Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-07-26

tEIou 1Ou. 4Ou 0O0k4
not give us trouble. It will be like have
ing Helen back again"
And with the welcome o new life
opened FOR Alma. The farm was very
small tbs house old shabby and poorly
furnished; but her grandmother and her
uncle .1uId not sufficiently show theiE
love for the pale child WHO appealed to
them so strongly.
In this atmosphere of love, In the pure,
sweet air, Alma gained health and new
beauty, aud Tom, smiling roguisiiiy, no
ticed that Charlie Willard, the young
lawyer OF Tent Haven. found great deal
OF business III the immediate vicinity of
Hunters farm.
THAT young city chap That. has set up
sign over in ;nr village Is -nncOnmonly
fond Il milk, mother Tom would say.
81 saw Alma carry out IA tunIbler fall
four times tL''ay;' or, What can n
young lawyer find so very interesting in
feeding hens. | saw Young Willard twice
at tee hcn-house when Alma was feed
Ing tne nens.
But Alma did not heed the mild teas.
ing. A new, glorious happiness opened
to her when Charlie Willard joined her in !.
her walk or stopped at the farm. A man
of twenty-five or six he had been a close
student, had travelled at home and abroad,
was cultured and refined. He had met
many fair girls, but never one SO sweet
ana gentle as this little maiden who was
the grandchlld of old Mrs. Hunter. He
wondered sometimes when she fully
conprehended "A Latin quotation, or
spoke with easy familiarity of the works
of German and French authors, but
Alma was reticcut about her past life.
and Charlie, who had been but year or
two III Tent Haven, never doubted that
her life had been passed Mt the old
far!n.
Loves young dream gilded Ithe long
winter evenings and glorified the open
ing of spring.
TWAS a quiet wooing, Uncle Tom
keeping watch over his darling, grand
mother gently sympathetic, and Charlie
entirely devoted.
Bat with the summer days there came
change. Charlie came less and less to
the farm, and, when there, was quiet
and dull. never chatting in the old
bright way, nor planning for the future, :
with half hints of his hope as to who
would share 1t. Alma wondered; Tom
grimly watched for a chance to ask an
explanation; grandmother was sure the
poor fellow was i'll.
But one June day, when Alma was in
the woods, trying to still the dull pain at
her heart, by getting very tired Charlie
Willard joined her.
alma" he said, gently taking her
cold. trembling hands in his own, ~ was
going to run away, like miserable cow
ard, but l have resolved to speak out, I
must go away, because my life here has
become unbearable q
She tried to speak, but no words would
come.
oh he said, with almost groaH,
"do not let me think l make you unhappy,
too! Listen, Darlington are my darling,
my hearts love, Alma When | was try
ing by every device to win your heart,
was rich man. l thought | could take
my bride to u luxurious home, give her
al. money could buy for her, take all care
FROM her life. But have lost every
thing at one blow. My lawyer in New
York writes me that the investments in
voiving all my property have proved alb
solutely ruinous, l must work lny way
to even competency, and / cannot ask
you to bear the burden Of poverty with 4,
me-"
"let l will be your wife," was Alma's
answer, IF you will let me share your
life and your troubles"
But, dearest, 1 have nothing NY
practice here is u mere farce, and must
go where there is thicker population.
and earn my bread"
Let me go with you"
And to Charles amazement, Mrs. Hun
ter and Tom repeated Alma's wish.
"My niece can meet her own modest
expenses, Tom said, land she loves
you. l am sure she will be q help and
not burden"
And Charlie, dearly loving the sweet
girl, gladly made her his wife. He
scarcely understood himself, though
Alma could have told him, how c.
came to be selected as the city of their
future residence; but on lovely even
ing in July the young couple found them
selves upon the platform of the G.
station, and Alma gave a hack driver
some directions in Il low voice.
Owe are going to friends" she told
Charlie. "Hotel bills are formidable"
The friends house was a handsome
one, evidently newly furnished. Two
were in the hall the open door
of a dining room showed a tempting re-
past already spread.
Drawing her husband into the drawing
room, Alma for the first time told him
the story of her life.
"The lots that MF. Carter secured for
me proved to me very valuable, and he
has bought this house for me, and in
vested IL handsome sum in secure invest
menus lOf me, Ih1S Is our own house,
Charlie, and 1 trust we shall find happi-
ness here. l am sure, darling. you will
never let me feel that l am in the way
here"
Charles answer need not be recorded.
1t was ten years later when Miss Eliza
said to dear friend:
Eyes, the Hon. Charles Wizards wife
Is our stepsister, not our own sister.
She was a miserable, whining thing who
cheated us out of our fathers property,
and 1 never could guess what any one
saw to admire in her. She was always
lin the way here, and after running away
she never let us hear anything about her
till she sent wedding cards. New York
Ledger
A TImtd Shah.
From an anecdote told of his visit to
Berlin it would seem that that the shah