The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-04-17

not rs . consequence OF that ono act,
but OF much foregone, Of which l knew
nothing.
"My father beckoned me into tho Ii.
brary before heand Leah returned home,
and shut the door.
"'Mary,' said he, gravely, had 1
known thy Oliver was such n wastrel I'd
have chopped my hand of aiore I'd ha'
given theo to him. I'm afraid thoult
rue afore long. Such riot and extrava-
gauce as I saw last night cannot Inst.
And when his own brass is melted he'll
want thy $1,000
"Never shall I forget his look OF con.
sternation as I told him I had given the
money over to Oliver before We left home
on our wedding day.
"Then, ten to one, it's thy money
he's squAnderingp he cried, in As much
OF temper as ever saw him; but he
soitened at my tears, and added: Its
my fault, Mary; l ought to have tied it
down on thee. Never mind, lass, il tn
worst comes to the worst, there's homo
for thee and thy little Launcelot whilst
I've roof to cover me.
"The end did not come quite so soon
as father predicted, but it came quito
soon enough. Bills came pouring in rs
soon as the rupture between Oliver and
Captain Thornton got wind, aud I had
TO soften my husbands Hang it, let
them wait, as best I could, to importu-
nate duns-I who had never known
what debtor and creditor meant beyond
q bill Of parcels ut school. Then
credit was stopped, and Oliver swore
over every sovereign he gave to me.
Sometimes, after brief absence, he
came back with roll, Of notes, but he
would disappear again, and they would
disappear too. And as his embarass-
ments increased he DRINK still more
heavily aud his temper grew so irritable
no one knew how to deal with h'.L.
"In our little Launcelot, whose win
ming why's beguiled many dreary hour,
and in the books in our cozy library, l
tried to smother the sense of impending
misfortune.
"One servant had already gone. Tho
old housekeeper l myself dismissed,
knowing my inability 10 pay her. Aud
now I felt tho value OF Leah's sharp
trimming, for had to do tho work Of the
house, cook, aud nurse my baby into tho
bargain; aud WOO betide me il broil or
roast or rngout were not to my hus.
bands liking.
"He rode of ono morning with w.
lise strapped before him, kissing Laun-
celot and mo before he went, aud did
not see him again ior years. Before the
day was out sheritr's officers wero in tho
house, mud but for kind Mrs. Matthews
neither baby nor myself would have
had 30 much as change OF raiment
left.
"She took me home with her, poor,
dazed, stunned creature, who had not
reached her twenty.second birthday.
Consolirg Laurcelot, she hushed him
to rest, and then dispatched missive to
my father.
"a couple OF days elapsed, during
which my heart sauk to its lowest ebb.
Then he came. Back to my cl:ildhood's s
home ] went with n very heavy heart,
and not all my dear fathers heartincss
could prevent me from feeling myself
and child intruders.
"Soon after he sent me down to Mos
ford to my brotherin.law 10 learn con-
fectionery, then stocked shop and fur.
nished n house for me in one Of the old
rows OF Chester, to the great Indignation
OF tho others.
"'It's best you try to get living for
Lanuce and yourself, my girl, said my
gosd father; and though I'd rather
have you near me, it's wiscst to remove
you beyond the reach OF cnvious eyes,
and where that wastrcl husband OF
yours will not think OF looking for you.
"At first l was very awkward in my
new position. City and people were
alike strange; but that perhaps helped
to set mo ut ease behind my counter.
"Bright, hazel eyed, iive-year-olll
LauncelOt was the star OF my night. He
was more like his grandfather Beech
than his own father, of whom he had no
remembrance; u black paper profile
found at my fathers being my only lik' .
ness OF absent Oliver.
"0ften and often as I stood behind
my counter l wondered il ever chance
would bring him in thero among the
stream OF customers; aud yet l think
generally looked upon him as dead; nc
word or sign having reached me OF his
existence.
alt was May. Matty aud I were busy
MS bees from morning until night,
Launce went to school. The second
race day, party OF ladies and gentle
men came into the shop, talking and
laughing as they came. One OF them was
Oliver Marburyl
az screamed and tainted. When
came to myself ho was gone. Aftcl
nightfall ho came again and abused me
for making a scene and compromising
him with his friends But finding me
in comfortable circumstances he took ur
bis abode with me, professed to have ex
hausted his means in trying to discover
us, and was lavish OF carcsses both to
LauncPlot and myself.
~ had never ceased to love him, and
l hailed the prodigal's return. Yet, as
OF old, he came and went, and ere long
begun to drain my. resources. He took
from my pocket and from my till the
money with which should have pre-.
served my credit, and gambled it away.
The climax came when my little Mary
was about fOur months old.
"My stock got low; l had no money
to give him. Half drunk, he brought q
broker on to tho premises, sold to him
stock, fixtures and furniture, regardless
OF my tears and entreaties; and, whilst
the goods were being hurried away, put
the proceeds in his pocket, and, carpet
bag in hand, turned on his heel, coarsely
al