Middletown transcript., 1875-10-23

now used as the slttlng-ro0m, ana wa
= preparing to sit down to her work
" when brisk step sounded on the walk
and, iu a moment, some one knocke,
at the door
% Howard!' said Ethel, archly, a
e, she opened it. here's another of thes,
e. interminable visits, don't you wish i
was over?'
I only wish it could be intermina.
= ble, said Howard, as he extended his
hand for Mr.. Weston's friendly grasp
and smile, the gayest that had been
seen on his face for days, chased across
his face.
Mr.. Weston was a widower; his wife
had died many years before. and it was
not long ere his only child followed her.
People suspected that be had met with
rcverses of fortune, but he never limited
it, and none could tell all they knew
was that he was extremely simple in
his habits, and books were the only
luxury he INDUCED in. It has been
already said that be had a fine library
But, however itmight be, neither pow
erty or grief had had power to contract
the gentle heart that found its delight
in doing good to others, although be
felt, as keenly as any could, the blight
that rested on all the fair promises Of
its own life. To none was be more at
tached than to Howard Lee, and his
affection was returned by the warm
hearted boy, and the feeling of sorrow
and disappointed hope was hardly less
keen to him than to the sufferer.
He had been absent for month, and
this was the first time since the day
after the accident, that be had seen
Howard, who was now eagerly pouring
into his ear his plan for studying.
TO be sure, my dear boy, to be
sure, was his ready response, when be
had concluded. And 1 will propose
something more, Howard, which you
have not thought Of I should like to
come and give you some little assist
ance myself. Now, no thanks be con-
tinued, smiling. as be noted the look Of
delighted surprise that beamed in the
earnest eyes gazing into his own. 1T
will be as great pleasure to me as to you
So, with Mrs. Howard's CONSENT
consent how willingly given lit was t
thus arranged that Howard should |
study with Mr.. Weston, few hours q
every morning Alb, me! that little t
'oorn where the young cripple lay what c
'weetly mournful memories clustered 8
lround it in after years! T
Thus five years passed TRANQUILITY 81
way, and it was not until the fifth that
Howard revealed to his friend his, long, b
herished scheme of becoming an author, 5,
'egging him to keep the knowledge k
acred
Mr.: Weston was delighted. He had
af less arthanl the trembling aspi- ii
ant that he would be successful. and
eadily proffered his aid in the laborious Ii
ask of writing and correcting 4 So the th
To worked steadily on, while Ethel 81
nd her mother little dreamed Of the H
mbitious scheme entertained by those hi
, near them. }.s M
Though Howard had the general
an and scope of his work already at,
fetched, it took two years to finish it th
r the publishers. How hard it was de
appear Indifferent during the time its av
ceptance was pending he only knew Al
It he went bravely through the ordeal. ey
it should not succeed, he asked him ba
II again and again, what was the use ar,
all these long years. study? Bat aw
4 if it should-if it should l. What The
happy competence it would provide ey,
: them all, releasing his dear ones a f
I'M all toll and care sal
And there were other and dearer -.
nsiderations that increased his ankle
Howard knew, although his mother tie
ed to conceal it, that she was greatly tbi
for want of means. sta
The summer had been an excessively ing
one. Day after day the scorching pull
Might fell on the parched earth, but wa.
bright beams brought no joy to the tics
arts that were palpitating with hope ter
shower. No balmy wind brought Ho
ief to the fevered brow Of Ethel, as wol
; tossed on her little bed, her whole the
me wasting away under the fever wal
u Durntd IN her veins her thoughts
ndering back unconsciously to other the
u.s. par
Poor Mrs. Lee forgot her perplexity visi
tut the want that impended in at Ind
ding her darling in watching. with thel
milling hope and fear, each beat Of thai
auttering pulse, each gasping, pain and
breath. Long seemed the contest he
ween life and death but youth and hea
or conquered at last; and one bright. hav
utiful morning. after weary days bus
nights of tears and watching, Mrs. ed
came into Howard's room, her eyes timi
J, and her voice tremulous with joy, G
ell him that Ethel was pronounced on