Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-05-27

sue Nlhltcu persons IN Dettor circumstances
than herself.
Miss Dayton wanted some triAe brought
from her own room that evening, and Lot.
tie had executed her commission and was
returning, when the voice Of Sir John, who
was reading the evening paper, arrested
her. Dear mel how sad these cases are; one
never knows who 10 trust Listen to this,
Letitia d" The confidential clerk Of Smith
son Brothers absconded last night His
employers had had their suspicious aroused
by some circumstance or other, and hinted
an intention of looking into his accounts.
As soon as he learned this he made business
in the country pretence for his fight,
aud 1t is supposed that he is on his way 10
America
To Lottie's strained ears every word Of
this was horribly audible, and the next min.
ute she was running down stairs, putting on
her hat and shawl as she went.
If | am asked for" she gasped to the
wondering housekeeper say that | am i'll
that | have gone to my mothers but
don't stop me--don't question me, or shall
die
But it was to the home of Austin Craw.
ley, fellow clerk Of Charles, she first
took her way. She would not give up all
hope till she had seen him, and heard his
lips confirm the dreadful tale and as she
went along she tried to comfort herself in
repeating, " 1t cannot be Charlie Morri-
son deiauter, fugitive from justice-it it
is impossible!"
Mrs. Crawley herself answered Lotties
knock, and her smiling cheerful face made
the girl feel her own misery grown sharper.
"No, Austin had not returned from the
city yet" she said. Would not Lottie
come in and wait for him She was quite
alone, for Mr.. Crawley had been at Smith.
sons all day taking the place (she believed)
Of Charlie Morrison, whose absence seemed
to have put the firm very much out of their
way. There was nothing amiss, was there 2''
she added, as she took a closer survey Of
her visitors face.
But her question remained unanswered,
for Lottie was already hurryiug away. The
last faint hope that the report was a mis-
take had perished before Mrs. Crawley's
placid utterances, Austin, the gay and
careless, whose speudthrift habits had often
displeased his parents, had preserved his
integrity while Charlie Morrison, the son
of many prayers, the steady, intellectual
young man, who INDUCED in no low tastes,
no cloud attire, had forfeited his high
character and disgraced his family this
was her conclusion.
Away through the busiest streets of Lon.
don, hurrying on with her face mufiled in
her veil, lest any one should perceive the
anguish depicted on it, she walked till she
found herself before the well known offices
of Messrs. Smithson. They had been
closed hours earlier; but the old man who
was porter and care.taker was standing at
the door, talking to some curious acquain-
tance.
Unperceiyed by the garrulous speaker
Lottie paused long enough to hear her
lovers name coupled with words indis-
tinctly caught relating to the large sums of
money that were missing.
His father was here this morning, as
soon as the news was made public" the
porter went on-"such respectable old
gentleman" But here his voice was low
cred, and Lottie passed by, hearing only
something about the young mans broken
hearted mother as she went but ii reminded
her that she was not alone in her grief, that
the loving parents, who had cherished their
son in childhood, and seen him gradually
expand into the bright, intelligent man.
must be well.nigh crushed beneath the blow
that had so suddenly fallen upon them Oh !!
what was her grief to theirs?
And now Lottie few to her own 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 ten.
derness, sustained her child during those
hours iu which her anguish was almost more
than she could bear.
Never again would Lottie accuse this
dear friend and comforter Of being wanting
in sympathy. Who else would have borne
so kindly with her wild bursts of impatient
sorrow-her restless pacings to and fro
her passionate complainings3 Who else
so skilfully taken advantage Of her better
feelings to bring her to her knees, and teach
her to bow her head to the Divine will?
How good you are to me, darling
mother !" she sobbed, when Mrs. Warde
had prevailed upon her to lie down, and was
bathing her aching head sand indeed |
don't deserve it. 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 selhshness in the child's heart.
Never again did Lottie let her vanity stand
in the place Of duty; and in the midst other
trouble could be humbly thankful that this
dear mother was still all her own.
All that night she wept and bewaicd
herself, but when morning dawned and she
saw how weary and exhausted Mrs. Warde
was looking, Lottie put her good intentions
in practice and restrained her grief.
While her mother rested, she moved
quietly about, dressed the little ones, whom
her altered looks and swollen eyes awed into
unwonted soberness nor was II till every
task had been accomplished that could spare
Mrs. Warde fatigue that she seated herself
at her mothers feet and wept herself into
the sleep OF exhaustion.
But stronger arms were sustaining her
when with a start she awoke. II was not
the mild face of her mother that bent over
her and smiled at her; it was Charlie Nor
rison himself, and for moment she be-
lieved herself to be in happy dream.
Can it be you ?" she asked wistiully.
Speak to me- for | know not what to think,
nor what TO believe"
"You may believe that Charles Morri.
son has committed no act that disgraces
him." said her rejoicing mother, who stood
lby. "Need we tell you morsf"