The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1897-04-01
Original story by a Henderson young
lady, published by request.l
HARRIE;
Or the ClematiCe Garden.
BY ''N. Y. CARSON"
BY "N. Y. CARSON.
CHAPTER X.


| All the servants knew that something
had happened and they knew too that
Sir Harrc came every day TO the Gar
dens.
One day Blossom and Sir Harrle
were seated IN the same Clematice
bower where they were when Mr.. Yer
non was taken ILL.,
"Dearest Blossom, don't think it is
we'll for you to stay here all alone with
| the servants"
"Harrie, | can not help it and be-
sides I would prefer having someone
with me-"
"Never mind darling when June and
the r ses come you will be my wife,
and we Will be happy, shall we not
| dearest
"HarIie, Grandfather desk has
never been opened since we lost him.
Suppose we 90 indoors, | do SO want
to see what he kept hidden there.
have his keys"
"Certainly, dear, if it will plea Sc
you"
They went to the locked chamber
Blossom was so overcome with emotion
that her trembling hands refused to
unlock the desk. Sir Harrie did it
for her. They found nothing but pa
ptrs at first, then Blossom discovered
a little package yellow with age. She
opened it and there, hidden banea tn
its faded covering was a lovely por
traIt.
"Who can it be, this beautiful young
girl2 Do look Harrie.
"My Blossom, it is a likeness of
Yourself or some one that was related
TO you"
"Oh, it must be my mother, | have
never known of any relatives.
She could not keep her eyes off the
lovely face. Dear Grandfather, how
he did love me.
"Blossom, my love, don't cry.
love you even better than he did"
Then they found another bundle Of
papers tied in blt of blue ribbon.
"We will read and see what it IS
$40 Blos5om-I'he story promls
td when we were IN our home the
CIctnatICe Gardens. Blossom my dear
grandchlId, you know where and when
| told you of my life as an exile, and
the great disappointment experienced.
During that time | lived much IN
England and there met noble gen
tltnan and his beautiful wife. be
came greatly attached to them. His
" lie reminded me of the beautiful girl
| loved. Their names were Mr.. and
Mrs. Eugene II. Raymond. They
were noble English people. Mrs.
Raymond has a lady friend whom she
loved dearly. Her name was Bessie
Van, and this lady had a handsome
soldier lover. They were married, but
after brief SIX months duty called
him. He had TO leave ner his beautl-
full young wife. In another SIX months
he came back TO find her dead and his
darling little baby cared for by strange
persons. HIS heart was broken. He
made his home after that with Mr..
and Mrs Raymond He could not
bear TO look at the bright little curly
haired boy. They had to keep the
little one in the nursery. They were
50 kind to this strange broken hearted
man that they would not start the
wound atresh. | often visited their
home. Mr.. and Mrs, Raymond were
poor bu, highly born. Another year
had passed, | lost sight of them, was
still an exile. went from place to
place, finally stopped at Dalesville.
had already grown old. awoke
one bright summer morning and
thought would like a stroll. | look
ed out on the beautiful world and wa:
| IN the act OF opening my door
when a Big basket arrested my gaze
stepped to II and what did | see, d
lovely little baby girl with the name
blossom pinned to her dress.
carried her IN my little home. Shit
WAS sleeping when | found her. Tht
motion OF carrying the basket awokt
Ter. saw pair of eyes the color o
heavens own blue. \ bright smile
was playing over her face. She lispeC
the void Grandfather That wa
you, my Blossom. examined th
things in the basket and found a pic
ture, and to my astonished eyes | saw
it was a portrait OF Mrs. Raymond
lady friend That was your Mother
Now, Blossom, you have the story 0
your mother You Will no doubt re
member the visit took 10 Italy. Ior
) will also remember it was a bleal
snowy night that returned. | stop
; ped in house to warm and there
beheld the bright curly haired boy q
; my friends in far away England.
. knew of his whereabouts from ,ha
night until the event Of your 5lr,h-da
celebration, and must say, too,
know the broken hearted gentleman
| left his fortune Of some two million L
Mr.. and Mrs Raymond for their lI,,l
son when he became OF age. \ te'
more words and | have done | kno,
/ at you, my Blossom, were sent 10 m
a> blessing from Heaven to take IN
place OF the one loved too we'll. Io
were sent as prop to my old age
May God bless you and Sir Harri
forever Your devoted Grandfather.
Sir Harrie stood as one turned /
stone while Blossoms eyes were din
with tears.
":At last, Blossom. No more my:
ttery enveloping us, ne said.