The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-04-07

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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
fathers large estate.
That he did not grow up vicious was
probably due to the fact that he fairly
idolized his mother, and would not
have grieved her for any amount of
self gratlfoation. Also, it must be
confessed, because he was too indolent
to care to seek pleasure that did fall
directly across his path.
He had been educated by private
tutor, till he entered college, had
graduated there and travelled through
Europe with his mother.
Mrs. Parker was o little woman, q
mere mite beside her tall, stalwart
son, who called her by thousand pct
diminutive names, III half dozen
languages. She was blue eyed, fair
haired and daintily pretty, neat to the
extreme of nicely, gentle, low voiced
ana exqulsitely feminine, yet withal
with a we'll stored mind and an inte l.
lect that made her charming COM
panion, even for her college fled ged
son. Many suitor had tried to win
her from her one devotion, but in vain.
ALI her love that was not her sons
was buried in his fathers grave, and
she never put of the soft grays, puppies
and neutral tints of second mourning.
"When you are married, Claire,
will buy one pink rose in honor of the
OCCASION" she would say. But ut
twenty-five, Clarence had never given
her occasion TO think of the pink rose.
have said he was spoiled, and in o
certain sense he was. Without any
vicious tendencies, he lacked the am.
bition and energy that are the attri-
butes of a true, manly nature. Tall,
strong, In perfect bealth, handsome as
young Apollo, he was content to
dHwdle through life, spending his am
pie income upon dress, jewelry, opera
tickets, q well-appointed equipage,
and the means OF lazy, useless ex.
isteuce. And his mother, proud of his
beauty, his polished courtesy of man.
ner, his devotion to herself, asked no
more.
But she was truly loving woman,
and when Clarence was twenty-five
was willing to concede her throne in
his affections to q 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 regretTully,
she recognized the fact that the ideal
of womanhood he had founded upon
her example made him far too fastid-
ious in his intercourse with the girls
of modern society. A loud voice an
noyed him. A brusque manner dis.
gusted him.
"When / find young lady as gen
tie, refined and lovely as yourself" he
would say, 81 will move heaven and
earth to win her. Until then, let me
enjoy my liberty"
1t was in the late spring and Mrs.
Parker was preparing for her annual
removal to her country seat at Chest.
nat Hill, when letter reached her
from her cousin and lifelong friend in
Ohio, begging her to take charge of
his only daughter for a few months,
while he was absent upon q trip to the
far West. He wrote:
''You have 80 often urged me to allow
Myrl to pay you a visit that / do not hesi-
tate now to ask your hospitality for her. |
cannot well take her with me, as we aro a
party OF nine men upon prospecting jaunt
do not like to leave her here alone. VIII
you add to your kindness by using tho en-.
closed check for her dress. We havo lived
In this lonely seclusiOn SO long that do not
doubt her whole attire will be startlingly
primitive, and she has no friends here 10
help her select 1nery."
There was much more, read aloud to
Clarence, with this explanation:
''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
a lonely farm. 1 have urged him Of
ten TO send Myra to a good school, and
let her make her home with me, but
he said the child was his only comfort,
aud 1 believe they have been INSOFAR
able from her babyhood. She is-let
me see-she must be nineteen"
Clarence made grimace.
"When does she Gomez" lie asked.
Thursday. We shall be at Chest
nut Hill, but you can come into the
city to meet her.
"Certainly."
And at the appointed time, in a
faultless suit OF summer gray, Mr..
Clarence Parker drove his carriage
and ooal-blaek horses to the depot.
The tram was just in, and he watched
the passengers stream by till one an
swered his ideas of his expected
cousin.
A girl, very tall, very straight and