The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-04-22

unpaid dress-making bill due the sick
girl, which she had been unable to COL
lect, as the dress was not finished, her
mother being Ill, and needing all her
| care and attention. The lady was angry
| because 1t was not completed at the
promised time, and had refused to pay
| the bill.
Fred told her that his carriage was at
the door, and he would take her toNthe
house OF the lady; she went Tor her bon
| net and quickly returned; after driving
before large, nne-looking mansion.
.Now want you to 80 In with me"
said Mrs. Harris.
Fred thought the whole proceeding
strange; but, as he humored her so far,
| he concluded to do as she asked; so,
fastening his horse, they went up the
steps together, rang the bell, and were
| ushered into the drawing-rOOm. After
few moments delay, to his surprise
and unspeakable astonishnent, he found
himself face TO face with Mrs. Harmon,
his stepmother.
She aid not recognize him, as he had
changed much since she last saw him;
then he was only boy, as IL were; now
he had grown 10 be u large, tine-iookiny
man, with iull beard, and skin
Drowned by exposure to the sun.
Mrs. Harris immediately made known
her errand, and presented the bIil, which
Mrs. Harmon refused to pay, pleading Il
broken contract as an excuse; she nau
been disappointed in receiving her dress
LOO late ior the occasion Tor wnicu iL
was ordered, and the girl must teel the
weight Of her displeasure by the i0ss Ol
the money.
Mrs. Harris explained the circum.
tn hi,t IN, hA IN
her mind freely, which proceeding re-
suited i'll an order from Mrs. Harmon W
ieaye the house, and DR.. Harmon arose
from his seat, as he started Tor Lne door,
Wishing TO end what to hlm had been
very unpleasant interview. Mrs. uar-
rlS also arose, and, placing her hanu ON
his arm, SAID
"Stop one moment"
'Tnen, turning, she faced Mrs. Harmon
and SAID
"Madam, this is not the first time you
have spurned ME from your aoor. Eight
years ago l was h0usekeeper In MI.
Harmuns house on the hudson"
Taxing from her head the Wig of black
hair, she stood, before their aslonIsneu
gaze, the gray y-hairtd OLD Kale Harris.
Then, raising her bent torn w It's luil
heIgnt, she liked her, sharp, piercing
eyes on the proud, wicked lace OF tue
woman before her, aud, with low, clear
voice, in which Was the pent-up wratn Oh
years, she said
''Mrs. Harmon, 1 am here to-day to
give back to its lawful oN ner, Frederic
Harmon, who stands before you, MS
tather's estate, when you nave obtdineu
through intrigue and fraud.'
'lt is lieW Kissed Mrs. Harmon,
who had recovered sufficiently from her
n
Il have papers," continued old Katie,
without noticing the interruption
with Inc, that Will prove your marriage
nulland void, as tue ceremony took place
three days before the decree OF divorce,
obtained by bought witnesses, from your
former victim John Travers, wnom you
married tor his wealth, and deserted
when misfortune and poverty overlook
nim." |
Here Mrs. Harmon attempted to an
swer, but old Katie raised her hand TO- |
ward the bewiluered and frightened wo. |
man, and Then drew forth the documents, |
saying
Il have here the will made by james |
Harmon one week before he uied, aAd af. !
ter he had learned your true character;
1T is duly signed and Witnessed; but ioi
poverty and sickness in a distant city, |
you would have heard IRON ME beture'
: Mrs. Harmon, as she saw The VIII, iul y |
realized her situation; she had Always |
known that her marriage could not stand
the test Of law, but mad telJ safe, Us it |
had never before been disputed; she saw
1T was worse than hopeless TO dispute |
the will, and even her widows dover
was spirited away as ii by magic.
Fred drove back to Jhe city with his |
old nurse in half Dewllderel state OF |
mind, and 1T was some time before he'll
could really understand the change in
mis- prospects,.
We will leave the reader to imagine |
the rest, and only add that old Katie is
again housekeeper in the beautiful home
on the banks of the Hudson, and iinus
kind mistress in the new Mrs. Harmon.