Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-03-30

eolors usurped the faded remnant of
better days-new books were OCCASION
ally brought home. and many papers
laid upon the little table by the side OF |
which the widow sat with her knitting |
Wallace generally sat the evening out
AT home reading to his mother or giving |
descriptions of his fellow-clerks.
Augustus Hartley is fine fellow,
he said one night, and very rich his
father Is. wonder why he takes TO me
so. I'm sure can't begin TO dress a.
he does. tell you he lives in great
style, and they say his father paid some
thing handsome to get him into the bank.
What are his principles 2 asked Mis-.
Blake.
%, don't know'-Wallace colored a
little very good, dare say: he's rich,
you know, and perhaps lives little faster
then some young men, but | assure you
he added, seeing his mothers counte-
nance, | never heard an oath on his
| lips, and his manners are those of true
gentleman. What | mean about being
fast is, that he drives a good deal, and
goes to the theatre and to dances-but
then, to be sure, he is nothing to me.
only one can't help liking him, he's so
generous. The very beggars know him;
lie never turns a poor creature away
If he goes to the ballroom and the
THEATRE said the widow, gravely i think
he is not fit associate for my son.
We'll mother, there's no danger of any
great intimacy. He is rich and l am
poor, so there's a barrier between US !;
but must treat him civilly, you know
'Of course l don't object to that
said his mother; and there the matter
dropped.
In spite Of the barrier, however, Wal
lace Blake gradually became intimate
with Augustus Hartley. 1t was pleasant
to accompany him in q leisure hour on a
drive-it became gradually delightful 10
listen to his stories of gay life, the fas-
cinations of places only known to him
heretofore by name, and it was not long
ere these things engrossed his thoughts,
to the exclusion of his mothers counsel
One summer there came a pressing in
vitafinn to Mrs. Blake TO spend some
months with sister, and as her health
really required change, she decided to
90. Her fond eyes had seen no differ.
ence in her son, save that he grew in
stature and manlinesS, and perhaps, Il
her partial vision, hand>omer-so like
his father! She did not feel the ole
dread now it seemed to her as if Wal
lace could not be far from the kingdom
he had lately grown so serious, SO tende
and gentle in his ways
Thus it happened that Wallace wa
left alone, and at the end of six month
his mother wrote that illness in her sis
ter's family might detain her through th
winter
> On the day that Wallace received thi
letter Augustus Hartley noticed hi
depression.
: What's gone wrong1' he asked 20
look as if you had ju-t come from o
were going to funeral.'
Wallace explained.
We'll, it must be hard to do withou
" ones mother, when mother is all on
has. How in the world do you manag
at home 2
;. There is a good old lady there wh
r prepares my meals +; somebody my mott
er has taken in for charity replied Wa
lace, and it's all well enough exceE
evenings, then I'm lonesome
'Shoull think you might be-that'
rather hard society for young fellow
| tell you what. Wallace, I've got ROOF
= to myself, and do you come round ev,
nings. Why, life isn't all prayer NEE
ing, old boy you ought to see some
; the sights. No excuses, you must an
you SHALL
u For the sake of companionship, Wa
y lace allowed himself to be urged, and
naIly compromised the matter by divilir
u his evenings, Augustus to spend half
~ his desolate home. This agreed upo
T. this one doubtful step taken, the wa
n paved with 20 many good resolution
Is was Furthermore trodden, but it tend,
~ not upward. One barrier after anoth'
H. was broken, until Wallace had gone ia
a. lher than he dared confess even 10 biz
ie self.
Another year passed away, and asa
% AIRS. Blake was summoned from home
spend several months. Had il not seem,
10 TO her imperative duty, she would ha'
!" preferred remaining with her son, +