, 1876-06-02

Tom, stupid and staring, was hurried
of in search of the missing garments.
And meanwhile his mother betook her
self TO making a cup of tea for her pro-
tege. It was wonderful how q little
warmth of human feeling had reused this
woman TO life and activity again.
When Tom returned, laden with va
rious articles of apparel, the two were
quietly slipping their tea together at the
old round table.
He did not return alone, however.
Following him came tall, gray-headed
gentleman.
Here's father!" cried the girl, spring.
ing forward. "Oh, father, this good
lady has saved my lifep
Lady! The widow Minton wanted to
kiss the beautiful rosy lips that pro-
nounced the word.
"Well, my DEAR" said the old gentle
mant goodhumoredly pinching the
plump cheek, 4" she has done it very
thoroughly. You certainly don't look
very near death Just now"
Whereat, the story, with due enlarge
ment and variations, was told him with
pretty pOut.
The father smiled, but also he fur
lively wiped away tear.
"Well, madam, said he, cOurteously,
"accept my cordial thanks for looking
after my little mad cap Belle She's my
only child, you see, and as full of pranks
as any dozen"
Belle playfully put her hand over his
mouth, Z" 1 won't have my character ira
duced where they have been so good to
me" she cried. "And, oh, father, isn't
this beautiful place-such a view of
the waterl I mean to come down here
every day and do my sketching."
I'm afraid" said the sire, shaking
his head, "that this good lady will have
cause to wish she had thrown you over
board"
"Oh, no, father, she likes me, and
like her. And have fallen in love with
Tom long ago, you know"
Tom blushed painfully. Something
strange and new stirred in his mind.
Compliments did not sweeten his
thoughts as they did his mothers, for
Tom had never seen better days, and
felt as if he were being made jest Of.
A week passed, during which the
young girl strolled almost daily to the
cabin. When she was there Tom seldom
entered the house. He had grown shy
and sulky; he sat on the shore darkly
brooding, or went off silently to his fish
ing.
One morning Belle and her father de-
parted. Belle kissed the withered cheek
of her friend, and that was all. For when
mention had been made of helping sub
stantially, the widow had drawn herself
sharply up, all the lady shining in her
eyes:
=" l may have seen my best days." said
she, "but haven't come down to that
yet. And if 1 needed any reward, 1
have it now" she added, as she felt the
hot bloom mantling in the cheek that
Belle had kissed.
Long after the two had left, Tom went
about with cloud on his face, and in
his ears were ringing these mocking
words: I'm in love with Tom" A dis
gust for his fishing life and for himself
and for all their miserable surroundings
Of poverty filed the lads heart with an
unwonted bitterness.
Mother" said he one day, as he sat
darkly brooding over the hearth, /" you
said you were born lady; why didn't
you make q. gentleman Of me?"
hadn't any money left when you
came, said the widow, briefly.
"Then it's money that makes people
gentlemen and ladies'"
"I don't know" said the widow,
puzzled, they somehow mostly have
It."
One day Tom came and told her he
was going TO sea. There had been q
man down looking for hands, and he had
taken Tom gladly, for Tom was handy
fellow at almost any kind Of sea craft,
and would soon make good seaman.
"And you must bide here patiently
till I come back mother; for II there
better days anywhere, shall bring EN-
with me, sure" .8EN
After that the sea looked bluer and
colder than ever, and the solitary woman
lived q sort Of hermit's life. No cherry
voice Of gossipping neighbor lightened
the dreary cabin, no children prattled
about her, and only Belle, the bright,
blithe-hearted lassie, seemed TO remem-
Der to cheer her with letter now and
then. Belle was away now, visiting
some distant friends, but In her kindly
heart she kept corner. It seemed, for
the poor old woman who had saved her
life.
Three years-four-passed away, and
daily Of Summer evening you might
have seen the widow sitting in her door
way, eager and hollow-eyed, looking out
for some possible ship that might be
Toms. Tom was not good correspond
emit, but occasionally up at the little
postofice wandering epistle waited her
trembling hand. She was growing very
old and feeble now; but Tom was get
ting up in the world; Tom was first mate
Of his ship; Tom was q success; Tom
waa a onantlannan. and obi ohova all