Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1874-05-11
Fathers Honor.

so much gone! might have known II
wouli,' said Mr. Sterling, looking up from the
morning paper, with Q most unpleasant express
sion on his face?' -. l.4
what gones asked his wife. .a,--
'My money is gone,' answered Mr.. Sterling
fretfully.
what money y
.rhe money that was foolish enough to lend
Mr.. Granger
why DO you say that s'
He Is dead replied Mr.. Sterling, some hat
coldly.
'Deadp' The wifs's voice was full of sur.
prise aud pain. Sorrow overshadowed her
face.
Yes, gone, and my money ith him. There
Is notice OF his death. i was sure when 1
saw him 70 away that he'd never come back
except In his coffin. Why will the doctor:
ssud their patients away from home to dep
Poor Mrs. Granger Poor little orphans !!
sighed Mrs. Sterling, what will they do?'
As well without him as " ith him. was the
unfeeling answer Of her husband, who was only
thinking OF the three hundred dollars he had
been over er-persuaded TO lend the sick clergyman
in order that he might go South during che win.
ter. Hes been more burden than support
these two years
ooh Harry, how can you speak SO? remon-
strated Mrs. Sterling. "A kinder man Ia his
she'll be heart-broken.'
kindness Is cheap. and easily dispensed, ,re-
piled Mr.. Sterlin, coldiy. He woHld have been
more use 10 his family had he fed and clothed
them better. reckon they can do without him
If had my three hundred dollars wouldn't
But he checked for shame; not for sny better
feeling, the almost brutal words his heart sent
up to his tongue.
Not many yards from Mr.. Sterling's hand
some residence, stood 8 small, plain cottage
with garden In front, neatly laid out in box
boarded walks, and filled with shrubbery A
honey y-suckle, twined with running rose bush,
covered the laticed portico, and looked IN at the
ehsmber-windows,g giving beauty AMI sweetness.
The hand Of taste was seen everywhere, not
lavish, but discriminating taste. Two years
ago there was not happier home In all tile
town Of C.. Now the hand Of death was
upon 1t.
Poor Mrs. Granger Poor little orphans p
Well might Mrs. Sterling pity them. When
her mercenary husband wn signing over the
loss Of fthres hundred dollars, the young widow
n lay senseless with her two littls ones Weeping
over lier In childish terror. The news of her
husbands death found her unprepared. Only
! = week before she had received a letter from
Mr.. Granger, In which he talked hopefully Of
his recovery. Il am stronger he said 'my ap-
petite is better, and have gained five pounds
| In hesh since left home.'
/ Three days after writing this letter came a
sudden change Of temperature took cold,
which was followed by congestion of the lungs
and no medical skill was sufficient for the case
His body was not sent home for interment.-
When the husband went away two or three
months before,his beloved ones looked upon his
face for the last time In this Grid.
Love and honor make the hsart strong. Mrs
Granger was gentle, retiring woman; she had
leaned upon her husband very heavily she
had clung to him like q vine.. Those who
knew her best, telt very anxious about her..
She has NO mental stamina they said she
cannot stand Alone
But they were mistaken. As we have just
said, love aud honor made her heart strong
Only q week after Mr. Sterling read the news
Of the minister y death, he received note from
the widow.
any husband,' she SAID, 'was able TO 70
regaining his health. If he had lived, the mon
ey you loaned him would have been faithfully
returned, for he was man of honor. Dying
ha left the honor In my keeping, and will SET
that the debt Is paid. But you will have 10 be
little patient with me-"
"All very fine," muttered Mr.. Sterling, with
slight curling lip. "l've heard OF such things
bsfors-they sound we'll People will say ol
| Mrs. Granger, 'What noble woman. What 8
fine sense Of honor she has" But shall nevel
husband"
| Very much to Mr.. SteIlng's surprise, not .
little to his pleasure, he discovered about thret
| months atlerward that he was mistaken In hi.
estimate Of Mrs. Granger.
The pale, sad, fragile little woman brought
\ him the sum Of $2j. He did not see the tear.
In her eyes as he displayed her husbands note
with its dear, familiar writing, and made there
Oh with considerable formally an endorsement
of the SUN paid. She would have given man.
drops of her hearts blood to have been able Il
| clutch that document from Mr.. Sterling's hand
| HIS possession of II seemed like o blot Oh thu
/ dear, lost one . memory.
| skate Grange is the queerest little girl eve
knew" said Fl)ra Sterling to her mother on th
i evening of the very day upon which the tii 3
| payment was made. Mr.. Sterling lea d the re
mark, aud letting his eyes drop from the news
paper lie was reading, turned his ears TO Liz
4 ten.
al tl,ink her a very nice little GIRL" said he
mother.
"So abe is nice," retm ned the child; "bu
then she Is SO queer"
"Oh, she isn't like the rest Of the girls. Sh
said the oddesi thing TODAY almost laugbe
out, hut I'm glad didn't. Three Of us, Klttls
Lille Bonneld and /, were walking round th
square at recess ime, when Uncle Hiram cam
along and taking ought three bright ten cen
II y
girls to buy sugar plums." Lille and screams
out, and were starting away for the candy sho
/, in an instant, but Kate stood still, with he
: share Of the money in her hand. 'COme along
, l cried. She didn't move, but looked strang
r aud serious. ..Ain't you going to buy cand
with III" asked then she shook her hea
ravely, and put the dime into her pocket say
Ing Il don't think she meant me to hear th
words) "it is for fathers honor land leaving
she went into the schOolroom, What did sll
r mean by that, motherf oh, she is so strange.
:. "Her mother is very poor, you KNOW" n
=, piled Mrs. Sterling, laying up Kalie's snguls
remark to be pondered over..
"She must be-" said Flora, "for Kate ha
worn the same FROM to school every day ft
three months"
Mr.. Sterling, who didn't let single word {
|, this conversation escape him, was far froi
Il feeling as comfortable under the prospect
:. getting back the money he had loaned III
Granger, a. he had felt an hour before. II
e understood the meaning Of Katie's remark
is for fathers honor'-the truth flashed at onc
through his mind.
There was another period Of three month
y and Mrs. Granger called upon Mr.. Sterling an
gave him twenty. five dollars more. The pal,
| thin face made q strong impression on him.
: troubled him to take the money from her sma
|. fingers, In which the blue veins shown throug
the transparent skin, as it WAS counted out ID
9 wished sue had sent the money instead Of CD
: ling. 1t was on his lips to remark, ado nj
trouble ,r pinch yourself faster than Is conw
|, nient, Mrs. Granger" But cnpidlty whispere
! that she might take advantage Of his conside
!, ate kindness, and 30 he kept silent"
"No, dear, it's for fathers honor can
n spend it,"
Mr.. Sterling was passing fruit shop, whe
a two children were looking In at the windo'
: | when this sentence struck his ears.