Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-11-04
The Broken Pronsfse.

who had been Tor one happy year his
wife died, he had brought the tiny child
of their love home TO the old house un-
der the hill, and Mrs. StanhOpe had an
other ''Cliffey" to love and care for.
How chance does bring about eventsi
Scarcely had Cliffe Stanhope greeted
his mother, kissed his boy, and asked
after his father and old DObbin, when
horse came dashing into the clover
decked yard like the wind, and stood
quivering in the corner by the porch
when young StanhOpe went out.
Lying at his feet, trampled and COW
cred with dirt, lay mass of something.
1t was almost indistinguishable, but
the young mans quick eyes took in
Z a glimpse of sllken robes, stained and
torn, dainty foot. and mass of vel.
low hair tossed over white, still face.
In a moment he held the limp form
in his arms. and the horse, again excl
ted to fury, reared and plunged, and
attempted to run away with his added
burden.
But quick movement freed the
skirts of the lady from the stirrup, and
away the horse dashed, leaving the still
form to be taken into the house, and
cared for by its inmates, while the young
widOwer went over the hills after doc
tor.
The young lady was the daughter of
a reputed millionaire, who boarded at a
fashionable hotel in the adjoining town
and created quite an excitement in the
place by their fashionable, stylish dress
and manners.
The young lady, IsadOra Clements,
was one of those exquisitely beautiful
creatures whom most people see about
once in lifetime, and everybody Won
ders how flesh and blood can be so
beautiful.
No wonder Cliffe Stanhope fell in
love with the young girl whose life he
had saved. And she wondered that he
did not tell her of his love and ask her
TO be his wife.
Cliffe's first wife had left him a
princely fortune at her death, and she
had only asked of him a promise never
tO take another wife.
81 could not sleep In my grave If an-
other woman were to come into your
heart and home, taking my place." she
said, only few hours before she died.
And Cliffe StanhOpe called God to
witness that he would never, never love
another woman or take to his heart or
home another wife.
The child-wife died peacefully. and
her memory had been in the heart of
her husband until now, this beautiful
stranger had come. But Cliffe meant
to be true to his promise, and in spite
of the love which he could not control,
he said to himself
81 viii 90 once more to look upon
my dear old home, and the face of my
boy, and then I will go away, where
shall not meet the beautiful face which
is ever tempting me to break my vow
to the dead"
And when there was enchantment in
the summer air, he went down to the
farm to say goodbye. From the gar
den, where the roses were in bloom,
came thrilling sounds of baby glee and
girlish laughter. Softly he stole around
the house to obtain a glimpse of the
child before it should see him. He
wished also to look upon the face of the
girl who had awakened such a wild
passionate love IN his heart, which was
trying SO hard TO be faithful 10 the
dead.
A beautiful picture met his eyes as
she stood looking through the clump OF
yellow rose bushes. Upon the velyety
green carpet of soft grass the baby-bOy
now able To walk, was tOddling around
the great. red rose bushes, which were
scarcely higher than his own curly
head.
Isadora was hiding first behind one
side of the rose bush, and then the
other, and the delighted child would
walk gleefully to the side where she
was hidden, ana the moment his eyes
fell upon her he would shout with child
ish glee and rush into her arms, cling
ing to her neck and covering her lips
with kisses.
She IN turn would strain him TO her
heart, return his kisses, then release
him only to enact the scene again.
BY and by Mr.. StanhOpe drew gently
nearer and heard 1sadOTa say, as she
kissed the boy:
81 love you, little Cliffe Stanhope.
and 1 love to speak your name, because
it is his name. All, little darling! you
do not know that love you so dearly
because you are his boy. / love you,
Cliffey. and love your papa too" and
looking up she met the passionate eyes
of ClIffe StanhOpe.
With shrek she would have fled,
but he detained her, and almost before
he was aware of it she was held closely
to his breast and her head pillOwed
there, while he was telling her how
dear she was to him, and asking her to
be his bride and the mother Of his boy.
She consented, and bewildered by the
10y of the new love he forgot the old,
and with it the promise TO the dead.
Nor did he ever know that the gar
den scene had been rehearSed every day
tor week for his especial benefit.
Yet so 1t was. and the actress IsadOra
had seen him when he came down the
farm road, and knew that he was watch
ing her when she uttered those passion
ate words to his boy.
But they were married In a fortnight
after the declaration in the garden, and
Isadora became mistress of the stately
city home which had been the property
of his first wife.
One month after their marriage he
was obliged to leave home on business
of the utmost Importance. The credit
of the firm was threatened through the
rascality of one of their agents, and it
was necessary for one of the firm to go
to a distant city.
With real sorrow he tore himself
away from home, promising to return
within a month, No sooner had he
left the house than his wife ordered the
nurse to take the child into her room
and leave it there.
And after that day she attended to 1t
with her own cruel hands till the rosy
happy child was only a shadow or lts
former self, and the happy little face
was thin and the great, sorrowful eyes
looked frightened and sad. What had
she done?
She had given 1T laudanum to still its
blood, and when it awoke she bad met
Its cries with blows upon its tender hesh
until it was afraid to utter a SOUND,
and could only look its terror from the
wistful eyes.
ssI'n have you on. Of the way before
vour foolish father comes home, and
the property will be all mine. For L
can easily persuade Cnffe to make a
win, giving it all to me. in those honey
moon days,n she said, looking into the