Middletown transcript., 1912-11-23

Darrell mas relatives here-thi
Livingston's. You know them
perhaps9 Oh! here she is-as
fair, golden haired, little lady
entered the room.
Mrs. Darrell, my old friend
Miss Clifton!
Ethel felt the room whirline
with her for a moment, but pride
came to the rescue, as she bow
ed low and making a few care
less remarks, with her attendant
passed on to join the dancers
and as people noted the crimson
cheek, and sparkling eye, and re-
marked how lovely Miss Cliftor
was looking they little knew thai
so fair an exterior covered an
aching heart.
She hardly realized how the
remainder of the evening pass.
ed. It seemed like some terrible
nightmare, as she remembered il
afterward.
She had accepted his invita-.
tion to dance when ne had found
his way to her later in the even.
ing, and, as he conversed so
pleasantly on their old acquain.
tance, his wife, and other indif-
ferent subjects. she almost fear
ed he would hear the wild throb.
bing of her own heart, and read
the secret so carefully hidden
there.
While he looking down upon
the beautiful face beside him, he
wondered if she had ever loved
him, as her emotion on meeting
him tonight led him to believe.
And them a smile of contentment
crossed his face as he thought. of
his fair, geHag wife, whose love
lawd won.
Five years have passed away,
with their joys and sorrows,
and tears, and the many
changes which time always
bring.
It had surely worked a marve.
GUS change in the heart of
Ethel Clifton, and those swiftly
passing years have been years
If genuine usefulness.
For to her the gay world of
ashton had long ago lost its
charms, in the dawning of a far
higher and nobler purpose in life
han the mere qualification of
ielf.
And the fair face and gentle
,oice of Ethel Clifton had be-
.ome as welcome in the homes of
Tod S lowly ones as the summer
Truly, the seeds Of disappoint-
nent which she had scattered in |
dleness, had at last been the
means of bringing forth good |
ruit.
1t is near the close of a chill |
November afternoon, and Ethel |
its idly dreaming before the
rate, its genial glow lighting up
Ter fair face, and showing the
hanges which time had |
7rought. She had changed but
1.-THE in form or feature, but the
Expression is more gentle, and |
lthel Clifton, at thirty possesses
beauty far more pleasing than
hat of her early girlhood.
Sorrow had been a frequent |
isitor of late.
Her father, whom she had al
nost idolized and who had ever
ratified the slightest wish of his
My child, had died suddenly of
cart disease one year before.
While Aunt Elinor, his widowed
lster, and the only mother Ethel
ad ever remembered, had fol-
owed six months later. Leaving
ithel thus comparatively alone
to kindred ties.
She had never married, greatly
} the surprise of all who knew
er.
1t had certainly not been for
pportunities, people said, and
er friends marveled greatly at
hat they termed Ethel's eccen.
'icity.
The shadows of twilight had
'llen gently around her, as she
1t there all unheeding the fight
{ time.
Her memory going back to the
lmmer days of eight years be-
re, to that one great mistake
hich had cast its shadow upon
or whole after life.
She had never met Hugh Oar
'll since that ever to- be remem- 9
cred evening, five years previ. !
IS, but she had heard of him oc.
Once Of child which bad glad. I
med his heart and home. And