The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1875-09-19

lnlesteu Dy lnnunierao4e SounB SSipno' VIC
tween the ages of twelve and fifteen, in full
evening dress, upon which it suddenly struck
him that Flerry's birthday party was about to
take place. He had hardly resolved this solu-
tion of the sy lphs in his mind, when that young
lady herself bounded into his arms, all dress
and curls. He was pleased, for he was fond of
her.
"What an old blunderbuss l am Floy," be
said I" | don't carry birthday presents in my
pockets. What will do; will you trust me !"
"Yes, Pa; but you carry something in your
pockets that will buy presents"
ooh! that's it, is it Well, where's the
mouth of the Orinocor p
"Near Terra del Fuego OF course, Pa. Don't
make me say geography to day, please don't"
There, then" He gave her two bank notes.
&" Don't dance them white slippers off tonight,
FIoy."
"What a splendid Pa I" and she was gone.
But the "splendid Pa" wandered about the
great house till he came to a lonely supper,
served out for him by servant. As to any
one in the shape of atiectionate wife or
daughter to share it with him, or keep him
company during the rest of the evening he
knew better than to imagine such a creature
H.
him that-his feminine appeudagcs were wo-
men of fashion, and to nj sht he was a cipher.
50 Lo took his cigar and evening paper, and
sat down for a " comfortable smoke" He read
quietly enough for awhile, and pulled blue
clouds around him most iudefatigably as he
W ent on. But suddenly this " even tenor" of
things was interrupted; in place of a puff
came particularly emphatic Extraordinary y
the cigar was laid down, the paper conned with
a intensity of study speaking of no ordinary
amount of interest; finally it was folded, put
carefully into a breast pocket, ard the follow
ing curt decision uttered:
"Something wrong somewhere! E.rtraordi.
nary"
Then the solid brows were bent in thought
the dying cigar sent up its odor in vain Luke
Lawton smoked no more, he was solving q
problem. The solution lasted half an hour
and another decision, uttered aloud, broke the
stiffness of the quiet room:
mot on her side; the wrong Is somewhere
else-there's rascal in the case evidently"
Another interval of thought, another short
soliloquy:
| "Wonder if she'll let me help her Ertraor
dinary woman"
door, and in moment Mrs. James stood before
him. She was if nothing had happened tha
day, calm in voice, easy in manner, the beanti
ful light that he no knew came from seeing
her child shining in her eyes a gentle smile oil
her lips.
Are you disergaged, Mr. Lawton ~ sh
asked.
Certainly, certainly, ma am; sit down. In
glad to see you"
For which offer you my thanks You er
good enough to-day, sir, TO make an offer O
help, which You thought 1 needed. l do 1ee
it-I have come to ask it,"
Every sensible, Mrs. James. Command m
services, such they are"
"You have my gratitude, sir it is not N
way to speak much of what | feel, but tt
feeling is none the less true for that"
81 believe you, Mrs. James, Now what ca
1 do for youi'
"Act as if you did not know existed"
" Extraordinary! But excuse me- maam,
can't"
'' 1t is necessary for my safety, Mr.. Lawto1
If you were less in earnest with me than tax
you to be, my only comment on to-day's inc
dent would have been immediate departuI
= from this house. To live unmolested mu.
live alone, unuoticed either by kindness
malice. This much explanation offer to yor
goodness. If you condescend to act as 1 asl
l can remain here earning my bread in tt
security which is all desire now. If you sti
persist in what, believe me, would be an iDiul
; instead of benefit, must go. This much {
! trust to your honor"
Extraordinary
There was silence then; she waiting,
ponderng. at last:
+ May ask you question, ma'am ?"
3 You may"
e 1.-The boy-wouldn't you prefer having hi
with your"
l Her calm voice changed, trembled; tt
y, stately manner thawed.
Prefer! l would move heaven and earth
compass such thing, but it cannot be at pre-
g ent The same necessity that requires the O
>, scurity seek requires also that he be separate
+ from me-"
Excuse me, maam; does it require, to
II that he'll only get the education of a commc