Year: 1870

james Leonard.


When Judge Whitcomb opened the letter
he intended to recIose il and send it to It's
address. But now, ifhe could suppress it
as he told himself he had a right to do---a
point would be gained; yes, two, for ne would
blame her for not writing to him before she
went away, aud would lose all clue TO her adj
dress, for the present at least Judge Whit |
comb was not a bad man aud hidden in his
heart beneath a crust Of pride aud self-es-
teen, was a warm love for his children
Morton was his darling, and around him gath
cred the choicest emotions Of his nature
And had he suspected Of the sorrow that he
would subject him to by the act he contem-
plated, it would never have been committed.
That the girl would fret some he did not doubt
But what right had she to think Of him-the
only son Of Judge Witcomb Her presump-
ton ought to be punished This last thought
decided him. aud with steady hand he con-
signed it TO the flames on that bright spring
morning. And Morton Whitcomb recited
poor lessons from wondering why no letters
came aud Lucy Merryman wept bitter tears
in ner far Western home for the answer that
could not come.


As soon as Mrs. Merryman was gone, Judge
Whtcomb wrote long letter to bis son and
in postscript conveyed the intelligence that
Mrs Merryman had sold her little place and
gone West, for some advantage to her daugh-
ter, he had been told.


And thus the thread that had connected
their lives so long aud so closely was severed,
and they went their separate way with their
first bitter lesson in distrust and suspicion.


Mrs. Merryman had nearly three thousand
dollars to place in the hands of her brother
aud took her place as housekeeper of his fam
lily, with honor to herself and advantage TO
him and his TWO motherless girls. Lucy also,
had pleasant home with them, and finally
rose from her subordinate position to precep-
tress Of the very popular school.
Mr.. leonard was a shrewd business man,
and the funds entrusted to him by his widow
ed sister did not lay idle. By speoulating iu
city property he soon doubled the amount !;
and yenturing still farther, be added more.
Aud at the end of four years, with Lucy's
wages included, they had ten thousand dollars
ia the bank


But, oh, how idle how less than worth
less it all seemed to Lucy when violent dis
case attacked her mother, aud she was forbid
den to hope Everything that money and
the most agoni1ing care could do was DONE
But the mandate had gone forth, and Lucy
I Merryman was alone.


The mothers dying request had been to be
buried by the husband of her youth, in the
shadow OF those green mountains, near which
she had lived, and the brother and the weep
ing daughter accompanied the remains to the
village graveyard. Aud thus Lucy Merry
mau returned to the place Of her birth. They
remained but few days, as her uncle was a
stranger and without seeing Morton Whit
comb, who was transacting some business for
his father in Boston, she returned with her
uncle to his residence in Illinois.


But during her short stay she had met
Judge Whitcomb, and he was particularly


struck with her beautiful face, queeuly man


uers, and all that combines 10 make an ele-


giant woman. In Mr.. Leonard his quick eve


detected the man of business and even a less


acute one would have pronounced him one of


cultivation aud refinement. AsJudge Whit


comb, he called on him at his hotel, invited


him to his house, and offered him all the at


tention that one gentleman need offer another.
When Morton returned and found that
Lucy Merryman had been back, grief.laden


and desolate, the old love dream Of his boy


hood swept aud surged in his heart as of old
) and he longed to soothe and cheer her, as in


those early days But when his father, in
} MS usual business-likc manner, spoke of her
} great personal beauty, digniied manners and


good connections, he then added, Z" And her


uncle tells me she is regarded as one Of the
most successful teachers of the State !" the
/ canker spot burned again, and he said, bit.


terly


." Then she has obtained all she craved, and
! her best friends should be satisfied
The father had never been quite satisfied


with Morton. He had not made the man his
! boyhood promised The gay, light-hearted
youth had become sarcastic and cynical. He
3 was not fond Of female society, and some.
: times spoke sneeringy of affection between
the sexes. Coldly polite to all, the inner
temple of his heart seemed closed, and dis.
trust guarded the portal


A." Morton, why do you say that? Did you


ever care for her ?"


1t was so unlike his father to ask such a


question, that he stared an instant before re-
plying


Yes, as never shall care for another
But she threw me away as an impeachment


in her path in her mad career to position and


wealth If she has gained the FIRST the latter


will surely come and if she is gratiied, her
! friends should not complain; and for one


will not"


4" You were so young, Morton, when she
went away, that you ought to have forgotten


that boyish fancy, and long ere this have
found one on whom to bestow your heart aud


name"


Perhaps But you see | have not, and
with my present estimate of female constan.


cy, you will not be troubled to set up sepa-


rate establishment very soon


That proud man looked on his sou for a
moment irresolute but his love was stronger
, than his pride. The destroying of that letter
} he had ever regarded as but removing a dan.


gerous plaything from his child; but this


outraging the feelings of man was crime
aud at last he had come to see it MS such, and


bowed his head for an instant upon his hands
The son rose to 60.


{" Come back, Morton" he said. Did |


ever wrong you as a child?"
J "Neyer !" he replied in tones of surprise
Then will not longer as man. |
, thought was doing right Thought wa,


taking a step to eventually enhance your hap.
piness and If | erred, as fear did, il wa,


from my jealous care for you. | did mol
think you would suffer much, or for long
J But | find | was mistaken and regret the act


broke up your correspondence with Lucy
Merryman."


"You, father :"


"Yes, kept the letter in which she in.
formed you Of the contemplated removal, and
gave her future address"


"And she has been left, through all these


years, to suppose the neglect was mine f."
"Yes, but did not think"
: 4" Euough She shall know now will
write--no, will go "


And the next train of cars that went whir-