Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-04-18

WAX pdCkdSe Oh yellOW leJUeTS Iell
into his hand; closely united was also
velvet miniature case and an old
fashioned English locket.
He turned the open face of the lock.
ct to the light.
1t revealed curious face-an aqui-
line nose, an artists eye, the mouth of
ravening animal, half concealed by
beard of silk. John Steele loosed at
it long and earnestly. Poor Bertl
He'll do better now that he is out of
the body" he said.
He had always been the friend of his
old schoolmate, discerning the deli
cate soul enthralled by the law of
depraved physical nature inherited
from line of debauched men.
fortunately, the child is girl"
murmured Steele thoughtfully, taking
up the case of purple velvet.
1t opened softly. The face of an
angel smiled upon him.
1t was the portrait of Bert Vane's
daughter. taken in her seventh year.
Her fathers brow and eyes in fairy
tracery, the dead mothers sweet
mouth, the curls of beauty and the
smile of innocence.
1--WE called our child Violet, john"
said the letter. You see she is deli
cate thing to be left unsheltered God
forgive me my life-for if l did not
tell you, you would know that folly
has shortened my days But | was
never fit 70 be father.
will you take my little girl into
your keeping? She is good child, for
the blood that flows in her veins seems
to be that of her mothers family, with
little of the best of mine-enough to
endear~her to you, for you always
loved me, believed in me, John, when
did not believe in myself. When we
meet again
"My daughter has fortune. trust
you with her and it, as | would trust
no other man on earth. John-noble
John Steele my weak hand trembles
my dying .dying sight fails me-"
That letter was Bert Vane's final
act, written in the last hour of his
life.
The child was at school in New
England, and, after mature thought,
John Steele decided that she had bet
ter stay there for the presen. He was
about to embark for trip to Europe
and had no person with whom to leave
her if he had her brought to Lake
home. But he wrote to the matron of
the school, inclosing kind note for
the child, settled the business trans
actions of the matter and then took
passage on board the Europia. with
his young brother Herbert, destined
for musical education
He was absent two years.
Leaving his stepbrother' in Ger,
many, he returned to Lakehome. For
months he was much engrossed by
business; then he found spare op,
portunity to visit the Westerly acad,
emy
The matron received him with dig
nifty. But he had not much time to
spend on ceremony.
81 should like to see the little girl"
he said, land | should like to talk
with her alone"-loolsing at his watch.
Madam stared and withdrew.
A few moments and the door swung
open again. A girl of seventeen, with
clustering curls and the trailing robes
of womanhood swept softly toward
him.
He looked into the oval face, cbaste
as a flower, and saw the lineaments of
the child's portrait.
But" he stammered
"You thought was a little girl,
Mr.. Steele? No; papa thought me only
a child when he died, but | was fif-
teen"
81 have wanted to see you so much,
Mr.. Steele" she said. THAT note, so
kindly worded to the comprehension
of little child, made me love YOU"
Il am SO old and ugly, she does not
think that have heart" he thought,
the blood receding again, and leaving
an aching void. 81 am her guardian
that is all. must not forget"
1t was decided that she was to go to
Lakehome. The inmates of the acad-
emy parted from her as if they loved
her. But it did not need the beamipg
looks of teachers or the clinging en-
braces OF the pupils to show John what
treasure she was. He was lost in
kind of maze for days.
She stole quietly as c sunbeam into
her place at Lalsehome. She brought
flowers into the house, she opened the
grand piano, she sang to its music the
sweetest words. Finding that she
had been taught to ride, John gave
her the little brown pony, Barley, who
had hitherto consumed his useless
days in idleness, and every night as
he drove out from the city, Barley and
his mistress came to meet the buggy
So fair the sweet face under the
plumed cap. it's frank eyes nearly
drove wild her guardian. II he but
told the truth, he knew that he should
acknowledge himself her slave.
The summer went by. Winter came.
"Will you stay here, Violet, or shall
we go into the city for the season.
Which would you like?"
II have no choice but to satisfy
you"
''Then we will stay here-it is home.
And we will have company and keep
the holidays-make time fly, in short.
How love this old mansionl Do you
know it, guardy?"
i