Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-02-20

pocket Wn6rG 1dy u0E uutl6 PttloO3 o'Ao WV
it back again. telling herself that she coul'
not possibly go to visit Charles friend
meanly dressed and when the younges
child climbed on her knee and frankly ask
ed what she was going to bring him Tor
Christmas present, he was set down agall
and so sharply told not to tease that Mrs
Warde's mild eyes were raised III surprise
II beg pardon, mother, said her daugh
ter, coloring under the reproof the looked
conveyed. 81 am afraid am rather stuplc
this evening. What were you saying about
Robert ?-he is elected pupil teacher at his
school. Of course he isl knew he would
be he has worked so hard for it, dear
good boy ~ and she ran across the room
to kiss the studious lad, who warmly re-
turned her caresses.
''Then you're glad of it, Lottie ? So am
II, only I think mothers bothered bit
about the books I shall WANT
"Will they cost much 20 asked his Sis
ter.
s'Well, dear, it seems much to persons
of our limited income,' Mrs. Warde re-
piled. 'sAnd he must have a new suit of
clothes. But hope to manage it without
running into debt, if you can help me a
little.''
/ EEsLottie did not speak, and her mother
thoughtfully added, ''The girls will have
to do without the new hats [ promised
them and baby's pelisse must last an
other winter and"
But here her daughter stopped her by
pettishly saying, ooh, mother pray don't
tell us of any more wants they seem end
less. How miserable it is to be so poor :;
how sick of contrivances and max eshifts
you must be. know | am. And some
how the children always seem to need most
when one has least to spare.'
II did not know you were in that predic-
ament, dear, OF I would not have spoken
so plainly" Mrs. Wards replied: ''but
don't let it worry you,'' she added, with
the cheerful air that covered MULTI ude
of anxious thoughts 1--WE shall man age
very well, dare say
Lottie went away with her money still
in her pocket, but with load at her heart
half shame, half selfish ill-humor-which
was not lessened by standing at the mer-
GERS window for another half hour before
Ishe went back to Sir Johns. While her
gaze was fixed on the silk, he rebellious
spirit was murmuring at the difficulties of
her position. 1t was so hard that she
should always be hampered with the home
cares. Other young people could spend
their salaries on themselves, while her
purse had such constant calls upon it that
there was nothing left for her. And moth
er was not thoughtful for her she never
seemed to remember that girl of her age
would naturally wish to be smart, especial
! ly when she visited persons in better Gil
;umstances than herself.
| Miss Dayton wanted some trife brought
| from her own room that eve ming, and Lot
| tie had executed her commission and was
retreating when the voice Of Sir .John,Wh
was reading the evening paper, arrested
her ''Dear me! how sad these cases are
one never knows who to trust. Listen to
| this, Letitia The confidential clerk Of
Smithson Brothers absconded last night.
His employers had had their suspicious
aroused by some circumstance or other, and
shinted an intention of looking into his ac-
counts. AS soon as he learned this he
made business in the country a pretence
for his flight, and it is supposed that he is
on his way to America.
! To Lottie's strained ears every word OF
this was horribly audible, and the next
minute she was running down stairs, put
ting on her hat and shawl as she went.
eff I am asked for,'' she gasped to the
wondering housekeeper, ''say that [ am I'LL;
that have gone to my mothers; but don't
stop NEEDN'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
I 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, cit cannot be! Charlie Mort
son defaulter, fugitive from justice-it
| is impossible
! Mrs Crawley herself answered Lottie's
knock, and the smiling, cheerful face made
! the girl feel her own misery grow sharper.
''No. Austin had not returned from the
city yet,1 she said. 'sWould not Lottie
come in and wait for him? She was quite
alone, for Mr.. Crawley had been at Smith
SINS 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 20 she added, as she took closer
survey of her visitors face.
| But her question remained unanswered,
| for Lottie was already hurrying away
dreadful mistake had persisted before Mrs.
Crawley's placid utterances. Austin, the
gay and careless, whose spendthrift habits
| had often displeased his parents, had pre-
preserved his integrity while Charlie Nor
ison, the son of many prayers, the steady,
intellectual young man, who INDUCED in
no low tastes, no "loud' attire, had for
feited his high character and disgraced his
family-this was her conclusion.
, Away through the busiest streets of Lon
don, hurrying on with her face muffled 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 clo-
sed hours earlier; but the old man who
was porter and care-taker was standing at
the door, talking to some curious acquaint-
ances.
Unperceived by the garrulous speaker
Lottie paused long enough to hear her low
er's name coupled with words indistinctly
caught relating to the large sums of money
that were missing.
| ellis father was here this morning as