The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-06-26


but of Welsh descent, and had
been. for over quarter of century,
earning a comfortable living for him
self and family, having the real neces-
saries of life, though deprived of It's
luxuries, by digging for BLACK dia-
monds" in a neighboring coal mine.
He had, with the help of his hard
working wife, by frugal living and
careful economy. been enabled to save
enough to purchase a little home of
their own, though at the time our story
opens a small mortgage was menacing
them. and at times threatened to over
power them. after all their efforts.
Edith, the oldest daughter, now
beautiful girl of seventeen. was tall
and fair. with eyes as blue as the
violets which bloomed in such pro-
fusion around the outskirts of the lit
tie town in which she lived. Gladys,
the younger one, the spoiled, petted,
wilful baby of the household, was now
nearly twelve years of age, and while
she ruled all with whom she came
in contact. the sceptre she swayed was
so weighted with love that no one ac-
cused her of being arbitrary. The one
great ruling passion of this girl, who
rative. was love for her sister Edith.
Gladys was as yet a plain undeveloped
Sirl, with eyes and hair as black as
midnight, and strangely beautiful
complexion, so dark and rich that she
had been nicknamed Gypsy These
sisters were as utterly unlike in dis
position as in looks, for while the older
one was modest and retiring, always
Ia ,i,,l. .;,,,r ,c lao Nf thny
and whose greatest fault was her i'm
plicit confidence in all who professed
friendship for her. The younger one
had a bearing so full of regal grace
and naughty pride that she might have
been taken for IA daughter of nobility
instead of the child of a poor hard
working miner. who had just enough
book learning to convince him that
moro would be infinitely better. and
fill him with a burning desire to give
his children the advantages of a thor
ough education. And to this end, even
now. he and his faithful wife We're
trying to plan some way by which
Edith could be sent. for d year at least,
10 a neighboring seminary. Night
after nigh. did these devoted parents
talk and plan and worry over the
false hopes in the breast of the al
ready eagerly ambitious girl. and as
vet the whole scheme had been care
fully kept from her. and never had she
dared to hope that she would one day,
enter Wyoming Seminary as Il pupil.
But even now the letter was on its
way that was to make IL great change
in the home life of this honest but
h.,, y ~, L.. .i,,p nd
ing in March, just as the bluebirds
and robins, blcst harbingcrs of spring,
began to make their appearance. and
lnstil into the most discouraged and
gloomy hearts. feeling of renewed
hope and anticipation of better days
ahead. Daniel Morgan awokc to find
himself rich man.
\ wealthy relative in Wales had died
and left an immense fortune to be di-
Ndod between the three sons of his
only brother. and Daniel Morgan was
one of these. The news spread through
the quiet little town like wildtire. And
soon it was known by every child on
the street, ana newspapers gave
lengthy accounts of the wonderful good
fortune that had come to one who,
after working twenty-five years as
town of h in which he had lived
in such humble circumstances.
Nov. my daughter" said he to
Edith one day few weeks after their
good fortune had come to them.. there
is no need of longer delay. Our long
cherished hopes can he realized. You
snail take the summer TO become ac-
rustomed 10 the change in our cir
,S,t . nd in,
ness; and in the fall. at the opening
of the school year, you shall enter
Wyoming Seminary, not for one year
only, hut for the fun course. And
Gladys shall he put under the careful
training of Il thoroughly competent
gUVerneSs.'
THANK you. father" Edith replied.
Il shall Try and improve the oppor-
tunity when ii comes, as it will be
the fulhllment of my hearts desire"
oh. what air castles these two sis
tels built in the weeks that followed.
The humble home had been changed
for one more in keeping with their
changed circumstances, and as they
went from room to room in their beau
tiful home in West Pittston on the
banks of the Susquehanna; as they
saw their poor, hard-worked father
able tn enjoy the ease and comfort he
50 richly deserved, and their mother
overseeing but not doing the drudGery
of the household, they said to them
selves: surely we have everything
that is necessary To our happiness,
and we have nothing else to wish for"
hut, alas. for human hopes and plans,
A blow far more bitter than poverty
was hanging over the innocent girls.
Imagine, dear reader, n night in
early June. The moon was just begin
ming to show it's face like great bah
of fire, above the eastern horizon The
Susquehanna river was silently wind
its way through the Wyoming Valley.
past the home of the Morgans which
stood where it commanded grand
view of this beautiful stream. The two
girls, one so fair and graceful, the
other so dark and proud, We're walking
through the spacious grounds, con-
Nersing in low, hushed tones, and with
sad and anxious faces slancing very
often toward the house, as if il could
tell them what they longed to know.
Yes, sorrow has followed joy and pros
perity in quick succession Mrs. Nor
gan, who has battled with poverty
and endured hardships of every de-
scription. lies in her luxurious home
dying. Yes. dying; for although the
doctor has ordered perfect quiet. as she
is sleeping the sleep that means life
or death to her, yet he has given them
no hope that she will ever awaken
again in this world. oh, how dark
and utterly hopeless the world looks
now TO Edith and Gladys Morgan as
they walk toward the house and with
q Shudner GLANCE at the dim lipht thai