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

some sudden blight; one that could never
seem young again, striking in its weird express
sion of that blight and that end to youth. But
tho little forehead was a temple tof intellect
the large grey eyes were exquisite with
thought beyond boys; these were full of
beauty too grand for the locker, just then
looking on, to find. A crntch lay beside the
little form, and one limb hung useless on the
mothers dress-poor Paul was q cripple.
Mamma" said he, "I wish God would let
me live with you and papa again"
Papa; never! Oh, my darling, my poor
| child !" There was agonyin the voice, and to
Luke Lawtons ear it was not strange one.
She turned her face to hide it from the boy-it
| looked full upon him, pale, suffering, beautiful
beyond words-Mrs. James!
| Astonished for the moment, she said nothing;
confused past expression, he was silent too.
AS the wonder slowly faded from her eyes, a
deadly terror seemed to take its place her
hand involuntarily grasped the boy as if she
feared being deprived Of him; the movement
spoke moro eloquently than words, and to 1t
Luke Lawton replied:
I "Safe as ever, Mrs. James, safe ever. The
whole things an accident, 'pon my honor. l
know no more now than before; but-bnt,"
he hesitatcd and looked kindly into her eyes,
suppose you'd trust me, ma'am"
She cast tender glance upon her crippled
| boy.
"In what ?" fnltered her palld lips.
ain whatever You want help about" was the
straig ghtforward but very gently spoken reply:
"pon my honor I'd be glad to do something
for you,'
| Come here, Paul-your little friend here
brought me to YOU"
His quick eye had found ont that the proud
woman was conquering emotion, and he wish
| ed to relieve her from an immediate reply by
this mode. The child took his crutch and
came over to him he stood before him lean
ing on it, and looking up into his face for a
moment, then as if satisfied with what he read
there, said courteously, with a we'll bred air
quite winning in itself:
"You very kind, sir am sure l am
obliged to you for coming"
"Not at all, my fine fellow; I'm sorry dis
turbed your mother, though"
"She will not mind it," said Paul, "since you
are her friend, and am sure you are. 1t was
l, sir'-and he pointed to her scattered tress-
es, 'who tossed her hair much like to
play with it, and didut think any one would
} see u.s."
"Al right answered Luke Lawton, "no
excuse needed for that, Paul. Tell me, boy,
; how old are yonf"
"Twelve, sir"
5 "Ard suppose You were a man now, what
3 wonld you like to bef"
J., The pale eager face glowed in a moment, the
lips parted, but stopped i'll the act, and then 4
sigh came from them.
0 "No use,', lie said in wearied way, 81 can
never be it now, never. Mamma" he turned
e and was c'asped to her heart, where he hid hit
;, trouble. She was quite calm now; her won
derful store of sef-control had indeed been al
" called into requsition to make her So but i
had won the battle, and as she tenderly hel'
her arms around the boy, she said to MIR. Law
ton with the sweetest possible courtesy-i
y was easy to see, The same from which Paul
had been modelled.
"Mr Lawtou, if fer the present you will
=, excuse from longer interview, will, a
some other time, express my gratitude for you
Il kind intentions"
Certainly, Mrs. James, certainly it is bet
3 ter to wait. Good-by, Paul. boy we'll kno'
e each other better after awhile"
He walked away, and when he got beyon
y ear-shot of the summer house, gave vent
d his feelings in one prolonged and astounde
- exclamation,
u ExtI aordinaryr
"Mr. Lawton," said the voice of the pal
child.
ID "Wel, boy"
lie "Iknow what Paul wants to be-ain't yo
as rich as the mar that makes the greenbacksi
n He laughed. Not quite, but what does PAT
d, want to be :"
at "Ope of them men that makes big picture
ut like what's in the chapel, sir, over the alta
g, He can make tirst-rate little pictures now hin
in self, and you ought to. hear how beautiful
to talks about them. He says his mothers tn
M purtcst picture in the world"
lie "Not far wrong" assented Luke, though
guess he hasn't been quite all over it, fro
N Terra del Fuego to Australia, which bounds i
ed Right enough"
He upsets her hair to make her look lii
one, he says. And, sir, he draws her ever,
Id where. Couldn't rich man make him be whit
he wants, Mr. Lawton T.
If he'd be let boy-but obstacles