New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-03-14

no went INTO, because l left the Chlcheete
before he did. But don't you see what 20
Lane, and they viii remember him by hi
name of Meerschaum, which he always CAV
there. as elsewhere, because he thought
would do him harm to give his real one. O
you might 60 at once to Great Queen stree
they will track him for you at once"
The lad departed with an extremel
grateful recollection Of NJ. Escriot's gen,
rosity. The clue was got at once. Fie]
Lane was the nearest place, and Mr.
Durnford went there at once. The manage
was at home, and che asked him if b
remembered boy called Meerschaum.
''Yes. certainly, madam he said. g
remember him very well-a fine, hane
some lad, marked with NJ. D. on his lei
That is my son, SIR"
Indeed, madam! But the boy, we
remember, told me that his mother was i
prison; and when he came to US he wa
half naked, and had been fearfully neg
lected for some time. l don't understan
| it,"
His father was at sea. and l was il
prison for six years on. totally falls
charge. The boy must have been tw
wears on the streets, with no one but Co
to take care of him. Now his father and
are prosperous, but our boy is gone. Cal
you help me-!
LET US come together at once" An,
SO they went along Holborn together, tn
manager silent and puzzled, wanting t
say what the manager at Great Queen stree
said for him before they had been in con
versatiOn three minutes.
| III your life, madam, has been such al
| you describe" said the latter, "is it wis,
for you to drag him back into contact will
| such associates as you may have formed
l only ask you to speak as a mother fol
| your boys sake"
II am an absolutely innocent woman,
she replied. "Your suspicious are natural
1 allow, but they are unfounded. Make
any inquiries about me that you like. You
are not clever enough to see one thing. Ii
l had wished to trace my son for any evil
purpose, 1 should scarcely have acknow.
lodged to you two gentlemen that l had
been convict" -
This was so Individually true that the
two managers looked at one another.
Great Queen Street smiled and spoke.
"Well, God deal with you as you deal with
your son when you have regained your in
tiuence over him"
"Amen," said Mrs. Durnford. 'Then he
is alive!"
"He is alive, and he has done so much
better than well that any antecedents of
his will make little difference to him now.
You might have seen the absurd name by
which we know him in print had you looked
for it. The boy distinguished himself
greatly at the Pieho forts''
"And where ia he now"
''Still on the China station. Address her
majesty's ship Blonde, Hong Kong or else
where. Would you like to see one of his
letters"
She took one away with her. Perhaps
the manager had forgotten which it was,
but perhaps also he gave it to her on pur-
pose. At the close of we'll written letter.
in fine, bold hand, he wrote: Sin spite of
when get to England, for tell you that
she is the best woman in the world"
Mrs. Durnford wrote to her son, but be-
tore he got her letter the turning point in
her life had passed.
She was sitting quietly one night in her
little back parlor reading, but not Under
standing what she read. The lines and
words passed her eye, but she knew not
what they meant. 1t had happened TO her
often before, and would most likely happen
to her again. She was reviewing her life
while she was pretending to read.
The time had been when she was a very
beautiful girl, well educated as times went,
a Iady's maid in great family. A hand
some young sailor had made her acquaint-
ance at the small seaport near ny lords
house. She had given up everything for
him, in spite OF remonstrance from every
one. and at last she had married him.
He was true and honest fellow. but at
that time uneducated. He had been much
away from her. and she had to shift as best
she might. Wheneone of his long absences
occurred she thought that she had done for
he best She started that unhappy lodging
house, and after short time her great |
rOuble came. She was put into prison. and
lad to leave her boy on the streets.
Six years of penal servitude At first her |
oul seemed to die within her, and she was |
Incapable of exertion; but by degrees, with
Ter vitality, she began to work. For the |
irst two years her husband knew nothing |
# what had happened to her, so his letters
we're never forwarded to her. After two
ears were passed, she was told one day
hat she had visitor.
The visitor was put in one cage and she
q another, with a turnkey in the empty
pace between. They could say but little
0 one another, and, for our part, we think
he arrangement Objectionable in some
asses. He told her of his unalterable con.
dence, and she begged him to see after the
Oy-with what result we have heard.
Many letters passed between them, but
Q never saw her again, save ence. in
l
g was doing his best to make her happy
nee more, but he had never come back.
he knew, when she thought of it, that he |
as making more money where he was; but
lere was sad spot in her heart which
nly he could heal.
Did he love her still9 More. would he even
now her if he saw her She had been
eautiful once; was she SO now?
1t was not the first night she had thought
these things. She thought of them every
ght, when the candle in the shop was
lrning low, and the customers were fewer
Id fewer as the night went on. Tonight
10 wished to close earlier and get to her
I'd, and If possible, to forgetfulness; but
e wretched little shop-bell clinked again,
Id she went in to serve customer, a sea-
ring man by his complexion, but dressed |
re gentleman. She looked straight at
N, and he looked straight at her. As
cir eyes met she thought that he was q
nd looking man, and that was all. He,
r his part, thought that she must have
en- handsome woman once, and was
ndsome still. There was no shadow of
,ognition.
Il beg your pardon, madam the man
id. ''There is Mrs Durnford lives near
re, in one of the shops right or left of you.
III you tell me which it isl"
Il am Mrs; Durnford:" she said. "What ,
q you wish with me!'
He looked at her like man awakening |
I'M dream. Then he stretched out his Z
ms toward her, and as he did so a light :.
,med to grow upon his face. Then he ! y
d, "Mary"
And then with happy sigh, like that of 6
mother to her child, she looked on him, 4
she knew him.
We will close Mrs. Durnford's shop door !,
the night, and serve no more customers
was known among the neighbors next :.
rning that gentleman had gone into =
!, house Immediately before her closing, q
l had not come out again. 1t was known ~ :.
9 in the morning that Nj. Escriot had "