The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-08-14
the OTHER CHARLIE.

/. Win tne uOg, anu NOT De forever sIuck al
my feetp
Such was Mrs. Grey's impatient ques.
tion, one day, when her little son came
and seated himself in the parlor while
his mother WAS cDnyersing with Wis.
iter.
IL would rather be with you than the
boys" he answered, tinldly.
"Oh, l never saw sucn boyW
sis it wrong to wish to be near you,
mammal" said the child, his neither III y
trembling as he spoke.
"Wrong? OF course not. But you are
old enough to have some nanliness about
you. See, yonder are VIII and John
Growde on the ice. Run along and Keep
them company;, want to talk to Mrs.
Brown"
He picked up his little cap and went
off without another word. Mrs. Frey
turned to her visitor.
''Lsn the queer ohildT' she asked.
| The other raised her sad eyes and
fixed them with such a painful expres-
sion on the mothers face that for mo-
ment Mrs. Grey felt almost offended.
She was a sorroWful looking woman, this
Mrs. Brown. .e s.y.is..
81 had q son once; but he is gone
now,Y she said at Last, aud thers were
tears in her eyes.
| Mrs. Grey gazed at her wonderingly.
She had not known this before. r.
''It is q bitter Thing to tear open par
TALLY healed wounds" Mrs. Bro an con-
tinued, "Dut let me tell you my story"
'Several years ago | was about to give
a party; grand affair 1t was to be, and
! my head was almost turned while making
preparatio ns. Master Charlie his name
was Charlie, too,) was aboui sixteen
| years old. He haa never been to chool:
I had educated him myself, at home; he
was all y mothers heart could desire;
but he was shy, and when forced him
into company he appeared so awkward
| that 1 felt ashamed OF him. This was
! one reason OF my deciding to give a
party. II he was obliged to act the part
OF host he would overcome his bashfuI-
ness, / thought. BuG Charlie never ap-
| proved OF it. fY.l
~ shah be glad when this party is
over" he said one day; s'for since you
have got it into your head have lost my
motherV u.a.e
"Poof little baDyw / responded,
slightly provoked at his lack OF interest.
II wonder how many more years | shall
have you tied to my apron-strings?"
/ spoke sneerhgly, and instantly a.
proud flush overspread his face.
Il will be tied there no lonser,~ he re.
| turned. 81 snail seek my company in
| the future"
| was frightened at the result of my
words. Still l made no response. My
son, putting on his nat and coat, went
cut. 1t was the first time in his life that
he had ever left me without informing
| me where he was going.
In time the party came of. 1t was
gay affair, and none were gayer than
Charlie. He was sort OF extremist,
and took no medium stand. After thai
his books and works were neglected, and
his days as we'll as evenings were spent
! abroad. Fast young men became his
constant companions. l was left alone
I to mourn the change had wrought. At
| first be made it rule to be in at night
| at 10 O'Clock; but alter that ne began TO
stay out later, and daybreak sometimes
iound him from home. I tried to expos
| tulale, tried TO win min back to his old
habits, but my efforts were unavailing.
He had got a tasLe ofnew life, and it held 1
him by charm. Well do l remember
| the first night be came home in state OF
| iatoxieation. 1t was his seventeenth
birthday, just one year from the time l
1 had gwen the party. l had seen him
nader the influence OF wine once or twice
before. but on this night he had drank
| SO deeply that some OF his COMPANIONS
han to help him home.
The hours OF that night were dreadful
hours ofseif-repfoach and agony. Twas
so glad when morning came TO dispel
the gloom--so sad when reason re-
turned to my erring Child. He was very
much ashamed. He SAID again and again
he would do better; but his resolves
were worthless. Two nights after he
was again brought home INTO oxicated.
After that 1T was common occur
renee lie Tell lower aud lower, squan-
derea all my ready money, and when re-
fused to mortgage my property that he
might have more, he left me with an oath.
That night large firm was robbed, and
it was discovered that Charlie was one
of the perpetrators of the deed. The
next morning the town was wild with
excitement, and | was almost distract
ed. ior my boy had fed. The news was
passed from mouth to mouth; my house |
was searched, and my son called vii 4
lain; but l lad no power to prevent
either. No one gave me word Of SYM
pathy.
.fou have only yourself to blame, n |
said blunt old woman, who called DUR |
irg the day. ssThe boy was happy at
home, but you drove him into bad COM
pany"
That nj ght at the hour of 12, as sat |
alone.a window was opened softly, and
Charlie stepped into the room. With a
glad cry sprang toward him, but he 4
pushed me rudely away.
ssCan you hide me any where ?" he said. 4
sThe hounds are after me. Had you'll
given me money yesterday this would not
have BEEN"
"Oh, Charliei" cried.
t.Yes, MOTHER" be said, sternly. "You
have made me criminal. want to tell
you have secretly married Kate Has
tings. God knows what VIII become OF |
her. as the world will not believe we are
married. She will be scorned by all"
+ Katy was pretty little creature, only |
sixteen years old, innocent AZ the violets |
which grew around her home. Myl
bleeding heart gave quick, painful
throb.
s.Hark they are coming. Mother, i
am too wicked to die, but I must die.
Farewellp
I saw his purpose now, fof his hand |
clutched revolver; and springing to my |
teet, l threw my arms about him to
shield him from himself. But he shook |
me off.
The next moment the loud report OF his |
pistol echoed through the house. One
glance showed me his lifeless form
Stratoh al IN tho dnnr4 Than oxiofanoo i