Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-05-27
Vol. 69.-35SS. No. 80.

Lottie pressed her hands 10 her hea,
and looked from one 10 the other, till th
tender smile on Charles lips confirmed III
tidings.
:" | seem too much bewildered to be a
glad as | should be, she exclaimed "An
| really awake ?--has there been no rob.
berry after all That dreadful Newspaper
Why did believe the paragraph l heard
Sir John read from it7"
SIT down here you poor, pale child" 4"
said Charlie, "and let me help you out of
your mystifcation. | think Il began the
night before last when sought you out at
Sir Johns to say goodbye before went on
hurried journey, and to tell you the two.
fold object Of it,"
al heard, dear, that the man who was
the cause Of all your fathers misfortunes
was at Birmingham and Messrs. Smith.
son freely gave me permission to 90 there,
and see whether my remonstrances, and, If
those failed, my threats to expose his nefa.
rious proceedings, would induce him to do
justice to your fathers widow and orphans"
"And you succeeded I"
Beyond my expectations. have Just
had the pleasure of putting into your moth
er's hands a sum that will enable her to
educate her children with comfort"
Lottie was obliged to interrupt him that
she might throw her arms round Mrs.
Warde's neck, and congratulate her raptur.
ously. Then Charlie himself had to. be
thanked in loving, fearful whispers and
then so many pleasant little plans we're dis
cussed for the widows future that some
time elapsed before they recurrcd 10 the ex.
PLANTATION.
When | had completed my own busi-
ness Messrs. Smithson desired me to 90 TO
Sheffield and make some inquiries there for
them. The drift of these scarcely under.
stood when started, but soon discovered
they had reference to certain suspicious they
we're 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 prom.
lsing me an increase Of salary. But another
OF their clerks, led into temptation by
love Of gayety-"
Il see it all, now" sighed Lottie. Poor
Austinl"
Charlie resumed my father, for
whom, as an old friend, Messrs. Smthson
sent, to assist them in breaking the news to
his parents, can scarcely bear to speak Of
the scenes he witnessed. Mrs. Crawlsy is
very i'll, Lottie. The truth was concealed
from her as long as possible. 1t was not
until late last night that she learnt that it
was to hear the tale Of her sons guilt that
Mr.. Crawley was summoned to the city;
and it appeared that no one had suspected
how, while Austin was believed to be quietly
sleeping, he had packed portmanteau and
stolen out Of the house in the dead Of the
night, to embark for America"
And so Lottie's joy in her bctrothed's
innocence was tempered by the knowledge
that if his parents had been happily spared
such deep sorrow, others were enduring it.
She spent her Christmas Eve at Capham,
but not in the dove colored silk. She was
clad soberly in the dark merino, and heard,
with dropping head and a troubled con-
science, Mrs. Morrison tell her how fully
she and her husband approved their sons
choice, and how her conduct as daughter
and sister had won their esteem long since.
| am not half as good as you think me"
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 daughter we'd
ding. 1t was made up for her by Lottie
herself who, as her needle passed in and
out Of her work, drew from the events con.
nected with her purchase the lesson every
wise or foolish deed conveys to the heart
that is opened to receive it,