St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1857-12-03

month the marks of dissipation had
all left his face. Then he returned TO
town, and entered the store. Amos
Williams gave him lucrative station
and bade him remember nothing of
the past save the one great lesson he
had learned.
Charles" he said, "you know the
widow Swami"
eyes, sir"
swell, / have engaged board for
you there. hope that arrangement
will suit you"
ayes, sir" returned the youth with
emotion.
From that time Charles Aubrey
went on nobly and truly in the path
he had marked out. AS soon as he
again made his appearance in pros
perity, his old companions sought his
company once more; but he repulsed
them with a stern firmness that left
them no hopes. Yet for a month he
was beset with temptation in every
shape, but hesitated not once. His
mind was made up and he made but
one answer to all invitations to depart
from his course. At length these
temptations became less frequent and
finally he was left to pursue his own
course. ~
Little did Charles Aubrey know how
closely he had been watched. Mr..
Williams knew his every movement
even to his prayers which he poured
forth in the privacy of his own apart
ment. Thus passed away three months
at the end of that time Mr.. Williams
called the young man into his count
ing room, one evening after the rest
of the people had gone.
"Wcll, Charles" the merchant COM
menced, chow would you like to
change your boarding place?"
There was something in the look
and tone of the man, as he spoke these
words, that made the youth start.
The blood rushed to his face and anon
he turned pale.
"If you would like" the merchant
resumed in the same low strange tone,
" you may come and board with me.
| will not deceive you Charles. Until
| could know that You were entirely
reformed, | dared not carry you to my
house. But | am satisfied now. |
have not doubted you, but l would
prove you. And now, if you please
you may inform Mrs. Swan that you
shall board with her no more. She
will not be disappointed for l have
spoken with her on the subject"
With these words Mr.. Williams
left the store and as soon as Charles
could recover from the strange emo
ton that had almost overpowered him
he called for the porter to come and
lock up, and then having locked
the great safe took his depart
ure
On the next morning he came to the
store and when his employer came he
him that he had given notice
to Mrs. Swan.
VERY well, returned the merchant.
" This evening, then, go home with
me-"
Evening came, and Charles Aubrey
accompanied his old friend home
Tea was ready, the rest Of the family
having eaten an hour before. After
tea Charles Aubrey was conducted to
the sitting room, where lamps were
burning, and where Mr.. Williams in
formed him that he could amuse him
self by reading,
Charles sat dow there, and his en-
ployer went out but he could not read.
His heart beat wildly in his bosom,
and his soul was strangely worked
upon. Oh, how natural everything
there appeared. And how many happy
blissful hours had he spent in that
same room. Thus he sat, when the
door was slowly opened, and female
within the apartment.
She was a bright eyed beautiful mai
den, and when she first entered a.
happy smile was on her face. But
the smile faded away, and her lips
trembled. She only stood there with
her hands half extended, gazing trem-
blingly upon the youth. In a moment
more her bright eyes, overrun with
tears, and then Charles started up.
He could doubt no more. Why else
should he be brought hither why left
thus? why placed on such probation T?
he hesitatcd no more. With one quick
step he sprang forward, and without
one word he caught the fair girl to
his bosom.
Mary" he uttered, as he gazed
into the sparkling eyes of the fair one
who still clung fondly to him, "you
still love me-you forgive me all and
trust me once more 7"
"Yes," she murmured and ere she
could speak further her father entered
the room.
"Ah-so you've found him have you
Mary 2" he cried in happy joyous
tone.
"Mr. Williams" uttered Charles,
still holding Mary by the hand, and
speaking with difficulty, 81 hope l am
not deceived. Oh, you have not
brought me here to kill me You
cannot have passed this cup to my
lips only to dash it away again !"
"Of course not" returned the mer-
chant. but you must know the
whole truth, and for fear my child may
not tell you all, I'll tell you for myself.
This noble girl has never ceased to
love you, and when you were the
lowest down, she loved you most.
She came to me and asked me Il she
might save you if she could. l could
not tell her nay, and she went to work.
She has suffered much, and, Charles,
it remains with you to decide whether
her future shall be one of happiness ol
not. She knew that you were down
that your money was gone, and thai
your false friends had forsaken you
Then it was that her love for you grew
bold and strong. She knew not what
might be YOUR feelings. and to save