The Portland daily press., 1869-12-04
Selected Story.
How She Paid Her Debt.

hold black eyes, anu merry 1nOuUu lHal
seemed made only to smile, stood opposite
her looking half-repentant, half-defiant, as she
spoke.
Lilly, l couldn't help it. L tell you was
hard up. A fellow must have money; you
women don't know any thing about the temp
tations and necessities o! the world"
But, Charley" she faltered, do you know
how this same world, as you phrase it, LOOKS 0E
at the deed you have just commtteds oh'
Charley" and her voice grew low and tremu-
lous, 8 it is forgeryw ...
"Nonsense, Lii! It's only borrowing part
of old Glencross' unused mlllions, 10 ald my
needs | wrote and asked nm Tor cash, and
he, the unmannerly lout refused. Well, what
could he expect after this, but that l should
help myself"
Lias wrung her slender hands.
How dared you, Charley? That Way
land should come to Misp' she walled.
Daredw he echoed recklessly; &" it was but
a stroke of the pen, after all; and old Glen
cross would be paltrier mser than I take
him to be, if he makes a fuss about matter
OF five hundred dollarsw
1t is the right and justice of the thing"
cried Lillias, almost frantically. "Ifwe could
pay him in any way; but have sold every
thing that remains of our former wealth.
"Seew and she looked round the miserable
apartment, see how live. Last night sat
up until midnight sewing, to have little mo-
ney to pay the rent. have not jewel left,
nor trinket!
"Oh, bother, Lii! If old Glencross cuts I'D
rough, IL Is only taking run across the water.
L know lots of ship-captains that would stow
me away under their holds, almost any moon
light night"
Lillas looked despairingly at him. Was it.
then, impossible to make him comprehend the
moral obquty Of the deed he had just COM
mitted?
But can't stay fooling here" observed
the young man, with a toss of his black curls
:" must be off about my business. Good bye,
Lill. Give us a kiss my girl! Except that
you're uncommon fond of lecturing a fellow
you're not a bad sister in the main."
After he had gone, Lillas sat down to try
and realize the new situation in which she
and her brother were placed. All now de-
pended upon the spirit in which Paulus Glen
cross should receive this new encroachment
upon his purse and patience.
Lilly had never seen this distant relation,
yet she had formed an opinion of him in her
lnmost mind, as we all are apt to do of I'M
seen persons whom we hear a great deal
about; and whenever she thought of Mr..
Glencross, the image of hook-nose old man,
yellow-sklnned and cadaverous, engaged in
sorting over piles Of mortgages or counting
bags OF gold, suggested itself to her mental
eye.
But he must be human, at least" thought
Lilly, in the agony of her distress. of 90
to him myself, and tell him just what poor
Charleys necessities were, and how good
hearted he really is, in spite of all his faults
and thoughtlessness-tl say frankly to him
that have no money nor jewels to reimburse
him, but that L will stay and work for him. as
servant girl might work in the kithen, until
L have discharged the horrible debt, surely, O
surely he cannot have the heart to refuse. [
can do great many things. L can sew and
embroider, and l could make good bread and
mo mn oalxr ea,1 7
good housekeeper, and if Mr.. Glencross is re-
ally SO misery as Charley thinks, he would
look at The economy OF the thing. At least,
it is worth tryiDg!"
So favoraby did Lilly Wayland regard this
idea, preached in her sore extremity, that IN
Two days from the evening in which she had
hidden goodbye to her handsome, reckless
brother, she stepped from the cars at the New
1ork depot, dressed in a sober brown suit,
that made her look like a shrinking little
mouse, with her carpet-bag in her hands.
A little inquiry suflced to bring her to the
street where Mr.. Glencross resided-a stately
avenue, lined on either side with elegant nal
aces, the like of which Lily had never seen
IN the palmer city where she had been born
ana pred Her heart sank within her as she
STOOD on the broad brOwn-stone steps leading
u2 TO the carved rosewood door, on which a
silver plate bore the name of "Glencrossn in
old English letters.
N'' So-oiHiS ueeply dU her own cOWarQlV
trenulousnesS and utter lack of all resolution
and enterprise, she rang the bell to settle the
question at once and definitely.
is Mr. Glencross at home ?" she asked of
the colored servant who answered the sum-
mons.
