Year: 1875

CHAPTER V.


"At the parting of the ways,


Standing on life's winding shore,
Looking with an upturned gaze,


Glance we toward the evermore."


After long years we, meet again
were the words of Harry Clifford as he
stood on that vine-wreathed stoop in
Bellefeld. Sixteen years had flung
their shadows across the old fashioned
village since Harry Clifford had first
turned his back upon it with a NUT
tered vow that he would never return.
Butalasl time works wonders. and this
balmy July evening sixteen years
hence found him again there. By his
side with the moonlight streaming over
her peerless figure stood the maid of
the mill" now the widow of the cot
tage. The footprints of sixteen years
had touched her daintily, had left no
thread of silver in the nut-brown hair,
no flaw or wrinkle in the smooth, white
brow. There burned in the eyes a
subdued but not saddened light. Now
Harry Clifford, widowed and lonely had
returned to the little cot among the
honeysuckles for the love of her blue,
blue eyes. He had wed frail, dainty
little creature who had brought him a
larger amount of bank notes than
ideas. She died early in life, leaving
to his protection two motherless chill
dren. He had lived alone for these or
phaned ones, spent the greater portion
of his time in advising and instructing
them. Now, after weary years, he had
come back to claim the love of his life.
Yes, he was to take home with him
Kate Waters and her fatherless girl,
with legal right to always protect
them. Willis Waters was at this time
about fourteen years of age. A win
some creature was she, just inheriting
enough of her mothers coduetry to
make her charming. All the aristo-
cratic pride and generous impulses of
her father flowed warmly in her young
veins. Her nature was all mirth and
gladness. Her mother had been her
almost sole companion from infancy.
She had given all her time and energy
to instil into this little creature priu-
ciples of right and to thoroughly ac-
quaint her with every branch of learn
ing.


She was an apt scholar, bright and
imaginative, and the doting mother
watched fondly the unfolding of each
leaf of this bud of promise. She in re-
turn gave to that mother all the love
of her nature. Having no sister, no
brother, and bereft early of a fathers
love, she naturally clung with intense
affection to this last remaining link
The tender, blue eyed mother was her
world, her hope, her Heaven.


Thus it was with Willis Waters
when she came to her city home. The
springs of gladness in her heart were
perpetual. Their lucid waters had
never rippled over the mires of dis
content. This new home that was
henceforth to be shared by her was
one of opulence and taste, but oh;
would it be to her as the yine-clad cot
tage had been? Who can tell ? When
it comes to unravelling the future and
foretelling coming events it battles all.
Aye, none of the giant intellects of
eighteen hundred years and more have
by their boasted penetration discerned
that hidden realm. 1t is all, all mys-
terry, and the depths are unfathomable.
Whether the God of fate holds for US
thorns or sunbeams we are in blissful
ignorance. 1t is better thus. Yes,
verify ''he doeth all things we'll"


Happily for Willis she found in this
new home kindred spirits and loving
associates.


Ruth Clifford was trife younger
than Willis. She was a radiant little
creature with soft golden curls which
hung in sunny profusion to her waist.
Her eyes were of that dark violet hue
shaded by curling sunny lashes. Her
nature was scarcely less lovely than
the fair faultless features. Naturally
amiable, her father had cultivated her
disposition to high degree of perfec-
ton. She possessed his frankness and
generosity with her mothers clinging,
trusting nature. Such a combination
of graces as Ruth Clifford combined is
seldom, too rarely met with. She re-
ceived Willis into her home of affiu-
ence with sweet grace and dignity. They
soon became inseparable. Their pur
suits were the same their duties, their
studies were one.


The younger child of Harry's was
little boy about ten years of age.


Carter Clifford was a mischieyous,
sprightly boy whom Willis from the
first day she arrived was strangely
drawn toward. He was kind-heart-
ed little fellow, full of puns and natur-
al wit.


In short time Mrs. Clifford thought
it'advisable to send Willis, for the
completion of her education, to a re-
tired seminary.


Ruth was to remain at home under
her usual masters.


Willis was highly delighted at the
idea of entering school. Hitherto her
education had been conducted entirely
at home. There was but one feature
in the suggestion that she did not like,
and that was the separation from her
mother. She had never left her side
hardly for day, and now could she
leave her for weeks and weary months?
Her Unsuitable hungering for knowl-
edge won the victory, and she left for
an absence of months.


At the end of that time she returned