Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-02-17

But her question remained unanswered.
Tor Loltie was already hurrying away.
The last faint hope that the report was a
dreadful mistake had perishcd before Mrs.
Crawlcy'S placid uIterances. Austin. the
gay and careless. whose spendthrilt hab-
It's had often displeased his parents, had
preserved his integrity; while Charlie
Molison, the son OF many prayers. the
intellectual Young man. who indulged in
no low tastes, no cloud" attire, had for
leited his high character and disgnced
his hmily--lhis was her conclusion.
Away through the busiest streets OF
London, ,hurrying on with her face muflled
in her veil, lest any one should perceive
the anguish depicted on it, she walked,
ill She found herself before the we'll
known offices OF Messrs. Smithson -
They had been closed hours earlier; bu.
the old man who was porter and care.
taker WAS standing at the door. talking 10
some curious acquainances.
Unrercei,ed 10y the garrulous speaker,
Louie paused long enough to hear her
lovers name coupled with words indis.
tincIly caught relating to the large sums
of money that we're missing.
Ills father was here this morning, ~
The news was made public" the porter
went ou--">uch respectable old gentle
man" Bat berc his voice was lowered,
and Lotlie passed by. heating only some.
thing about the young mans broken.
hearted mother rs she went; but i.
reminded ser lha; she was not alone IL
her grief: that the loving parents, who
had cherished their son in his childhood,
and seen him gradually expand into the
bright, Intelligent man, must bc well
nigh crushed beneath the blow that had
so suddenly fallen upon them Oh what
was her g,iei to theirs?
And now Loltie ilew to her own haven,
the arms ol her mother, aud there wept
the first tears her burning eyes had she'd.
Shocked, and lor some time incredulous,
Mrs. Wmdc, with intnite patience and
tenderness, sustained Der child during
those hours in which her anguish was
almost more than she could bear.
Never again would Lotlie accuse this
dear friend ard comloItcr OF being
wanting in sympathy. Who else would
haze borne - kind s. with acr wild out
bursts OF impatient >urrow-her restless
pacings to and iro-hcr passionate com
plainings? Who else so skilully taken
advantage OF her better feelings to bring
her to her knees, and teach her to bow TO
the Divine viii?
"lIow good You are to me, darling
mother" she sobbed. when Mrs WarGe
had prevailed upon her to lie down, and
was bathing her aching he4l; "and In.
deed, | don't deserve il. l have been 90
selfish, so unsratclul, that it you knew all
my hard and bitter lhoughts YOU would
surely cease to love me at ALL"
Mrs WarJc's only reply was To ,loop
and Kiss her; and that Kiss uprooted The
last iDre OF selishues, in her child,
heart Never again did Loitie let vanity
stand in the place OF duty; and in the
midst OF her trouble she could be hunbly
thankful that this dear mother was still
all her own.
All that night she wopt and bewailed
herself. but when morning dawned and
she saw how weary and exhausted Mrs
Warde was loo,ing, Lollie put her good
intentions in practice aud restrained her
grief.
While her mother rested, she moved
quietly about, dressing the little ones,
whom her altered looks and swollen eyes
awed into unwonted soberncss; nor was
! il ill every task had been accomplished
that could spare Mrs Warde fatigue that
she seated herself at her mothers ieet
and wept herself in;o the sleep of ex
! haustion.
| But stronger arms were sustaining her
when, with u Start, she awuke. IT was
not the mild face of her mother that bent
over her and smiled ai her, it was Charlie
Morrison himself and sor "A moment she
believed herself to be in happy dream.
"Can it be you?" she asked wisllully.
Speak to me, for know not what to
think. nor what TO believe"
You may believe that Charlie Morrison
has committed no act that diSgraces him."
said her rejoicing mother, who stood by.
Need we tell you more 7"
Lottie pressed her hands to her head,
and looked from one 10 the other. till the
tender smile on Charities lips confirmed
the tidiugs.
Il seem too much bewldercd TO be as
glad as | should be-" she exclaimed.
Am l really awake has there been no
robbery after all? That dreadful news.
paper why did l believe the paragraph
heard Sir John read from it ?"
"Sit down here. you poor, pale child"
said Charlie, land let me help you out OF
your mystification. | think it began the
night before last, when sought you al
Sir Johns to say good-by before | went
on hurried journey, and TO tell yon the
twofold object OF it."
II had heard, dear, that The man who
was the cause Of ali your fathers mis-
fortunes was a Birmingham; and Messrs.
Smithson lreol gave me permission 10 60