Gloucester County Democrat., 1897-04-29
THE POWER OF LOVE.
nY ANNA sHEILns.

II ever a spoiled baby grew to q
spoiled child, and SO to a spoiled man,
that baby, boy and man arrived at the
aforementioned stage about the time
Clarence Parker reached his twenty
fifth year. His father left this scene of
earthly change when Clarence was a
Growing youngster of two years, and
his mother, the sweetest-tempered lit
tie woman to be found, Immediately
commenced a system of indulgence ad-
mirably calculated to make milksop
of her only son and the heir to his fa-
ther's large estate.
That he did not grow up vicious was
probably due to the fact that he fair
ly idolized his mother, and would not
self-gratifcation. Also, it must be con-
fessed, because he was too indolent to
care to seek pleasure that did not fall
across his path.
He had been educated by private tu-
tor till he entered college. had gradu-
ated there, and travelled through Eu-
rope with his mother.
Mrs. Parker was little woman, a
mere mite beside her tall, stalwart son,
who called her by thousand pet di-
minutive names in half dozen lam
guages. She was blue-eyed, fair-haired
aud daintily pretty, neat to the extreme
of nicely, gentle, low-voiced, and ex-
quisitely feminine, yet withal with q
well-stored mind and an intellect that
made her a charming companion, even
for her coIlege-f1edged son. Many a.
suitor had tried to win her from her
one devotion, but in vain. All her love
that was not her sons was buried in
his fathers grave, and she never put
off the soft grays, purples and neutral
tints of second mourning.
"When you are married, Claire, will
buy one pink rose in honor of the occa-
sion," she would say. But at 25 Clar-
ence had never given her occasion to
think of the pink rose.
have said he was spoiled, and in a
certain sense he was. Without any vi
cious tendencies, he lacked the ambi-
ton and energy that are the attribute
OF true, manly nature. Tall, strong,
in perfect health, handsome as young
Apollo, he was content to dawdle
through life, spending his ample in
come upon dress, jewelry, opera tick
cts, well-appointed equipage, and the.
means of lazy, useless existence. And
his mother, proud of his beauty, his pol
ished courtesy of manner, his devotion
10 a1lrAd - v,,0ra
But she was truly loving woman,
and when Clarence was 25 was willing
10 concede her throne in his affections
to younger, stronger love, the love
that would brighten her sons life
with home happiness when her scepter
was in the coffin.
And half proudly, half regretfully,
she recognized the fact that the ideal of
womanhood he had founded upon her
example made him far too fastidious in
his intercourse with the girls of mod
ern society. A loud voice annoyed him.
A brusque manner Disguised him.
when find young lady as gentle,
refined and lovely as yourself, madre.
mia," he would say, 81 will move heav-
en- and earth to win her. Until then, let
me enjoy my liberty"
It was in the late spring, and Mrs.
Parker was preparing for her annual re-
moval to her country seat at Chestnut
Hill, when letter reached'her from her
cousin and lifelong friend in Ohio, beg
ging her to take charge Of his only
daughter for few months, while he was
absent upon a trip to the far west. He.
wrote:
'You have so often urged me to allow
Myra to pay you visit that l do not hesi-
tate now to ask your hospitality for her.
/ cannot well take her with me, az we are.
a party OF nine men upon prospecting
Jaunt. I do not like to leave her here
alone. VIII you add to your kindness by
using the inclosed check for her dress.
We have lived in this lonely seclusion so
long that I do not doubt her whole at
tire will be startlingly primitive. and she
has no friends here to help her select
f1nery."
There was much more, read aloud to
Clarence, with this explanations:
"My Cousin John became a hermit
when his wife died, ten years ago. He
is wealthy, and man of learning, but
he has buried himself for years upon q
lonely farm. have urged him often to
send Myra to good school, and let her
make her home with me, but he said the
child was his only comfort, and be-
lieve they have been inseparable from
her babyhood. She is-let me see-she
must be 49,"