The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-08-15

Than my icstyment fer that
LIGHT IN THE EAST.
Summer in Ontario is always delight
full, but that Of 1885 was especially SO.
The long days, with their hot noontides,
had tropical air about them that sug;
gested palm groves, pomeSranates and
cinnamon. The nights were cool and re-
freshing, and the radiance Of each sun
set was eclipsed only by the splendor Of
the following sunrise. The stars were
brighter, and the moon gave clearer
light than ever before. The clouds,
blown by refreshing winds, took new
and fantastic shapes, and all nature,
smiling in hersuperb beauty, whispered,
Behold mel,
It.was on one OF these fine summer
DAYS in August that the good steamship
Alexandria touched ut Massmsagua
Point on her way up from Montreal.
As the boat ncared, q crowd OF campers
stood upon the dock, all Of whom dis
played an air OF happy indifference, eS-
cepting Mrs. Secord, who, leaning upon
the arm of her son. gazed intcntly to-
ward the passengers. Only one disem-
barked-a lady OF perhaps forty years,
dressed in French costume. Mrs. Secord
recognized at once her sister, Nine. La
Londe, whom she had last seen as Alice
de Beaumont, twenty years before. OF
course there were embraces and laughter
and tears, and then more embraces, I'M.
til finally the French widow was led
away to group of five tents, the sum-
mer home Of the Secortls.
Nine. La IOnde's story is short
one. The first eighteen years OF her
life were spent with her sisterin 0tta-
wa. She was then sent to Montreal to
study, and there made her home with a
married sister. who was ten years her
senior. Two years later there came to
visit her sisters house an old friend OF
the family, Mr.. George Carpenter, a
man perhaps fifty years OF age. Mr..
Carpenter fad small income, TO which
he added By doing literary work occas-
ionally. He was bachelor, and no.
relative in the world excepting half
sister in Australia and two cousins in
sun Francisco. He was n tai
ented man, with a warm heart
and genial manner that endeared
him to all who knew him. lie loved
every one in general, and gave this as a
reason for never having loved any one
in particular. But even Mr.. George
Carpenter was susceptible TO the charms
OF the light-hearted Alice de Beaumont
the child OF the morning." lie always
called her, for she reminded him Of the
the glad sunrise that he so much loved.
So the man OF fifty actually became in
love with the girl of twenty, and, o Ia
inevitable thought! the girl OF twenty
became in love with the man OF fifty.
What was to be done? Mr.. and Mrs.
Secord talked the matter over and very
wisely decided TO 'let them love-" So
they loved.
Mr.. Carpenter was the happiest man
in the world. His great heart throbbed
with Joy 10 which II had been
stranger for fifty years. He now loved
everyone more than ever. All the
street Arabs in Montreal learned to
know him. The poor sought him for
his money and the rich for his mirth.
"Spring and Autumn have gone for a
stroll, Mrs. Secord used to say to her
husband when he wouldinquire for :he
lovers.
"Half a century, my darling, !" one day
answered Mr.. Carpenter, as Alice wound
her soft white arms around his neck and
asked how long he had lived.
Am / too old2" he inquired; then
added, laughingly. "What matter swiftly
passing years II the heart remain
youngi Ny soul, in spite OF these years,
is flied with ioyfulness TO which it
was n stranger in what was CALLED my,
youth. You are my youth, the glad,
golden morning OF my life; while l
have you can never be ole"
vi course Alice promised to marry
the man to whom shewa all the world.
But, strange to say, no one had the
courage to impart this bit OF Informs
ton TO Mr.. and Mrs. de Beaumont, who
were living life Of cool conyentionality
in Ottawa. It was finally decided that
Mr.. Carpenter himself should be the
first to approach the subject. But love
had been allowed to slip out OF the life
OF Papa de Beaumont and Mama dc
Beaumont, and they were shocked at the
thought OF their daughters connection
with one who had neither youth, nor
noble name nor fortune. Alice must
leave Montreal at once. Then followed
tears and entreaties innumerable. Mr..
Secord insisted that Alice should remain,
in spite Of the opposition of her parents.
1t was a time OF great mourning, for the
parents refused to yield, and Alice left
Montreal "bearing in her heart life
long sorrow" Three months later she
sailed with her parents for France,
where, nine years afterwards, she mar
ried a fat man with a bald head, a big
name and bank account NJ. Alfred
Eugene La Londe lived 10 see the nth
anniversary OF his wedding day, then
fell into his last sleep. Nine. In Londe
remained in France until the summer
OF 1885, when she came to her sister In
4 Ontario.
Assoon as Mr.. Carpenter fully realized
hia lnas lil 0Piaf vrnS tnNnnaa Ha went