Worcester daily spy., 1861-12-25

was very Ill Tor long time after L was widow
ed, but in tile kind letters | received from
home had no hint of Mrs. Barclays trou-
bles, and when she requested me to change
the address of her letters, she did not say that
she had been forced to leave her home, the
dear home where she had made my life so
happy. Not until yesterday, when | landed
in New York, did | receive the least utima-
ton Of the change of my friends prospects,
and l came here as soon as possible. | have
just arrived in the city, and | came TO you as
the person who could best give me the inior.
nation which / seek.
"My husband left me wealthy, and / am
sole mistress OF my property; my beneiactress
is, hear, poor. Now Judge if l have a right
to ask for the statement Of her trouble"
Mr.. Curtis replied instantly. "You have
every right, and | will meet your confidence
with equal trankness but first you must al
low me to insist upon your having rest and re-
freshment Nothing can be done before to-
morrow, and after tea | promise you all the
information which it is in my power to give
you. Mrs Curtis is in the drawing room.
Will you allow me to present you z" and, ris-
ing he offered his arm 10 the lady,
Mrs Curtis, tall handsome lady, received
her husbands little guest with pleasure. one
sight of the childish face with its sad setting
enIisting all her womanly sympatlies. The
name, however, added to the warmth of her
welcome.
''Mrs Hastings, feel like an old friend, for
you were my sisters classmate in the Italian
class at DIR. Manaras. Do you hot remember
Lottie Banks 2"
"And you are Sara. shall have thousand
questions to ask, but first must trouble Mr..
Curtis to speak to the hackman, and tell him
to call for me later in the evening"
"Where are your trunks?"
"At the c. House"
''Mr. Curtis, said his lady, laughingly, edo
you, on pain of my dspleasure, instantly send
Tor Mrs Hastings trunks No words; you
are our guests while you are in the city,
81 shall be a lifelong inmate, then" was the
reply cor intend to reside here in future
accept your invitation with pleasure, for l
have to find house. Mr.. Curtis, when you
send for the trunks, will you please send for
my baby 2"
"If there is so precious package as that to
be delivered" said Mr. Curtis, 81 will 90 my
self for the baggage
"Room 139, and you will find Meta, the
nurse, there. You speak German 2"
eyes"
because she is profoundly ignorant of Eng
lish. Ny baby is German born there sixteen
months ago, and | brought nurse from Ger
many when we left there"
Mr.. Curtis departed upon his mission, and
Mrs. Hastings having doffed bonnet and cloak
was soon chatting with her hostess
Tea over, the baby put to bed, and the law.
yer disengaged, the sad story OF Mrs. Barclays
troubles came up again. 1t was briet. A rel
ative of her late husbands had made a claim
AGAINST the estate aud after Il long lawsuit the
court had given the case to the widows op-
pODent.
"She left the house Immediately after the
claim made" said MIR. Curtis, "and was
only persuaded, after very long course of
urging, TO resist the demand"
''Where is she now z"
"But how does she live Was there moth.
ing leftl"
Nothing! From luxury, she was deprived
of all. She is now teaching French in young
ladies' seminary. 1t viii be a year in January
since she has been there"
Claire's tears were flowing fast hut, after
moments pause, she said, brightly :-"All
the events OF my life, excepting the last
aud she glanced at her black dress-"have
happened to me on Christmas. Twas ,rn on
that day, orphaned married, all on Christmas
day, and l should like to associate great
pleasure more with the time it is only one
month. VIII you help me in plan for the
next Christmas O.
81 will" said both Mr. and Mrs. Curtis, and
Mrs. Hastings told them her project.
''No letter from Claire; this is the first
steamer she las missed | hope she is not
sick again." And an anxious cloud came
over the speakers face. She was an elderly
lady, whose soft gray hair shaded face on
which every gentle feeling had left trace;
the mild blue eyes, the full mouth the soft,
creamy complexion, all seemed to speak of the
serene spirit within, which gave its charm to
Il. IL. 4ypt
up and down in a long room, where globes,
books, and desks told of little students in
her hand she held an unopened letter, but it
was not directed in the pretty, lady-like hand
for which she looked, and she let it lay sealed
in her hand as she walked up and down. A
fair child-ke form and face, with wreathng
wealth of sunny hair, was before her as she
mused, now in the coarse dress and thin bon
let in which it had first come to her, then in
the full white lace aud bridal wreath and vail
in which it had last greeted her She tried to
picture it in the sad dresa which now sorrow
had made its own, and she whispered softly,
"Not yet, not next time; l will write as be-
fore until she is a little more accustomed TO
her own grief l cannot add to my daring's
care Perhaps at Christmas, the time when
met her first, l can write"
1t was getting dark, and the entrance of the
children and light reminded her OF the letter.
Onenlng II, she restu =
Nh dear Madam: find that your signature
is absolutely necessary to some papers which
] hold and which cannot trust to the mail
Will you come to the city on the 24th, when
/ will meet you and be ready for the signature
Mrs. Curtis begs you will be her guest during
your stay in town.
Yours, very respectfully, A. CURTIS.
ole is imperative, thought the lady, "but
I will go. Any relief from this lreadmil ex-
stence will do me good"
1t was Christmas eve. A STILL starry eve
ming had succeeded a clear day, aud as the
cars dashed into the depot at nine o'clock,
Mrs. Barclay was almost sorry her ride was
over.
81 could not come earlier" she said, as Mr.
Curtis met her "My holiday does not COM
meuce until to morrow, and the principal is
exacting Now have a week of quiet rest"
"And trust of great happiness" said ihe
lawyer.
81 wonder what he means? 2" thought the
lady, as they drove away from the depot. "lle
smiled very significantly. The suit is lost
that is certain. Has he saved anything from
the wreck We are driven away from his
part OF the city, and-and-" the carriage
stopped. "My old home !" said Mrs Barclay.
II will explain presently" said Mr. Curtis,
offering his arm.
Up the steps. into the wide hall, lighted and
warmed, and up the stairs to the bedroom.
Here Mrs. Curtis met the bewidered lady,
whose eyes flied as they rested upon the fur.
niIure and ornaments, which were just as she
had left them.