The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-04-13

not as consequence OF that one act,
but of much foregone, of which | knew
nothing.
"My father beckoned me into the Ii
brary before he and Leah returned home,
and shut the door.
"'Mary,' said he, gravely, had I
known thy Oliver was such wastrel I'd
have chopped my hand off afore I'd ha'
given thee to him. I'm afraid thou'lt
rue afore long. Such riot and extrava-
gance as 1 saw last night cannot last.
And when his own brass is melted he'll
want thy 91, ,0O0.'
"Never shall 1 forget his look of con-
sternation as I told him 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 squandering he cried, in as much
OF q temper as 1 ever saw him; but he
softened 1T my tears, and added: Its
my fault, Mary; ought to have tied it
down on nee. Never mind, lass, if tn
worst comes to the worst, there's home
for tto and thy little Launcelot whilst
I've rc of TO cover me-
CITE end cid not come quite 80 soon
as &c ther pl ed;cted, but it came quite
soon enough. Bills came pouring in as
soon as tue rupture between Oliver and
Captain Thornton got wind, aud l had
to soften my husbands Hang it, let
them wait, as best 1 could, to importu-
nate duns-J who had never known
what debtor and creditor meant beyond
bill of parcels at 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 embarrass-
ments increased he drank still more
heavily and his temper grew 80 irritable
no one knew how to deal with hi:l.
"In or~ little Launcelot, whose win
ming w?v, Deguiled many dreary hour,
and in ,1e books in our cozy library, /
tried 20 smother the sense of impending
misfo .vUne.
"One servant had already gone. The
old housekeeper I myself dismissed,
knowing my inability to pay her. And
now L felt the value of Leah's sharp
training, for had to do the work of the
house, cook, and nurse my baby into the
bargain; and woe betide me if broil or
roast or ragout were not to my hus-
bands liking.
" de rode off one morning with q va
lise strapped before him, kissing Laun.
celot and me before he went, and did
not see him again for years. Before the
day was out sheriff's officers were in the
house, and but for kind Mrs. Matthews
neither baby nor myself would have
had so much as a change of raiment
left.
"She took me home with her, a poor
dazed, stunned creature, who had moi
reached her twenty-second birthday
Consoling Launcelot, she hushed him
to rest, and then dispatched missiye tc
my father.
"A couple of days elapsed, during
which my heart sauk to its lowest ebb
Then he came. Back to my childhood
home went with a very heavy heart
and not all my dear fathers heartiness
could prevent me from feeling myself
and child intruders.
"Soon after he sent me down to Mos
ford to my brother in-law to learn con
fectionery, then stocked shop and fur
nished house for me in one of the ole
rows OF Chester, to the great indignation
of the others.
"It's best you try to get living fol-
Launce and yourself, my girl, said my
good father; 'and though I'd rather
have you near me, it's wisest to remov,
you beyond the reach of envious eyes
and where that wastrel husband o
yours will not think OF looking for you
cat first was very awkward in my
new position. City and people Were
alike strange; but that perhaps helpet
to set me at case behind my counter.
"Bright, hazel eyed, e-year-olC
Launcelot was the star of my night FL,
was more like his grandfather Beecl
than his own father, of whom he had 1t
remembrance; u black paper protil'
found at my fathers being my onlylike
ness of absent Oliver.
Gotten and often as I stood behin(
my counter 1 wondered if ever chanc
would bring him in there among tn
stream of customers; aud yet 1 think
generally looked upon him us dead; n,
word or sign having reached me of hi
existence.
cit was May. Matty aud were bus.
as bees from morning until night
Launce went to school. The secon'
race day, party of ladies and gentle
men came into the shop, talking an,
laughing as they came. One of them wa
Oliver Marbury!
81 screamed and tainted. When
came to myself ho was gone. Afte
nightfall he came again and abused m
for making a scene and compromising
him with his friends. But finding IN
in comfortable circumstances he took u
his abode with me, professed to have ez
hausted his means in trying to discove
us, and was lavish of caresses both t.
Launcelot and myself
81 had never ceased to love him, an,
l hailed the prodigal's return. Yet, a
of old, he came and went, and ere lonI
begun to drain my resources. He too
from my pocket and from my till til
money with which should have pre-
served my credit, and gambled it away
The climax came when my little Mar,
was about four months old.
"My stock got low; I had no none,
to give him. Half drunk, he brought
broker on to the premises, sold to hin
stock, fixtures and furniture, regardless
of my tears and entreaties; and, willis
the goods were being hurried away, pu
the proceeds in his pocket, and, carpe
bag in hand, turned on his heel, coarsel.
telling me old David Beech would max
a home for me and the squallers. Tn
children were both crying. At thi
Launcelot raised his little fist and strucl
at his unnatural father.
"Like savage he turned upon tn
child, to strike at him. On the impuls
of the moment / interposed, and th