The Lincoln County herald., 1869-01-07
looked at HIM.
lie heard Mildred say.

"slau.icc, I give you back your child"
lie felt Elsics arms about his neck,
and heard her voice speaking hope and
trust for the future, and in the penitence
and thankfulness of that moment the old
life slipped away forever.
This was the story.
1t was in tho commencement OF his
wrong course that Maurice Hadon became
entanglcd with Elsie's mother, a passion.
ate, fiery hearted West Iedian, who had
known no training or dicipiinc, and who
sank unavoidably under the first tempta.
tion which poverty aud her beauty placed
in her path.
All this time Maurice loved Mildred
Lcyton. lie meant no wrong to her.
lie thought at first only to bcfricnd Mar.
guerite, but one Of those wild passions
peculiar TO such natures sprang up in
his heart and swept all honor before it.
lie had left hcr--lost sight Of her
lie followed Mildred to Florida. lie
ovcrcamc all her fears and her fathers
doubts-they were betrothcd- to be mar.
ried.
The very night of the marriage came.
Mildred Legion stood in her bridal dress,
leaning on the arm OF him who was 50
soon to become her husband. Her father
was in the room with them, all joined
before tho arrival Of the guests, when
into their presence there bursts a spccter
that dcsolatcd those lives--it was Mar.
gueri'c with her child
She had followed Hadon. She poured
out the story of her wrongs-she showed
them letters which, by the laws Of their
state, would have made any later marriage
invalid-shc crushed Mildred's youth
out under her burning words and went
away, refusing all help, aud cursing them
all alike.
This was the mystery Of Nildred's life
this it was which had robbed her oi
her youth, aud brought shame SO near
her that her very soul seemed scorched
by its breath.
IIadon learned two years after. that
Marguerite aud her child were dead. lie
had married, and SO life had gone on.
When Mildred saw tho scar upon the
arm Of the wandcrcr she recognized Ha.
don's daughter. 1t resulted from hurt
recciycd while still babe. She knew
at once that the woman had Determined d
that the man who had deserted her should
never after her death claim his child.
Shc had taken refuge With woman
who had once befricnded her, there she
died, and it was with this person Elsio's
frst years passed.
Only such explanations as were abso.
lutely necessary were givcn to the young
girl. She had come there, softcued BY
Mildrcd's teachings, ready to oGsr love
and duty to that father in his atflctions
and loneliness.
"Oh, Mildrcd!" he groancd; II have
not deserved this-your goodness crushes
mel"
"You will deserve it," she answered
"Lifeis forever here or hereafter
I do believe it is never too late for the
most distorted soul to be set Alright. Bt
good to my child-love and cherish her.
l have kept my secret until now, because
knew in moment like this its knowl
edgc would be most comforting to you. '
With his arm about his daughter, Mau
rice Hadon held fast to her dress ant
looked at her, too deeply stricken for an,
thought Of human love, ready to submit,
to the decree which had swept aside any
possibility ofsuch happiness in this world
but looking out from among the ruins o
his old life toward the new promise in tn
future.
There they stood, and amid the sacred
, ~ L.
Lcyton knew that the crowning work o
her existence was complete; content tha
the glory Of her youth bad been swcp
away, since out Of her sorrow and self
sac, i6ce, she had been able to weave
chain which should lead the man she ha
loved, toward light and promise thu
could never perish.
,f Poor Children OF LOnd0n.