Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-03-25
THE POWER OF LOVE.
ny ANNA SHIELDS.

II ever q SpOlleu DaDy gre" " d
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 adj
mirably calculated to make milksop
of her only son and the heir to his IA
TIERS 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
have grieved her for any amount OF
disqualification. Also, it must be con-
fessed, because he was too indolcnt 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-
roqe with his mother.
Mrs. Parker was little woman, a
mere mite beside her tall, stalwart son,
who called her by q thousand pet di-
minutive names in half a dozen Ian
guages. She was blue-eycd, fair-haircd
and daintily pretty, neat to the extreme
of nicely, gentle, low-voiced, and OK
ouisitely feminine, yet withal with q
well-stored mind and an intellect that
made her q charming companion, even
for her college-fedgcd son. Many
sutton had tried to win her from her
enc 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, puppies and neutral
tints of second mourning.
"Whcn you are married, Claire, l 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.
l have said he was spoiled, and n
certain sense he was. Without any vi
cious tendencies, he lacked the ambi-
ton and energy that are the attribute
0! q true, manly nature. Tall, strong,
in perfect health, handsome as young
Apollo, he was content to dawdlc
through life, spending his ample in
come upon dress, iewelry, opera tick
cts, well-appointed equipage, and the
means Of a lazy, useless existence. And
his mother, proud CT his beauty, his pol
ished courtesy OF manner, his dcvotich
TO herself, asked no more.
But she was a truly loving woman,
and when Clarence was % 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 idea! OF
womanhood he had founded upon her
example made him far too fastidious in
his intercourse with the girls Of mod
ern society. A louG 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 hcav-
en- 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 re-
moval to her country seat at Chestnut
Hill, when letter reachedher 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 trip to the far west. He
wrote:
You have so often urged me to allow
Myra to pay you visit that do not hesi-
tate now to ask your hospitality fer her.
l cannot we'll take her with me, as we are
a party of nine men upon prospecting
jaunt. l do not like TO leave her here
| alone Will you add to your kindness by
using the incloscd check for her dress.
We have lived in this lonely seclUsion SO
| long that 7 do not doubt her whole at
tire will be startlingly primitive, and she
has no friends here to help her select
finery.''
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 n man of learning, but
he has buried himself for years upon a
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-
.ieve they have been inscparable from
her babyhood. She is-let me see-she
must be 49,"
Clarence made grimace.
''When dces she Gomez" he asked.
"Thursday. We shall be at Chestnut
Hill, but you can come into the city to
meet ber."
Certainly"
And at the appointed time, in fault
less suit of summer gray, Mr.. Clarence
Parker drove his carriage and coal
black horses to the depot. The train
was just in, and he watched the passen'
gers stream by till one answered his
ideas of his expected cousin.
A girl, very tall, very straight and
rery handsome, in dark, southern
style, dressed in il-fitting gray linen
with a plaid shawl on her arm, walked
past him to the dressing-room, with
free, graceful step and poise of hel
glorious head emiDently suggestive OF
country life in the west,
"She is perfect squaw," Clarence
thought, slowly following her to the
ladies' room. The next moment, grace
fully bowling, he asked:
Have 1 the pleasure of greeting Miss
Myra Delano, my cousin?"
''Ah, you are Clarence" she said
showing two dazzling rows of teeth in
smile of frank pleasure. us Cousin
Clara here?"
"My mother is at ChestnntHjlL but