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


whose roguery your father failed has re-
turned to England. and is in prosperous
circumstances and il worried me for a
little while 10 think that my excellent,
upright husband went TO his grave iq
sorrow and poverty, while this dishonest
man holds up his head and grows rich (;
but it was only Tor a minute. child and
Mrs Warde smiled now with less effort.
"l know 10 whom | have committed my
cause, and will not murmur at anything
He wills"
Lottie kissed the placid speaker alfec-
tionately but she was not As sympathetic
as usual. Her little sisters hung about
her. wondering whether they should have
a Christmas pudding, and one OF them
blurted out fact hitherto concealed /;
that mother did not 60 to church on Sun
days ill evening service because her
shawl was so shabby. Lottie slid her hand
70 the pocket where lay her little purse,
but drew ii back again, telling hersel: that
she could not possibly got to visit Char
lies friends meanly dressed; aud when
the youngest child climbed on her knee
and frankly asked what she was going 10
bring him for Christmas present, he
was set down again and so sharply told
not To tease that Mrs. WaId,'s mild eyes
were raised in surprise.
/ beg pardon. mother said her
daughter, coloring under the reproof the
look conveyed. IL am aiIaid | am
rather stupid this evening. What were
you saying abou, Robert? p 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 sludiouS
lad, who warmly returned her caresses.
Then you're glad OF il, Lotlic? So am
], only think mothers bothered bit
about the books shall want"
"Will they cost much?" asked his
sister
well. dear. it seems much TO persons
of our limited income" Mrs. Warde re-
piled "And he must have a suit of
clothes. But hope To manage it with.
out running into debt, il YOU can help me
little"
Lottie did not speak. and her mother
thoughtfully added, "lhe girls will have
To do without the new hats ! promise d
them; aud baby's pelisse must last an
other winter; and"
But here her daughter stopped her 10y
pettishly saying. "Oh, mother. pray
don't tell us OF any more wants; they
seem endless. How miserable il is TO be
so poor; how sick OF con,rivanccs aud
makeshilis you musl he know am
And somehow the children always seem
to need most when one has lea>t 10
spare"
Il did not know you were in that
predicament, dear. or would not have
spoken 50 plainly" Mrs. Warde replied;
"but don't let il worry YOU" she added,
with The cheerful air that covered 4 null
t.tude OF anxious thoughts; awe shall
manage very well. dare say"
Lojiie went away with her money still
10 her pocket. but with load at her
heart-half shame. halt selfish ill.humcr
which was not lesseued by standing at
thd mcrcer's window another hat hour
before she went back to Sir johns
While her gaze was fixed on the silk her
rebeIious spirit was murmuring at the
difficulties of her position. it was so
hard that she should always be hampored
with The home.crreS. Other young
people could spend their salaries on
themselves. while her purse had such
constant calls upon il that there was
nothing left Tor herself And mother
was not thoughtful tor her; she never
seemed to remember that a girl of her
age would naturally wish to he smart,
especially when she visited persons in
better circumstances than herself.
Miss Dayton wanted some trifle brought
from her own room that evening. and
Lottie executed her commission and was
retreating, when the Voice OF Sir John,
who was reading the evening paper,
arrested her, Dear me how sad these
eases are; one never knows who TO
trust. Listen TO this, Letilia: The con.
lidential clerk of Smithson Brothers
absconded last night. HIS employers
had had their suspicious aroused by some
circumstance or other, and hinted an in.
tention of looking into his accounts. As
soon as he learned This he made business
in The country 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
putting on her hat and shawl as she
went.
I'll l am asked lor,"she gasped to the
wondering househeeper, "say that | am
ill--that | have gone to my mothers;
but don't stop me-don't q iestion me, or
shall die"
But il was TO the home Of Austin
Crawley, a fellow clerk of Charles, she
toook her way. She SOOuld not give up
all hope Till she had seen him. and heard
his lips confirm the dreadful tale; as she
went along she tried TO comfort herself in