Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1892-07-23

i.,nrt. was terrible time at the huUs"
when they found that he was gone. and
,ho squire swore he should never enter
MS doors again. But the s0ujre's dauGh-
ters. vino hated Harold as tirIr father
did, though he was their own mothers
child, said they were glad he was gone
And only remembered him, think.
very long. A weak woman was Ms
IIalsted, and her husband had got lei
under his power. The way he managed
her has often made me think that thtr.
must be something in magnetism or hvF-
notism. She seemed to have lost h"I
senses or to have grown mentally hlILd.
and he led her where he would.
Just about this time fell very Ill, ard
when l grew better the squire, knowing
l was good at my needle, made a seam
stress of me. l was ashamed to say why,
but it is because | looked rather stylish
and was called pretty, and so many
questions We're asked me by guests A.
a seamstress | could stay in my upr +
room and work. | was so thankful for
the change! Now l could read little
and be more to myself. | made tie
finery for the young ladies of the fam
lily, and no one troubled me.
Once, indeed, a rich old gentleman.
having got my story from good old
cook, sought me out and made a propo-
sitiOn of marriage, saying it was shame
that such an elegant young woman
should live as l did. But thanked him
and declined his offer. l was not un-
hot T fnr q
from Harold, for in all these years no
word had come from him-none of
those letters he had promised me.
| felt sure he was not dead, and 1t was
very natural he should forget to write.
but my heart had no rest. He was 26
years old by this time, and in all that
time much might have happened.
My pillow was often wet with tears
from thoughts of him-fancies of what
he might have suffered, and longing to
meet him or only see him from afar but
once again.
At last news came. Mrs. Halsted came
running into my room wild with joy.
News of my boy!" she said, holding
letter toward me.
II thought you had forgotten all about
him, madam, l said.
was sorry the next moment for she
burst into tears and faltered through her
sobs:
You don't know what it is to be the
wife of man who dominates your will!
never have forgotten or ceased to re-
gret other things" Then she wiped her
eyes and said But as far as Harold
goes, it is all over. He has written to
me. He is rich-really rich. He has
made fortune in California, and he is
coming home to see me. He is in New
York and will be here tomorrow. The
squire is pleased; the girls are wild to
see him; his little brother is delighted.
She ran out of the room again, looking
young and happy, and sat down to my
machine, swallowing great lump that
had arisen in my throat.
He had not written to me. Well, | was
only servant, and he was rich man
now. They were rejoicing in his coming
for that reason-the squire and his chill
dren. He was a very different person
from the poor Harold Robling that went
away.
81 suppose he will give us lot of pres
ents, heard one of the girls say. AN
older brother who is rich is great thing
to have. We must pet him and make
him goodnatured.
"Oh, yes, said the other, "when girls
have as stingy father as we have a
generous older brother is godSend.
And I-oh! if he would return in rags,
begging his bread, 1 should have well
coined him. / cared for him, not for his
money And if he had returned poor it
was to whom he would have written, l
knew well. But tried to put the sell
fish thoughts away and rejoice for his
sake that he had prospered, even if he
had forgotten his little sister Dora.
The morrow came AS l sat at my
machine heard sounds below that told
he had arrived. heard his mother cry
out and the squire says heartily, "Wel-
come home, my boy |" and his sisters
squeal and giggle after way they had.
And the great drawing room doors
were closed, shutting me out.
I, who loved him SO dearly, went back
to my room alone, uncared for, wretched |!
l felt as though my heart would break.
/ could no longer keep back my tears.
Half an hour passed; then some one
came to the door-a servant-who told
me briefly that was wanted in the par
lor. Trembling, quivering, feeling as
had never felt before, l obeyed the sum-
mons. opened the parlor door.
The squire stood before the fire, i'm
portant as usual, one hand in the breast
of his coat, the other waving toward mo
as he uttered these words:
Dora, l have sent for you because
Master Harold has returned, and wishes
to meet a faithful servant of the family. !"
But before the words were out of his
mouth, Harold, handsomer and larger
but the same for all that-the very Har-
old that l knew-rushed forward and
took both my hands and bent down and
kissed me.
Il told you, sir, he said, that wanted
to see Dora-the dearest being alive to
me! Such words as you utter can not
permit you to speak as though they were
mine. You have never received any of
my letters, Dora, but l have guessed
why"
"Inever have received a letter, Har-
old" l answered.
80 l thought" said he. I'VE will
not ask who kept them from you I
have no wish to quarrel with any one ;
but you were my only friend years ago
when | went out into the world home
less and penniless, and have come now