The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-08-05

good to himself, "ifI can't ask FRIEND
to my home, there's at least the alter
native of inviting him to a hotel.
never did such a thing before, but
don't see how else ] can manage"
So Alexander Hopgood entertained
Mr.. Ryerson at the hotel, and gave an
unlimited order for iced champagne and
dessert And the upshot of it all was
that Alexander Hopgood was brought in
at eleven o'clock at night, by two of the
walters, hspelessly intoxicated.
"Don't be 'f-ffraid, mother" suffered
he, brandishing an empty bottle, as he
became dimly conscious of her white,
scared face bending over him. "Go on
with your washingl It's deal jollier
at the hotel than it is at home. Free
dom forever! Hoo-oo-rayp
20, what shall ] dop sobbed Mrs.
Hopgood, when the walters were once
mere out of the house, and the roll of the
cab wheels had died away. "To think
only to think that son of mine should
ever disgrace himself thus!"
"It's your own fault, MOTHER" said
Benny, the second son. "You wouldn't
let Ally bring his friend here"
"Hold your tongue" sharply retorted
Mrs. Hopgood, wincing beneath the
prick of this home truth. "Call Elsie.
need her help"
80. motherw piped Fannie, the
younger girl, running down stairs in
frantic haste, "Elsie amt here"
"Not here!"
"No, mother; she hasn't been to bed
NJ aII nd % tah II
directed to YOU"
"Ope1 it, mother" said Isaac Hop
good, huskily. "This is doomed night
for our household. My God has our
home become so distasteful to our child
rem that they fly from it like rats from
falling houseY
Elsie's note was short enough. 1t
read
Ded, 11o0.lI kissd of living in
the kitchen. / have run away with
John Elton, and before you see me again
/ shall have entered upon a new future.
ELSIE"
Mrs. Hopgood broke out into wild,
hysterical sobbings.
Mr.. Hopgood read the hurriedly-
scrawled paper with face cold and set
like steel.
"Run away with John Elton~ he re-
peated slowly. "Poor Elsie! then God
help her. For he is as great villain and
scoundrel as ever lived; and she has
sealed her own doom. Mother, mother
this comes of your housekeeping"
"It wasn't my fault, Isaac" sobbed
Mrs. Hopgood, rocking herself backwards
fn rI m oh mt xuhs snl, ov,
had dropped.
at was your fault" retorted her hus-
band, almost savagely. "You made the
very name of home mockery to your
children; you shut up your soul inside
Of scrubbing pail; and now you are
reaping the bitter harvest"
OF course poor Alexander Hopgood
was unable to lift his throbbing head
from the pillow the next day, and his
mother never left him until afternoon.
When at last she came down stairs, the
parlor blinds were thrown wide open,
flood of sunshine streaming in, the
table neatly set in the pretty dining
room, with flowers on the table, and new
books, games and puzzles scattered
around.
Mrs. Hopgood gazed around with
bewildered air. She hardly knew her
own home.
"This is the way in which we must
live henceforwafd, MOTHER" said her
husband cheerily. "Let in the light and
sunshine; teach Ben and Fanny that
home is something more than an empty
name, and try, in so far as we can, to re-
trieve the errors of our past life"
And Mrs. Hopgood mutely bowed her
head.
II will try, husband" she answered.