Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1874-03-19

WIS HOT the nllN TACO OF her mother
TINT bent over her ind smiled ut her,
it was Charlie Morrison himself, and for
moment t,, she believed herself to be in
Can it he you ?" she asked, visit
fully. speak e. me;s for know not
Whit t" think, nor Whit to believe.
You may believe that Charles Mori-
son has committed no act that disagrces
him." said her rejoicing mother. who
stood by. "Nccl We tell you more?"
Lottio pressed her hands to her head
and looked from one to the other. till
the tender smile on Charlie slips confirm
ed the tidihgs.
81 seem too much bewillered to he
as glad rs 1 should be-" she exclaim
Ell. "AmI really awaken has there been
no robbery after all? That dreadful
newspaper !--wly did I believe the
E !" l. John read from
"Sit dc poor, pale child,
said Che me help you out
of your 1 think it began
the night when I sought
you ut olr q say goodbye
before I Went on hsnfied Journey, and
to tell you the two-fold object of It.
II had heard, dear, that the man
who was the cause of all your fathers
misfortunes was at Birmingham and
Messrs. Smithson freely gave me per-
mission to 90 there, and nee whether
my circumstances, and, if those failed,
my threats to expose his nefarions pro-
ceedings, would induce him to do JUS
tice to your fathers widow and Or
phans.
"And you succeeded ?"
Beyond my expectations. I have
just had the pleasure of putting into
your mothers hands sum that will
enable her to educate her children 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
had to be thanked in loving, fearful
whispers and then so many little
plans were discussed for the widows
future that some time elapsed before
they required to the explanation.
When I had completed my own
business, Messrs. Smithson desired me
to go to Sheffield and make some. in
quiries there for them. The drift of
these I scarcely understood when I
started, but I soon discovered that they
had reference to certain suspicious
they were entertaining.
"But not of you, 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 increase of salary.
But another of their clerks, led into
temptation by love of gaiety -"
II see it all now," sighed Lottie.
Poor Austin!"
Charlie resumed: my father, for
whom, as an old friend, Messrs. Smithson
sent to assist them in breaking the news
to his parents, can scarcely bear to speak
of the scenes he witnessed. Mrs. Crawley
is very ill, Lottie. The truth was con-
cealed from her as long as possible. It
was not until late last night she learned
that it was to hear the tale of her sons
guilt that Mr.. Crawley was summoned
to the city; and it appears that no one
suspected how, while Austin was be-
ieved to be quietly sleeping, he had
packed portmanteau and stolen out of
the house in tho dead of night, to embark
for America"
And so Lottie's Joy in her betrothed's
innocence was tempered by the knowl-
edge that if lbs parents had been hap
PLY spared such deep sorrow, others
were enduring it.
She spent her Christmas Eve at
Chaplain, but not in the dove-colored
silk. She was clad soberly in the dark
merino, and heard, with dropping head
and troubled conscience, Mrs. Mori-
son tell her how fully she and her hus-
band approved their sons choice, and
how her conduct as daughter and Sis
ter had won their esteem long since.
IL am not half as good as you think
mew Lottie tearfully confessed, and
deepened their interest in her by her
honesty.
After all, it was Mrs. Warde who wore
the dove-colored silk at her daughters
wedding. It 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.