Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1885-06-19
The Life Secret.
BY COL. PRENT1ss 1NeRAHAM.

Clarence Kane sat in his sumptuouslv
furnished library, lost in thoughts evi.
IDENTITY unwelcome to him, for his hand.
some face was clouded and the stern lips
hrmly compressed, as he gazed yacanfIv
INTO the red Goals in the CRATE.
Enough forty years had passed over
MIN, neither form nor face indicated
mat age, for proudly erect and graceful
besides possessing dark, flashing ewes
waving hair and regular features. he
was strlklngly handsome man. appear-
ing scarcely more than thirty.
Reared In luxury, for his parents had
lett him millionaire when but a COL
lege student, he had never known nov.
erty through necessity, though a wander
ing lie OF many years in MANY lands
had shown him that there existed more
want and suffering than happiness and
comfort IN the world, from lack of the
almighty dollar, and his noble nature |
aided ever, where circumstances brou0bt |
him In contact with his fellow.bein in
distress. b IL
Three months before that bleak De-
cemOer evening when he is seated in the
library OF his magnificent Baltimore
nome, clarence Kane had returned from
a wandering tour abroad, which had
lasted Tor two years, and the cireum-
stance that had brought him home AGAIN
Is the subject of this sketch.
Sitting there in silent meditation be
was awaiting the coming of one who was
very dear to him, though no wife or sis-
ter had ever frightened his doorway or
made happy his bachelor home. Glar- l
ence Kane held the reponsibIe nosition
d guardian over young girl of seven :
cen, ana having received from the fair }
maiden a telegram that afternoon that
ne would be with him during the even O.
Ing' having left her boarding.school for =
ne CHRISTMAS holidays, he had re- a,
NAMED away from the club to greet q
er. IL
'If she had only stated by what train "
at what hour, she would arrive 40 ~
nat could have met her." he muir
lured, IN rather an ill-humored tone a
nd then, as the sound of carriage m
heels on the pebbly drive broke on his WI
II, ne started up suddenly and walked eV
llckly to the door, which was thrown al
lde open by the butler, to usher in st'
bright face, almost hidden, as was the or
nm, by warm wraps, for the night was OF
eak and cold. "'' att
''Juanita, you are indeed welcome ,' ha
claimed Clarence Kane. checking ha
mselt as he was about to enfold in bis
ms the maiden, whom, in the three ant
ars that had passed since he had LAST yol
held her, had grown from girlhood to me
)manhood. a
Thank you, my dear guardian. 20
ew you would like a little sunshine sPo
cold winter weather, hence I have ~, ~,
ne, laughed a musical voice from H.
leath the wraps, and as if divining + y,
reason why he had not embraced In y"
=, the young girl quickly raised her bo !
ltng, ripe lips for kiss. M, M
will not assert that Clarence Kane ui 81
never, in his varied existence. kissed a.
'Vely woman before, but be that as il o orU
?, he appeared a perfect novice on f ~ -
occasion, and was as awkward as a ~ j.,
oolboy, for his face flushed painfully. 81 a.
then turned deathly pale. Ill i.II
Ut recovering himself, he extended &c.
arm welcome to the maiden. and s oS-s
aided her in unbundlinR herself 20 -. - =
/ wraps, furs and hat, and his sur- W ,s IT
was evident as he beheld what a H.
imorphosed form his ward was. toi III
form supple, graceful and slightly Ills I
Q the medium hight, yet perfect in call 'ii.
!; face radiant with a strangely 800 S,,,ie,
mating beauty, for the eyes were 1 1.',,l
light in blackness, liquid in ex- DS "R
ion, and filed with slumberin0 NJ . ?
while the hair, rivaling them in ~ ~ 9
was worn in luxuriant folds around III, ~; !,
roud head, and confined by a mas r "ll,-e
Iilver comb. IGo9
undisguised adm ion Clarence " Ti Lo9
forgot his good teeding, and = 1 an
and gazed. ~
'hatP was this the q. of fourteen s Tpon
ID left at boarding-school a few 7 baaS5
betoreP" he thought, while the q D cro
OF his gaze, flushing crimson, said room
mildly: T me-. :,
:" please you, my dear guar cat
house
q a long-drawn sigh, Clarence knew
shook off the beauty-struck spell "WI
nm, aud answered honestly: forth.
anita, believed only angels could sfsW
you, your beauty !" stable.
anks; but your angelic ideas will ,sRis
tali, for I'll astonish you bv tho roo
8 what afinities earthly angels observ,
ss for' do you know, I'm al opened
'o, I had forgotten the pOlltsusss so 1SsiC Z