The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-05-17

VINO tnOugnt OF tomorrow az n time Oh
pleasure and hated the plodding life
OF industry. The brother who was
studious guarded his secret well;
none knew his heart was rent with un-
requited love- He smiled and spoke
commonplace words to the woman
who had unconsciously broken his
heart; but in the solitude of the night
his thoughts would ever wander from
his books to the dream that had been
shattered.
''He left his native town aud settled
for short time in Manchester. One
day he received word that the brother
who occupied the place he himself had
often dreamed to fill had been ar
rested on charge of forgery. The
charge was well-founded, and eventual
ly he was sentenced to Is years penal
servitude.
''This was two years after his mar
ringe and one year after his child was
born. His wife never recovered from
the shock, and when the husband had
served but one year of his imprison.
ment she was laid to rest. reached
her side few hours before she died.
She begged that | would take care OF
the goden-haired pratter she was
leaving behind take care of her until
he had served his period of imprison.
ment. | promised, and when the
earth closed over the body Of her !
had loved | took the child away-the
child that resembled the mother so
much. You were thnt child, Clarice. "
A silence fell on the little group as
Templeton finished speaking, and the
golden head of Carice had dropped
forward until it found rest on the ar.
chitect's knee.
''And what do you expect me to
say, Mr. Templeton?' asked Franklin
at length.
81 expect to hear you say what your
heart prompts you to say"
MY heart prompts me to say that
nothing you have told me tonight has
altered my love for Clarice, aud re-
peat again. love her dearly, and she
loves me; we ask your consent to our
marriage" "
"And I give II, Harold" said Tenn
pleton, taking Franklin's hand and
wringing it. The young fellow stopped
and raised Clarice from her detected
attitude, kissed her streaming face, and
they passed slowly, side by side, from
the room.
An hour later the lovers stood at
the end of the wooded drive bidding
each other good night. The rain had
ceased falling.
''And to think, Harold, that I, who
have always felt proud of my parent
age, should he so disillusioned; to
think that am the daughter of
felon!" and as the words fell from
Clarice Templeton's lips she sought
to check the sobs that filled her bosom.
Franklin drew her throbbing form
closer to his side.
''Nay, sweetheart, let not the news
trouble you so. You are not to blame
for what your father did, and he, per-
haps, by this is sorrowing for his past
cruelty aud wickedness. However,
let us try to forget him and the past
and be happy in our mutual love and
the golden days to come"
Engrossed as the lovers were, neither
OF them were coenizant of the proxim-
ity ot third persona man, who
crouched in the shadow of the trees.
eyes, forget him and the past, :"
murmured the latter; sit is only right
that you should. As for him!--"
and the crouching figure stole softly
away.
'But tell me, Clarice," said Frank
lin, ''tell me the cause of the tears l
saw in your eyes when you joined
your father U shall always call him
suchl and me in his study"
''It was the poor man-the tramp
| ~
''He did not frighten you?" broke
in Franklin.
'Frighten me, Harold No, some
thing quite different. He said re-
minded him of one he loved-a daugh-
ter who is lost TO him forever-and- -
ard he asked me toto kiss him, Har.
old"
"And you did?" queried Franklin,
smilingly.
"Yes, couldn't refuse. Besides,
he was an old man, you know"
The following day there was found
in pool some miles away the dead
body of an unknown man. 1t was
the tramp. -Tit-Bits.