The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-02-19

''Jh, Slf! Shc Salu pitrOuSlN, my
mother is lying cod and still, with all
The sweet life gone out of her beautiful
Body! You are kind and rich know
it is II great deal to ask, but if you will
Keep them from laying her in charity
grave l will pay back every penny you
spend.
The pleading, tear-stained face, the
childish, yet womanly ways of the self
reliant little creature, thus pledged to
fulfill a duty which would entail long
hours of labor, and days of anchOrite
abstinence before it could be accom-
plished, touched chord in Randolph
Gwinne's heart.
$50 home, little one" he said gent
ly, land mourn for your dead. Do
not fear; | will see that all needlul ar
rangements are attended to.
After all was over, Mabel settled
down again to her monotonous routine
of work. Every week she scrupulous-
ly laid aside a portion of her earnings
and carried them to Mr. Gwinne, who
took them from her with apparent in
difference.
The child had made contract with
him. and out of respect to her the man
oil business carried it out to the letter.
At last the final payment was made.
As Mabel turned to go, after thanking
her benefactor, his voice recalled her
to his side.
Little Mabel" he said, Il have
been an interested spectator of your
manner of life since you and | made
our bargain. | have seen your cheeks
grow pale for want of the food you
persisted in denying yourself, that
yon might bring your weekly hOarI to
me, and wondered ii one so Young
would be able to carry out so higf
resolve. You have succeeded, and all
your life long you will have it to re-
member. Now, your part is done, ami
mine begins. Give me your hand, my
child, for Randolph Gwinne respects
you. Nor than that he loves you
well enough to ask you to be his adopt
ed daughter. Come and make your
home with me. You shall have every
advantage that hOuntful means caG
provide. You will have no objections,
Chauncey, my boy, will you?' as his
grandson came into the room.
A few words explained his meaning,
and Chauncey turned his handsome
eyes inditfcrcntlv toward the heSitating
girl. 1t was not the first time they
had met-as Mabel was conscious in
every fibre of her sensitive being, but
Chauncey did not remember her.
So the careless but goOd-natured
''Of, course, grandfather, one more or
less does not matter in this great
house. sank deep into Mahels MEM
DRY, to rise again to the surface and in
tluencc her future long after Chauncey
had forgotten them.
SO it was that Mabel was domiciled
at the Gwinnes. A governess was en-
gagged for her, and music and painting
lessons soon occupied the time not en-
gagged in her studies. Thus year
passed on.
, ~0Re morning the daily paper was
brought us usual to Mr.. Gwinnc, as he
was Sitting at the breakfast-table, sip
ping coffee.
Suddenly an exclamation from him
arrested Mabens attention.
He had read notice asking for the
knowledge of the Whereabouts of one
Rachel Frceland, whose married name
was Wynne. Her only surviving pa
rent had died. and she, if living, was
sole heircss to Il large fortune; if dead,
ntE cnlluGtI WOtllu inherit
.'Well | remember poor Rachel
said Mr.. Gwinne musingly. She was
the handsomcst girl | ever saw. She
gave up all for love, and made a clan
destine marriage with man of whom
her parents disapproved. Posr Rachel!
| wonder if she is alive!'
Mabel rose from the table, and went
to MIR. Gwinne. She was very pale,
but her eyes shone with excitement.
''Rachel Freeland was my mothers
maiden name. Oh, my kind benefac-
tor, how little you knew whose child it
was you were befriending! But for
you she would be sleeping in a name
less gravel
Truly, the ways of God are mvs-
teriousn said the kindhcarted old
gentleman, taking off his spectacles to
wipe away the sudden mist that blurred
them.
Mabel had no difficulty in proving
her claim, as her parents marriage GER
titicate was found among some papers
slowed away in an old chest. So the
orphan waif adopted by Randolph
Gwinne was now Independently wealthy
in her own right.
Mabel was now fifteen. She had not
changed much in personal appearance
during the year of her stay at the
Gwinnes'. She was still slight and
rather understood. Her complexion
was rather sallow, and though her fea-
lures We're regular, she was undeniably
plain. Her luXuriant shining hair and
lustrous eyes, were, however, sufficient
to redeem her from positive ugliness.
Chauncey was still Il student, coming
home only for his college vacations,
and then burying himself i'll his be-
loved books, so that he was only visible
at meal times.
Suddenly Mr.. Gwinne's health failed,
and he was ordered abroad. Mabel,
and Miss Clay, her goyerness, accom-
panied him. They remained away from
home three years.
Then word came to Chamccy that
they were coming home. They We're
tired OF travel. and Mr.. Gwinne had
quite recovered his health.
Chauncey met them ut the station,
He was handsome and indiflercnt-loOk-
ing as ever, but was truly, IN his whole
appearance, a king among men to Ma
bells partial eyes.
As the little party he had come 10
meet drew near, ne gave MS STlhu-
father cordial shake of the hand, and
turned towards Mabel, to find himself
confronted by tall, stately girl, with
flashing dark eyes, set in a face OF such
lovelincSs that he was, for moment,
dazzlcd.
Il beg your pardon, thought it was
my cousin" he said, turning to the
other lady.
But when Miss Clay's familiar fea-
lures met his ewes, he asked:
"Whcre is Mabel? Have you left
her behind?"
Don't you know me, Cousin
| Chauncey?" asked merry voice be-
side HIM, and the beautiful apparation
he had mistaken for a stranger put out
her gloved hand in Il half-playful, half
| friendly way.
From that time the Young students S
| torture commenced.
Mabel, who had left home half
grown girl, had gained with maturity
I the rounded suppleness OF form as well
] Al