The National tribune., 1890-04-03

her back again at once, and entering her name
for % more extended curriculum than before.
she graduated at IL, the most brilliant scholar
Of her college.
Since then she had been mistress of her
fathers house. IL did not occur to anyone's
mind that the austere MIR. Morton might ever
renarTy. The feminine community of the viii
lage went in some awe of the frigd merchant
whose conversation, save with few intimates,
was confined 10 a curt good day" They were
right IN the suppo5ition that Andrew Morton
cared nothing for them. He cared for no one
but his daughter; desired no other companion,
ne other housekeeneT than the quiet, ladylilSe,
weli-educated girl who, on tho morning after
his return from Stockton, sat opposite him at
the breakfast table, listening TO the details of
his trip.
We're there many passengers from the
tram Z" inquired Abigail, drawing him a sec
ond cup of her fragrant coffee.
No-only one man; aud one, / must say,
that particularly dislike. Guess who2"
Why, father" returned his daughter, with
smile, IF you had said it was one you liked
should have less difficulty in guessing, because
they are numerically so much fewer. You dis
like so many people, / might name half Thebes
and Stockton, too before j struck the right
one"
his was not u Thebes man nor Stockton
man" retorted her father. wiping his thin lips
with his napkin. 1T was a New York man
do you know whom mean now2"
There are good many men in New York"
said Abigail, evaSively, and looking hard at
her plate IN order to escape her fathers pene-
trating glance.
" Yes, but the number of them who honor
lhehes Corners with their presence is not over
wheimlng. However. there is no use our con-
tlnuIng the conversation at cross purposes in
this way; the mans not worth IT, Ny fellow
passenger through Spinneys Wood was Mr..
Willard Chapman"
perceptihle culver passed through her
frame, though Andrew Morton did not observe
1t. Joy because of Chapman's unexpected re-
turn. sorrow because of her fathers RvOwed
dislike of him, mingled their varying sensa-
tions so subtly that the physical result was pain,
keen, though evanescent.
wonder what makes that individual" he
laid cutting emphasis on the word, so fre-
quent visitor here. There must be some
PARTICULAR ATTRACTION FOR HIM IN
THEBEs."
II understood" she replied still carrying
on the line Of evasion, that he was % the
dry-goods business, travelling for a New York
firm"
Yes so was Informed" +" he returned, dryly;
but il doesn't take two visits i'm six weeks to
supply Ihebcs' Corners with dry-goods. How
ever. II doesn't in the least matter. Mr. Will
lard Chapmans affairs are nothing TO US, and
never will be anything"
distressing summary for girl to listen TO
from the lips of her father concerning the man
10 whom she is engaged.
The chill of the coming Autumn time was
on them; cold rain fell, dashing angrily
against the panes.
Where's my umbrella2" asked her father.
as he donned his hat and light overcoat in the
hall. :" Clara, bring me my umbrella"
Al his call young girl ran in from tho
kitchen, bringing with her the article in ques-
tion, whereupon Mr.. Morton took his umbrella
aud LEFT the house
After satisfying herself, by observation from
the front parlor window. that Mr.. Morton was
completely out Of carshot and we'll of along
the street. the girl turned quickly clasped her
hands closely, aud exclaimed, in q nervous tone
Of voice:
My gracious, Miss Abby! amt he down on
Will Chapman
Clara Romainc," calculated Abigail Nor
ton, " told you once before not TO use Mr.
ChaPman's first name, when speaking of him
especially ms you have inst used IT,"
Why, be told you the last time he was here
TO call him WILL and said ] might too, If
wanted TO-"
sec no reason why you should want TO-"
replied Abigail, in n voice whose coldness re-
called that o! her father. AT any rate. whether
you want TO or not. j forbid it, Now 20 up
stairs and get on with yonr work"
The girl whom she had called Clara Romaine
obeycd her orders with a certain show OF defer.
encc, which indicated her position as one Of
more dependence than that of tho ordinary
servant in America.
She was generally spoken OF as bound girl
In tho village, but the term, in the legal sense
was misappied. The history Of her birth was
painful. Her father and mother had both been
outlaws and ouicasts Over their lives OF sin.
their deaths Of disgrace. let the friendly vail
Of Oblivion be thrown. Mrs. Morton was moved
TO pity at sight Of the helpless orphan of three
years old left By these
RoGUEs AND vAGABoSDs,
and had taken Clara 10 her own home. where
for IS years the girl had lived continuously.
with tue exception of such occasions as she had
seen ft to absent herself on dj.alowed visit
10 some one Of the disrepHtable connections of
her father and mother. whom she knew 10 be
Temporarily sojonrning in the neighborhood
These little excursions were generally brought
to a conclusion at the end of two or three DAYS
when Clara was wont 10 return 10 the hospita-
bic board OF the Morton family halfstarved.
often with the best Of her clothing taken from
her, and once hampered by that severe. if tran.
STORY, drawback 10 the beauty of the human
physiognomy black eye
After Mrs. h0rton's decease Clara's fate
trernbied in the balance Of indecigion. Andrew
Morton rather disliked the child than other
wise, aud would have been glad IL he could
have seen sny honorable and not hearlless way
Of ridding his home Of her presence But
Bothing offered. She was "A handy little crea-
ture about the house. Abigail found her inti-
mate knowledge Of all the cupboards aud cram
mics, the table and bed linen, the pickles and
prescTEes Of great value in the ceaseless duties
Of housekeeping; aud, although Mr.. Morton
bad an obstinate habit Of absolying the eat
from the traditional brcakage aud attributing
To the unfortunate Clara all the mishaps ia
that line which afflicted the family: although
heayowed his intimate conviction that whether
the girl might personally be good, bad or indif.
iereDt, her inherited tendencies would sooner
or later assert themselves and lead her TO tho