Yes, Mr.. Glencross was home; would the
young lady enter? And Lilias was shown in
TO an apartment curtained with heavy folds
OF purple satin, and carpeted with velvet of
Iie same rich color-an apartment whose
dusky spiendor made her think of all the sto-
RES she had read of enchanted palaces in the
realms of fairy -laud. .ii...
AS Lilias sat on the silken sofa, waiting
with throbbng heart for the appearance of
her unknown cousin, the thought stole into
her mlnd tnat he was not so much of a 'smis-
err aiter all; and then came sick sort of a
mIsglving that her mission was all in vain.
for surely" she thought, "he will not
wan, want any one to make bread, or look after the
t soa expenditures! L wish-ob, wish
that was safe at home again!n
The thought had scarcely framed itself in
nef mind, when door at the farther end of
lhe room was opened, and tall, handsome
man, scarcely thirty years of age, entered.
- beg your pardon, sir" faltered Lias.
all In a, flutter, 'but L wished to see Mr.. Glen
81 am Mr.. Glencross."
Lily rose up and sat down again. colorino
vivid scarlet. This, then, was their "far.off5
cousin, and how widely different from their
dreams and iancies! Apparently the gentle
man saw and ,pitied her painful confusion, for
he said politely:
"May ask in what manner 7 can ba usof,l
to you?" VIII We u'eioi
Il am Lilias Waylandw she answered. in a
tone that was scarcely audible.
w ayland| A shadow, faint, vet distinctly |
perceptiple, overspread his face at that word, |
ana Lllias saw it with failing heart. She |
loigot lne Iabored speech of palliation and
excuse that she had prepared She forant
mat he was no silver-hared patriarch. buf 4 |
handsome young man, surrounded with all |
the adJuncls OF wealth and luxury She re- |
membered only poor Charley and her own
sickenlng idea OF debt, disgrace and ruin and
sinking on her knees at his feet, she sobbed
out her pitiful story. 'e0
ne Is SO young" she walled. $50 vouno
surely you will not refuse to give him anotheSr.
en !i nee Tor name and fame? will work and
loll for you until the five hundred doIors aro
every cent paid. will be servant. a seam
sIress-what you please, only promise me
w you VIII not visit him with the penalties
eyes still appealed. "e'
20 hise' Miss Wayland," said the Young man
ai.er moments grave consideration. 81
ploinise mat this offence of your brotbnr,s
9 " pe overlooked, for the sake of the sister
WY has pieaded SO eloquently for him.
ana what can l do for you9 What
mast do? For ii cannot repav fine monan
III some shape or other, L shall die of shanoo |
and mortfcation!' '"''''e
II VIII take the matter into consideration ,, |
SAD MI. Glencross gravely, yet not without
certain gleam OF amusement in the corners of i
ms mouth at the idea of that pretty, slender
creature rendering up to him the e1I1ivalent
OF hve hundred dollars. "And now. consin
Llillas-ior believe we may. claim relation
sup, although it is somewhat distant-T shall |
INSIST upon you as my guest for while. Let
me ring and send for my mother!
m hrs. Elencross, a stately old lady in blacl, |
NIX NIX ana Valenciennes lace, welcomed Tiias
, mayland with smiling hospitality which be-.
tore g. W Ihe ancient regime, and almost be-
the ; ;r knew 1t the girl found herself chat
had 1r nS5cemtly away to her hostess, as if She
nieasant al ner life in the sunshine of that
bhnsiod 81, snlne; while Paulus Glencross
pusiIu aliohS some papers at a tabe hauond
Ma: .1S tne sweet changing conrto1a o
with new interest. couhtenance
never saw such lovely faoo +, ,.c ;, |
ne thought. "The profile is as mra al NY Ilie,
90 d race OF Hero on my mothers cana s'i
Tue eyes are as full of shifting lights as ana
Is an acquisition p ''' ne" cousin
that mont iil M wrote G her happy letter home
nostsor;s,t Mr. Gleneross added pleasant
ms season of peril was over '"l' Aiie" Ihas
ll hoe, /