Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-03

expand into the bright, intelligent man, INST
be we'll nigh crushed beneath the GLOW that lad
80 suddenly fallen upon them. Ga, what was
her grief TO theirs2
And now Lottie flew to her o En haven, the
arms OF her mother, and there wept the FIRST
tears her burning eyes had shed.
Shocked, and for some time incredulous Mrs
Warde, with infinite patience and tenderness,
sustained her child during those hours 10 which
her anguish was almost more than she could
bear.
Never again would Lottie accuse this dear
friend and comforter of being wanting in sym-
patty. Who else would have borne SO kindly
with her wild bursts OF impatient sorrow-her
restless paciDgs to and tro--ker passionate COM
planings? Who else so skiifully taken advant-
age of her better feelings to bring her to her
knees, and teach her 10 bow her head to the
Divine will?
GLOW good you are to me, darling motheri''
she sobbed, when Mas. Warde had prevailed
upon her 10 lie down, and was bathing her ach-
ing head; "snd indeed I don't deserve 1t. /
have been SO selfish, so ungrateful, that If you
knew all my hard and bitter thoughts you
would surely cease to love me at all!'
Mrs. Warde's only reply was to stoop and kiss
her, and that kiss uprooted the last fibre OF sci.
tishness in her chiid's heart. Never again did
LOttie let vanity stand in the place of duty and
in the midst of her trouble she could be hum
bly, thankful that this dear mother was still all
her own.
All that night she wept and bewailed herself,
but when morning dawned and she saw how
weary and exhausted Mrs. warde was looking,
restrained her grief.
While her mother rested, she moved quietly
about, dressing the little ones, whom her altered
ooks and swollen eyes swed into upwonted
oberness; nor was it till every task had been
ccomplished that could spare Mrs. Warde
atigue that she seated herself at her mothers
eet and wept herself into the sleep OF ex-
haustlOn.
But stronger arms were sustaining her when,
with start, she awOke. II was not the mild
ace of her mother that bent over her and
smiled at her, it was Charles Morrison himself,
and for a moment she believed herself to be in
happy dream.
Can it be yOu9' she asked wstfully. "Speak
to me, for know not what to think, nor what
to believe"
lyon may believe that Charles Morrison has
committed no act that disgraces him." said her
rejoicing mother, who stood by. "Need we tell
you more?"
Lottie pressed her hands to her head. aud
looked from one to the other, till the tender
smile on Charles lips coniir med the tidings
81 seem too much bewildered to be as glad
As should be-" she exclaimed. "Am really
awake?-has there been no robbery after all?
That dreadful newspaper why did / believe
the paragraph heard Sir John read from it?''
"Sit down here, you poor, pale child, )" said
Charlie, 'and let me help you out Of your mys-
thcation. | think II began the night before
last, when ! sought you at Sir Johns to say
gOOd-by before 1 went on a hurried journey,
and TO tel you the two-fold object of it,
81 had heard, DEAR that the man who was
the cause of all your fathers misfortunes was
at Birmingham; and Messrs. Smithson freely
gave me permission to go there, and see whether
threats to expose his nefarious proceedings
wonld induce him to do justice to your fathers
widow and orphans"
Beyond my expectations. | have Just had
the pleasure of putting into your mothers hands
sum that will enable her to educate her chill
dren with comfort"
Lottie was obliged TO interrupt him that she
might throw her arms around Mrs. Warde's
neck, and congratulate her rapturously. Then
Charlie himself mad to be thanked in loving,
fearful whispers; and then 80 many pleasant
little plans were discussed for the widows future
that some time elapsed before they required to
the explanation.
when l had completed my own business,
Messrs Smlthson desired me 10 20 to Sheffield
and make some inquiries there for them. a The
DRIFT OF these ] scarcely understood when |
started, but ! soon discovered that they had
reference 10 certain suspicious they were enter
tanning"
''But not of goa, Charlie?'
"NO, love; they have never had any reason to
doubt my integrity, and they have Just proved
their confidence in IT, by promising me an in
crease OF salary. But another of their clerks,
led into tempta alton by a love OF gayety-"
81 see it all now,' sighed Lottie. "Poor
Charlie resumed (" Ny father, for whom as
an old friend, Messrs. Smthson sent, to assist
them in breaking the news to his parents, can
messed. Mrs. Crawley is very ill, Lottie. The
truth was concealed from her as long as pos-
sible. 1t was not until late last night she learnt
that II was to hear the tale of her sons guilt
and II appears that no one had suspected how,
while Austin was believed to be quietly sleep
ing, he had packed a portmanteau and stolen
out OF the house in the dead Of night to embark
for America"
And so Lottie's JOY in her betrothed's limo
ceDce was tempered by the knowledge that if
has parents had been happily spared such deep
sorrow, others were enduring It.
She spent her Christmas Eve at Chaplain,
bnt not in the dove-colored silk. She was clad
soberly in the dark merino, and heard, with
dropping head and troubled conscience, Mrs.
Morrison tell her how fully she and her bus
band approved their sons choice, and how her
conduct as a daughter and sister had won their
esteem long since.
al am not half as good as YOU think me :"
Lottie tearfully confessed, aud deepened their
interest in her by her honesty.
After all, ii was Mrs. Warde who wore the
dove-colored silk at her daughters wedding. 1t
was made up for her by Lottie herself, who, as
her needle passed in and out of her work drew
from the events connected with her purchase
the lesson every wise or foolish deed conveys to
the heart that is opened to receive it.