, 1877-01-26

some clues tn his flight With NV poor
daughter. lut IN vain. Returning sadl Y
homcWari. fell in With n very we'll
dressed gentleman who invited me to
sup with him. ami talked pobtics ai a
great rate hut he proved 20 be only the
butler. anil the sudden arrival OF his
master anil mistress put me in great
confusion. Just then. Who should en-.
ter but Miss Arahclla Wilmot. who was
formerly engaged io lie married 10 my
son George. She recognized me with
joy. and. ou hearing my name. the old
gentleman and lady. her uncle and
aunt, insisted on my staying for some
DAYS.
The next evening we went 10 sec some
strolling PLAYERS act in barn. When
the chief performer appeared and per-
ceived Miss Wilmot and me, he stood
! speechless. 1t was my unfortunate
1 George He burst into tears and re-
/ tired, 1 conducted Miss Wilmot home.
and we soon had my son with us all
/ his travels had brought him no more
| fortune than a stick and a wallet but
l fancied l could discern that Miss Will
mot still looked on him with favorable
eye. Nor was this preference abated by
the arrival of Mr.. Thornhill, who, 1
learned, had already made her some
overtures. He seemed surprised at see
ing me, but was very friendly, and pro-
cured for George an ensfgn's commits
sion in one of the regiments going to
the West Indies.
Giving my son all had-my bless
ing-I took leave of the good family
that had entertained me 50 long, and set
out for home. Putting up for the night
at little public house, CHANGED to
oVerhear the landlady berating some
one in the room below.
"Out, say" she cried "what, you
trumpery, to come and take up an hon
est house without cross or coin to bless
yourself with. Come along, say"
Oh, madam" cried the stranger,
pity me for one night, and death will
soon do the rest /"
knew the voice of my poor Olivia,
flew to her rescue, and caught her in
my arms.
Welcome, my dearest, lost one, to
your poor old fathers bosoml"
''Oh, you can't forgive me! know
you cannot!"
Yes, my child, do. But it sur
prises me how person of Mr.. Burch
ellis seeming honor could be guilty of
such baseness." ,-.ra sr...
"Papa, you labor under a strange
mistake. Mr.. Burchell always admon-
ished me against Mr.. Thornhill. who"
9" Mr. ThornhilI! Can it be?-"
Eyes sir, it was Mr. Thornhill, who
employed the two ladies, as he called |
them, who were, in fact, abandoned wo-
men, to decoy US up town. They would
have succeeded, but for Mr. Burchell's
letter, and am convinced he was ever
our sincerest friend"
" You amaze me My first suspicious
of Mr.. Thornhill's baseness, were too
well grounded"
Alas, papa, you are but little &C.
quainted with his yillainies he has
been married already to six or eight
wives more, whom, like me, he has de-
ceived and abandoned. So monstrous-
ly did he treat me that left him and
fed here, only to be at distance from
the wretch detested."
The next day took Olivia home, ar
irving near midnight, just In time to
save my two little ones from the flames
which devoured our humble cottage be-
fore our eyes, leaving us houseless and
hungry, but for the charity Of our kind |
neighbors. MY arm, too, was severely |
burned, but Isuffered less from that than |
from information l received, that Mr.. !
Thornhill was going to be married to
Miss Wilmot in few days. My Olivia's
betrayer had even the assurance to pre- |
sent himself TO me, with his usual air of |
familiarity, and pretend that his conduct |
toward her had nothing criminal in it.
"Avoid my sight cried L. "Were
my brave son at home, he would not |
suffer this, but am old and disabled, |
and every way undone. reposed my |
heart upon thine honor, and have |
found its baseness. Go, and possess
what fortune has given thee-beauty,
riches, health and pleasure. Gu, and
leave me to want, infamy, disease and
sorrow. Yet, humble as am, though
thou hast my forgiveness, thou shalt
ever have my contempt"
Depend upon it, " returned he, "you
shall feel the effects Of this insolence."
Nor did he threaten in vain. The
next morning his stewart demanded my
annual rent. I could not pay so my
cattle were sold, and myself was cast
into prison, whittier was accompanied
by my disconsolate family. Olivia was
suffering from a slow fever, and one day
in the depression of her spirits she was
heard uttering these mournful lines:
"When lovely woman stoops to folly,
And finds too late that men betray,
What charm can soothe her nelancholy1
What art can wash her guilt AvayT
"The only art her guilt to cover,
To hide her shame from every eye,
To give repentance to her lover
And wiring his bosom IL to die"
We had now nofhin0 haturaan ua and