wrathfully /;
81 know that he is poor man, and
that he cannot keep wife as a daughter
of mine must be kept"
Anything else, father ?" looking him
steadily in the eye.
"No, that's enough he had thunder
ed "I'll tell you, besides, that il you
marry him my doors will never open to
you again, never"
lie met with n will as strong as his
own, that time. She did marry HIM, and
went away with him from her fathers
house. Mr.. Golding had known the day
the wedding was to take place, and dis
dained to stop it. He washed his hands
of Harry Church, and of Amy, his wife,
She wrote home afterwards, over and
over again, but Mr.. Golding sent all the
letters back unopened. Subsequent TO
that, they disappeared from town and
them. II was at least ten years ago
now.
IL seemed very strange that these
Things should have come back tonight
to haunt him--and with wild remorse,
a pitying regret. lie had done nothing
TO recall them. Could it be his sense of
failing health that brought them?-if so
what sort of anguish might he not look
for as he drew nearer aud nearer TO the
ending? lie began TO wish that he knew
what had been IN those rejected letters
whether Amy had been suffering for
anything that money could supply. The
next thought that struck him was, why
he had opposed the marriage so viru-
lently. 1t is true Harry Church had
been but clerk in his own employ; but
he was a welleducated gentleman, and
would rise with time. Faithful, intelli
gent persevering, respected-but poor
In that last word lay the head and front
of Harry Church's offending. lie. Jos.
eph Golding, was rich then he was far
richer now but he could not help ask.
ing it, what special good were his riches
bringing him? lie was an old man, the
span OF life running quickly on, and he
was all alone. Who would take hi. gold
then? lie could not carry it along with
him. All in momcnt-he saw it clearly
the dreadful truth stood naked and
bare: hi. life and its object had been
mistaken ones.
"All alone! al alone !" he kept say
ing to himself in a sort OF vague self
pity. I've toiled and worked for moth
ing''
But during this time, even nov As he
sat there, message of love was on its
way to him. Perhaps Heaven bad but
been preparing his heart to receive il.
lie heard ring at the door.bell.
Heard it without paying attention to it.
Rings were nothing to him people did
not come on business to his residence,
and of visitors he expected none.
Down went his head lower and lower
with its weight Of thought.
Meanwhile two people were admitted
into the hall below a man and a little
girl. The man took oil the child's
warm cloak and hood, aud she stood re.
vealed a dainty, delicate creature Of
some eight years old her golden curls
dropping softly round her face, with its
large blue eyes and its cherry lips The
servant who admi ted them, not know.
ing what to make OF this, called Mr..
GJlding's housekeeper, old Mrs Osgood.
The latter went into tfemor as she
came forward and look at the face.
"It's Miss Amy's child - she exclaim.
ed to the man, nervously. II couldn't
mistake the likeness"
"Miss Amy's that wa.," he answered.
Mrs. Harry Church she has been this
many year"
~ know. It's as much as my place is
worth to admit any child OF hers"
'You are Mrs. Osgood," !" exclaimed the
little girl. Mamma said ! should be
sure to see you"
"IIear the blessed lamb! And so she
remembers me-
"She talks of you often she says you
were always kind TO her nobody but
you loved her"
"Well, I I'D love her. The old house
has never been the same since she went
out of it. What's your pame, my pretty
one ?"
"Amy."
"Amyl" repeated the housekeeper,
lifting up her hands, as IL there were