Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1875-12-24

weary, laborious manner, like an old
man. He took the package of letters
from the table and shuddered as his
fingers came in contact with the black
band that held them together his brow
contracted with sudden spasm of pain
as she saw the name Charles Howard,
Esq" traced in the same delicate char
acters that had so often written his own.
When he spoke, his voice bad "a harsh
and unfamiliar sound.
Il will take these, joe and read
them" Then he turned, and with
feeble, uncertain step made his way
toward the door, But before he reached
it his eyes caught the uneasy. anxious
look with which Joe regarded him, and
turning back, he laid one hand on his
friends shoulder, and leaning his head
upon it, said, in a broken, faltering
voice:
Don't worry, Joe. You couldn't
help it. | win be all right in the morn
ing"
Joes grasp frightened on Harry's arm
as if to detain him, but tho boy pushed
his hand gently aside
"No; | am better alone. Let me
go now"
Then he went slowly down stairs, and
the door Of his room closed tightly,
shutting him mall alone with his sof-
row. But Joe's door remained open all
night, while the wakeful ears Of the
faithful friend listened anxiously during
tue long hours for any sound that might
reach him from the room below.
When morning came, Harry was the
first to appear. However severe the
struggle, it was won. There was a
sterner look about his brow, the frolic-
some laugh was silenced forever: but
there was calm steady light in the blue
eyes, and quiet manlincss in his bear
ing that had never been there before.
The eager words of sympathy with
which Joe was prepared to greet him
died before they were spoken, and Harry
was the first to break the silence.
81 could not write her, Joe," he said,
passing his hand quickly across his fore
head. 81 have enclosed the letters I
have received from her together with
the last one she wrote Charles Howard.
She will receive them this morning.
think she will understand what they
mean. One question, Joe, and we will
never recur to the subject again Who
paid Charles Towards debts of which he
speaks in his letter to you y
Joe made no reply.
WHO takes care Of the widowed moth
er he left Where is she p
I'm Connecticut"
who takes care Of her p
"She is under the impression that
Charley left some money behind him of
which she receives the interest"
Through you p
Again Joe made no reply.
If Joe had looked at Harry shat mos
ment, he would have seen in the glance
Of the younger man, as ho rested on bis
clumsy frame and uncouth features, an
expression Of admiration that amounted
almost to reverence.
"And out Of your meager salary as u
tutor at the college you have for yea.s
supported that poor old woman joe"
said Harry relapsing for moment INFO
his old boyish simplicity of manner,
what makes you so good p
For few minutes there was no other
word spoken. Then Joe looked at Har-
RVS sad features and weary frame as be
rested against the mantcl-piece, and
looking up at the little face above them,
said
christmas is coming. Let us 60 and
spend it with the mother and Mabel -
And they did 50. And Mabel cried bit
terly when she heard Harry's story from
Joe's lips, and the tears were BALI for
Harry and half for herself.
Then the little girl set herself reso-
lutely to work to coax back the old
smiles to the stern and gloomy couute-
nance. And she did it too---did it so
well that when the flowers bloomed in
the following summer there was we'd
ding, and the bride was given away by n
gigantic professor Of mathematics, with
unkempt hair and ponderous feet.
Joe's rough mnstache scratched Ma
bells sweet lips most ferociously when he
said goodbye" to the little wife, and
surrendered his darling forever into Har-
RVS keeping.
Then, with carpet-bag in one hand
and volume ofLcibntz under the other
arm, he took his solitary way up to lit
tie cottage among the hills Of Connccti-
cut, whore a little old woman received
him with loving arms, and kissed and
blessed him in the place Of the son she
had lost.