The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-07-24

that might call and go and defend my
uncle's case. left card on my office
door to the effect that l was taking my
usual annual vacation.
As the train sped along towards the
town where pictured myself as being
cordially received by the legal fraternity
as a noted luminary from the city. ]
certainly pitied my less fortunate breth-
rem whose names never got outside of
the directory. My thoughts finally re-
verted to my uncle and his stepdauGhter.
] recalled what | knew of his history.
Samuel Whitlow and my father we're
the only children of my stern, Puritani-
cal grandfather. My uncle had Inherit
ed his fathers nature, and continually
bewailed the degeneracy Of thepresent
time. The two brothers, who had ideas
so Numerically opposite, dfifted apart,
one settling in the city and tile other in
small country town. Sam Whtlow
prospered, married, and in a few years
was left widowcr without any children.
An English lady, Mnie.. Stanley, wild
ow with one child, came quietly and re-
sided in the town. She attended the
church regularly where my uncle offici-
ated as deacon, contributed literally to
the maintainence of the pastorate and
promptly accepted an offer of marriage
from the stern, high church member.
Two years of great happiness passed
when she died, leaving her daughter
Reba, then four years old, as 3 precious
charge to her husband. l heard that
Reba would have graduated with the
highest honors at the seminary, but for
some unexplained reason her stepfather
took her away a month before the time.
That was all knew of my uncle and
his affairs when the train halted at the
depot. There was no brass band to well
come the cosmopolitan lawyer, but a
servant was on hand TO take charge of
my luggage and show me the way to
Deacon Whitlow's. felt somewh hat
piqued at the absence of the worthy
deacon and interrogated the servant:
"The boss, sir wanted TO come, but
Miss Reba put him out by saying she
would enjoy meeting YOU, too"
Il would have been delighted to meet
her, too," | said, wondering why her
wish to accompany her father had caused
him to stay at home.
In few minutes Ireached the house,
two-story frame dwelling, covered in
front with trailing wistara vines, from
Which hung large punches of purple and
white blossoms. Several shade trees
with thick foliage grew in the yard, and
fountain, rusty and long SINGER run dry,
completed my hasty observations. p.
A tall, stern-looking man, with gray
hair, met. me and invited me in. lie
did not even apologize for sending a
| servantto meet me. .li.f.- 81 so
You resemble y6ur father: some
what,' he said, when We reached the
parlor. The gloom anG silence that
b7ooded in the house struck me as soon
as l entered. 1t grew upon meas my
kinsman client gave me the brief out
lines or the suit | was to defend. 1t was
a relief to go to my room up stairs and
prepare for dinner. l threw open the
windows and endeavored to break the
oppressive silence. "Why did l not
meet Reba? How did she look? Was
She afflicted to the point of unsociabil-
typ These Thoughts occupied my
mind until dinner
My uncle escorted me to the dining
hall. "Reba will be in presently, and
trust you will be iudlcious in your con-
versation with her." he said in slow,
solemn tone. We sat down and were
waited upon by two slow and somewhat
aged servants. was relating case
that | had won, the only one had been
successful in out of the few l had been
entrusted with, similar to his. when /
looked up and saw a beautiful woman
approaching. / was startled almost BY
the sudden vision, and kept my eyes
fixed in undisguised admiration upon
her She had large black eyes, fair com
pleXion and an expression that was love
ly and attractive beyond description
Her movement was poetry itself as she
came up and extended her hand.
This is my city cousin, the lawyer?
We shall make your stay pleasant, shall
we not, papa?"
"Hes, Reba, will do my best, but
city folks always entertain themselves,
somehow" he answered without look
ing up.
She took a seat opposite.
Gould it be possible" ] asked my
self in pain, THAT such lovely creature
was afflicted mentally? If so, what
form did it assume2 Was she epilepticl
and enjoyed sweet Intervals of TationpLI
life or subject to long fits ofabstraction9
She looked at me now and then in
sad, significant way, as If were an OBJ
ject of pity. l did not understand it. |
Perhaps the white tuft of hair that
adorned my head created compassion 10
her bosom for me. The conversation
was confined to local topics, the deacon
leading in dry an uninteresting style.
| did not cat much and felt relieved
when the meal was over. The law case
which had been uppermost in my mind
was now relegated TO a secondary place.
Reba, this beautiful, afflicted girl (she
was not quite 2I years old was the sole
cynosnre of my speeulalions. felt
irresistibly attracted towards her and
resolved to ask my uncle what affected
her mentality If he evaded the ques-
tion perhaps chance might reveal what
l sought to know. -fA
That evening we all three met in the