Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-01-18
A PRENATAL ATTACHMENT.
DUANE MORLEY.


was reared IN a rugged, rough
featured part of New England. Though
IN the midst of hard working people of
that section, many indulgences were
allowed me. My lime was at ny own
disposal, and thereby 1 grew into a
meditative way of living, looking in
upon self and out upon nature. Many
an hour, day, or week, have L brooded
over what We call "seif, the uersopaI-
ity, the ego. This habit, so formed by
the circumstances about me, may, to
some, be explanation enough of The
peculiar incidents herein narrated.
To my twentieth birthday, | was
never long separated from the presence
Of my father; our home being situated
in sequesiered part, his possessions
there being large. My mother-an off
shoot of Cd Puritan stock-die1 in my
childhood, leaving me to the compan-
iOnship of my father; that is, such
cOmpanlOnship as his manner of living
afforded. What L recollect of nv
mother, is simply that she was a gaunt,
stately creature, precise in all things,
even In her atfectIonAte WAYS towards
me. And my obedience to her COM
mands must always have been perfect,
for l have no recollection of a time
when 1t Was not spontaneous As
remember her, her angular free was
framed IN q profusion of haxen curis,
ont from which shone her light blue
eyes with a peculiar luster. Tuat she
loved me L do not doubt; though
memory Is now void of the recollection
OF tender love touches, or outbursts of
affection. My fathers habit was a pre.
occupied one, not moody nor change
ful-esch day being a copy of the day
prior and the day sui sequent. His
public interest seemed little or none,
save as 1t concerned his own immedi
ate affairs. From casual remarks let
fall, L gradually learned that he had
spent years of his earlier manhood In
European residence and travel; yet he
cOntided naugbt of all that past to me
and singularly enough, | was not in
quisitive respecting it,
The education afforded me was sim
ply common; little beng added thereto
by my own excursions into the broad,
general field of knowledge. Largely
left to my own devices, L wandered
among the fields and forests, a pupil of
animated nature led by my own desnl
tory thoughts. Though quiet and un-
demOnstrative, my father loved me,
that l knew. We slept in the same
bed, ate at the same table, sat on the
same sofa indoors and the same rustic
bench out of doors. Frequently, we
rode in the same carriage to and from
the larger villages, or over the winding
highways of the hills, he intent upon
Ttat
upon the past; myself, or my mind,
fancy led, or studying some phase OF
nature out-spread to view. Often, too,
l awoke out of sleep to find his arms
closely clasped about me, or one of my
hands at rest in both of his.
With the increase of years came
strange sensations, strange thoughts,
strange visions. The summer land.
scape often trausfgured itself before
me into wonders of blooming plants
and shrubs, and | seemed to be living
IN another realm and time.
SO oppressive became the illusions
complex in their nature and multiple1
in their variety-so gorgeous the
scenes of beauty as they passed before
mel that l ventured frequently tc
break into my fathers privacy oi
Thought anu HdSlL ~ quSobiOh ehSAA
meaning.
''Some wild fancy, my boyl some
wild fancy. Think of something more
practical So he tried to dispel or
discourage my dreams, as he called
tlem.
As my years yet increased, what al
first seemed to be more a vision than
reality, grew gradually to appear more
tIrs
there shot athwart the minds eye bit
of landscape, a vague sketch of bay or
gulf, a city of strange architecture,
peoPled with strange faces-yet famil-
lar; and withsl, haunting, fervid in
quiry ever in mind-'When before
have 1 seen all this?" The experience
was as novel as would be that of living
over again a part of a long past exis-
tence.
But these periods passed and re-
passed, leaving me unharmed, and
what is more to the point, in this mar
ration, 1t1cOncerHed. My health was
prime, appetite good, and my spirits
when not thus travcrsed-buoyant and
even jubilsnt; though 1t was often said
in my hearing, that my face had an ol
look, with an increasing resemblance
10 In IHtuer s. o0ce, L hSkeu nlun ii
be had a book of Spanish history or
travels for me to read. The request
made was very soon after one Of my
periods of ''predisposition, as will
call them, and my father, though why
Ihow not, very anNiously peered
into my face, asking what gave me
such desire. Not worry long after
ward he took me upon trip with him
visiting various of the Atlantic cities,
from Boston at the North. to Savannah
az the South.
And while, in n general way, il broke
The spell cGst upon me, it especially in
tensifed or revIvei some of tie more
dormant features of it, OGce, in par
ticular, willie sojourning at Savannah,
That beautifnl, bowsry city, my
father at rest at the hotel
myself takisg a brief stroll
chsnced to meet, sr.ceful, olive.
husd Msldon, her eyes a iiqaid jei