The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1891-08-08


her.
1t had been decided to take her away,
for several months, from her poor, suf-
fering charges, to go to the city to
dance, to sing, to enter society, wear
fine dresses and give herself up to FASH
ionable frivolity. Mr.. Bentley, most
indulgent father, was resolute about
this.
.sShe will be an old woman at twen-
ty, if she stays here" he said to me.
II wish her to go to her Aunt Harriet"
was to remain at home, having for
many years been housekeeper, as well
as governess, and needed in my own
place. 1t was the first time Alma and
l had been separated for twelve years,
but she was a good correspondent, and
letters came frequently; letters that
were like conversations, they were SO
full of every detail of her new life. To
my surprise, she entered into every
pleasure heartily, her desire to please
her father being the duty that sus-
tanned her. Alma must have a duty to
make every act of her life pleasant to
her, and so for filial obedience she sub
mitted to deck her fair. delicate beauty
in dainty fabrics, to go to society's
gatherings and win position there by
her gentle sweetness, as sure as she
had won it amongst her poor proteges at
Startled.
In January, two great events oc-
Cured. The mills were purchased and
opened by gentleman from New York
named Owen, and the hands taken on
at full time and good wages. The let
ter of glad thanksgiving that Alma
wrote in answer to this news told me
another piece of news, not unexpected.
She had promised to marry Charles La
thrope, young clergyman, who had
taken prominent place in her letters.
She had written to me very often of the
rest it was to her, in the life she could
not find really congenial, to converse
with Mr.. Lathrope, to help him little,
quietly, amongst his poor people, to at
tend the services in his church.
Mr.. Bentley was well pleased. The
father of the young clergyman was his
friend, and in wealth, culture and So
cial position there was nothing to be
desired. And l put down the letter
with a sigh. / had been building an
air castle that the letter shattered.
Mr.. Owen, the gentleman who had
taken the mills, had remained in Star
field only enough to get everything
well started, and had then returned to
New York, leaving the entire control
in the hands of his son Godfrey.
1t had been one of Alma's special re-
quests, on leaving home, that would
take care of some of the sick amongst
the mill-hands, and take her place, as
far as / could spare time, in the poor
cottages where so much help was need
ed. And even when the best of all
help came, in steady work at good
wages, there were still many sick,
many too old to work. who needed Wis.,
iting. And it was in these visits that l
first met Godfrey Owen.
My first admiration was Weakened by
the extreme beauty of his face, almost
womanly in delicate refinement, in spite
of heavy blonde mustache. He had an
air of command, the result, think, less
of pride than life of power; the power
of large wealth and association with
his father in vast business schemes. He
was about thirty-five or six when he
came to Startled and took control of
the mills. a control at once firm and
liberal. strict in the observance of
every rule, kind in the interest felt and
shown in every man, woman and child
in the establishment There was .
great deal of sickness. At once, a res
ident ply was sent from New
York, and free distribution of drugs
and nourishment established, under
firm rules that prevented any imposi-
ton. Coal was put in every cellar, to
be paid for where it was possible, as a
gift where it could not be purchased.
Food, blankets, bedding were all dis
tributed at the lowest possible price to
those .at work, given freely but judi
ciously to the old and sick.
And as / gave advice. pointed out
urgent need or special cases, met the
tall, erect figure and beautiful face
everywhere, told myself every hour
that here was the only man who could
fully understand Alma; do justice to
her pure, self-sacrificing spirit; give her
the full sympathy and help all women
need in their life-work. This was my
dream, the life these two would lead
together, and it was shattered! Why
had we sent our child to the city? If
only we had kept her with us, she
must surely have loved this man.
She came home in June, the same
gentle, loving girl, and yet changed,
Older, more self-reliant, more developed
by her intercourse with the world.
Even her dress was no longer than the
girlish costume of year previous, but
better suiting the only child of
a wealthy man. Her figure was carried
with more erect grace; her face, losing
nothing of it's nun-like purity, had
more animation.
And before Godfrey Owen had met
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