The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-01-23

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sMS mother thinks you have II been long
in our village said Emily, shyly.
NO. only three days. I'm stranger you
see, aad don't get much work, but shaIl,
by and by, thiLk, anu talnt smile passed
over his features. ,;,,.
give YOU some, if he only knew your name,
Continued the maiden, SagaciOuslv.
THANK YOU. My name is Thomas Wilson,
.nd-and I live on the flats he spoke hes
;,atincly. and he blushed as he named the
tpoorest locality in town. Presently he look
ed up, but his companion was gone, and was
now sitting on the piazza again, as quietly rs
if she had not moved at all.
That name drove her Off unused Thomas,
as lac went on with his load. Well, don't
wonder 1t IS low place. But she was
| kind there are mighty few girls would DO
what she did
That evening, when Emily and her father
were CONFERENCE.-The tried to !lnC out II nc
knew any thing Of the Wilson family, ana he
wondered what the darling little "itch was
driving at'-the neighboI across the way came
in, and shortly referred to the incident Of 'hc
afternoon, and added: -.
1T was good in you, Emily very g00G ou'
they are rather low peop!c-theac " A' 'c.l.''
They lived in Daymouth before 'hey cam came
here; in fact, the ola man died mere ne nc
was hard one, It Is said, and drank hiinSeli
to death. | don't know, but shouidnt won
der If the boy took after him. tor ne won
work steady hired him the hrst dty ne
came here, and he was OF IN the AFTERNOON )
and the next morning he looked rale, ana his
ewes were red really don tbeilevc he Is OF
much account
Emily, who was very TAR from sharing 'ne
,f,,,tt IN cav Ia a Ii
or rb,rrs than drink caused paliOr OF The tea
lures and rcdness Of the eyes, but, thinking
that time used in argument Is generally
thrown away, she held her peace, and resOly-
ed to ascertain the facts for herself
| Slipping quietly out OF the room, she as
sumed her riding habit, and ordered her pony
saddled As it WAS nothing unusual Tor her
to ride on moonlight nights, neither OF her
parents asked "A question. and she gallopeu
away on her mission, undisturbed. Teaching
the iats,-a place she had often visited upon
errands Of mercy,--sh dismounted and IN
CURED in what house Mr.. Wilson lived. Inc
woman directed her, with an ominous shake
of the head, and Emily, rejecting upon me
force OF prejudice among all classes, pursued
her way on foot, leading the pony by the OH
| die.
The smallest. Oldest, and dirtie,t Of all the
been pointed out to her IItching the pony
to staple in the window.sill, for there was
no other place, not Il tee or shrub growing IN
the viciniv-Emiy knocked at the door and
waited with peculiar feeling the answer ii
soon came in the person Of Thomas who, lor
n moment, was rendered speeches. ~ sur
prise then, in a voice which revealed Doth
pain and modification, be said:
VIII Won come IN: on VIII inu II a
wrctchcd place, but we can't help It JUS
now
Emily made no reply, bat followed him into
the house. In The first room were a table,
three chairs, and an old Cooking.stoye, and
an old.fashioncd washstaud In one Of the
chairs, cured up asleep, was little girl OF
about five summers, her long, black hair fall
ing over thin, pale face on which tear
stains were yet Visible. Thomas saw Emily
glance at the child, and he simply said My
sister But there was IN anguish in every
accent My mother is IN the next room.
Would you Ike to sec her: lac added present
ly The maiden inclined her head, and fol
lowed him into the chamber, where, upon a
cot bed lay a woman evidently in the last
stages of consumption. Her skin was nearly
transparent, and her eyes, large and black,
gave to he9 CoGntcnarCe IA bfilliancy weird,
almost frighttul As Emily entered, the in
valid glanced upon her inCuiringly, and said
Curiosity is sometimes cruelty. Why did
you Gomez
With the hope Of being mel =, friend
answered Emily, with gentle rcprOot, at the
same time placing Acr hand on the sufferers
brow.
Forgive me, bu' there Is 20 much cOldness
in this world, so little love--Ohl | remcm.
Der now, you are the young lady who helped
Tom this afternoon. Poor Tom he is nearly
worn out. He tries 10 work outside, and take
care OF Alice and me too but lie can't do il all,
so he has lei outside work 60 sometimes, and
then, | suppose, his employers think he Is
idle. 1t weakened me very much moving,
and have not been 50 well slucc. What do
you people say of H., miss" She paused for
an answer but Emily Cyndcd the que ,tion,
aud then the woman went On: \ e., IL IS al
ways So; you wish 10 spare my feelings; your
motives arc good, but eau see through /!
My husbands misfortune, first set him on The
downward path, and then by degrees poverty
came until all was lost, Now we must bear
his unfortunate reputation, but not long--nol
long SHE raisca her eye l"1vcuWard, n il
impioImC Geain,
Dear mother, do not ~pclE 50 yuu arc all
have on earth, said Tom, IN tgomulous
voice.
My dear boy my licy-my blessing" she
murmurcd, tcndcrly
Emilc's eyes filled with lca', ~ she saw
the mothers van hand cagcN- the jcIry curls
that fell on her son brow. then, hOpn. 10
cheer them, She said :--'Nuu will he better
soon Mrs. Wilson DO not give way 10 sad.
ness. Hcmcmbcr am your friend The
invalid smiled family, and shook her head. -
knowing thai further conversation would be
injurious 10 her, Emily babe her adIcu, clos.
ing the chamber door - She went out. Once
again In the first room, the maiden said. MIR
Wilson, will y" do me "A favor. He acqulCS-
ccd, wcnderingly and Emily, placing Il ten
dollar note in ms hani added Run down
10 the store and hay what Your mother needs
be sure not to Forget fruit, and jclnCS'
God bless your bright face, he murmurcd,
in chokcd voice, and imprcs,iycly pressed
her hand
i will STAY here until YOU return, she said,
rs lac took his hat and hurried away. When