The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1855-08-23

great animation, Tomorrow morning
you shall see my children. You viii
have to rise early if you would hear
their first shout of joy, and see their first
smile Of gladness.
Thank God, Lydia murmured the
old man as he turned towards his niece,
your plan has been blessed
LauSon Watkins gazed first upon his
wife and then upon her uncle. He was
puzzled. His wife caught his gaze, and
with a convulsive movement sprang to-
wards him and threw her arms around
his neck
oh, forgive me, my husband for
give me- she exclaimed, while the tears
streamed down her checks.
Forgive you for what' What
does this mean ? gaspcd the young man
as he discngaged his wite's arms from
his neck and looked into her face.
Why, said Adam Langrave, she
wants you to forgive her for saving your
life y Sit down, Lydia, and I'll tell
him all
The wife sanl, into chair, and then
the old man resumed {:
l'll explain the whole mystery to
you in few moments, Lauson You
know how deeply you had become alb
sorbed in harrassing business, and how
increasingly you devoted your time to
the mere requirement Of money. Your
wife saw that you were becoming entire.
I ly iost TO her and hert children, in The
mazy depths of money making. This
latter burthen she could have borne
without murmur, but when she saw
that you were surely making your own
premature passage to the grave, she
thought to arrest your steps. She told
you her fears, but you needed them not.
She saw that the hand of the destroyer
was upon you, and that you only plum
ged the more deeply into the fell excite
ment that was killing you. In the ex-
tremity she came to me, and begged of
me to assist her in saving you. | knew
of but one way, and told my child of
that. She made me promise that l
would carry it into execution I went
to work. 1t was severe task, but
determined to perform it. drew all
your money away from you, and when |
knew that | had your last dollar in my
possession, pretended to fail. When
L saw your misery upon the occasion, l
was tempted to disclose to you the plot,
but | resolved that would go through
with what | had begun; at the same
time earnestly praying that it might all
end for your benefit.
And now continued the old man
drawing a heavy package from his breast
pocket, the deception has lasted long
enough. Here are two hundred and
three thousand dollars. | took them
from you to save your life, and make
my dear child happy Ircturn them to
you, believing you will not blame me
for what | have dono.'
LauSon Watkins was bewildcred at
first, but gradually the cloud was dis
PEELED from his mind.
20, Lauson-my husband-can you
forgive me = repeated Lydia
The redeemed man strained his wife
to his bosom, and while tears rolled
down his cheeks, he cried
Forgive you' No, no, my angel of
life--I have nothing TO forgive. can
only bless sou with my whole heart and
soul. And you too, my generous friend,
he added, extending his hand to Lau-
grave, | must bless you, also. l can
not speak all now-I cannot tell you all
L feel
That was an evening of joy and thank
Fuluess. On rhc next morning uncle
Langrave was up early, but not early
enough to catch the first smile Of the
for he found them just coming
n from tho garden, with their hands
'ull of flowers for their father and moth
,r
The childreu--the two cldest-had
'aiut recollection of Uncle Langrave, but
hey soon learned to love him, and so
veil did he love them, and all else about
lin, that he determined to make the
cottage his home Lauson Watkins
vas once more rich man, but he did