Mexico weekly ledger., 1877-09-06
"A kE'ER 70 WELLW
BY ANNA SHIELDS.

1ou Will come home with us,
Elsie, of course,"
Elsie Conard, gentle, timid, just
seventeen, who had come within one
hour from her mothers grave, side
| by side with her fathers, made fif-
teen years before, did not speak for
a moment.
For the invitation given, as mat
ter ''Of course, =" came from her
brother-in-law, her mothers staunch
friend and adviser for many years,
almost Il second father to her own
shy self from childhood. When he
spoke rs if there was no question
about bis decision, it was not easy for
his timid little sister-in-law to dispute
his assertion.
Was he not Maggie's husband, and
was not Maggie herself ten years
older than Elsie, and Robert Wayne
seven years older than his wife, actu-
ally double Elsie's own age? Had
not these two controlled Elsie from
her babyhood far more than the gen.
tie mother lying in her newIy-made
grave? Could she assert her indie
pcndence to them, wat hing her with
grave eyes, full Of wonder at her
hesitation? a
Then bet Eeen her own soft blue
eyes and the faces of Robert and
Maggie, Elsie saw a pale, dying face,
sad, imploring eyes, piteous, CULVER
ing lips, and again she seemed to
hear the faint, pleading voice say:
son, Elsie, care for poor Tom
when am .@one -
mothers eyes, rcprobate to all
others. weak. more than wicked.
drinking to excess, industrious only
in fits and starts, the black sheep of
the family.
ssRobert, " Elsie said, the tears
starting ut the sound Of her own
voice, "you are very kind to wish it,
but | will stay here. - |
Stay here; Nonsense!' cried
Maggie. "How can you stay
here?"
. Mother left me the house, and
next year l shall have the five thou
sand dollars father left me.
"WelI?"
Chill and hard the monosyllable
fell from Robert Wayne's lips.
81 And, +" said Elsie, desperately,
.s ifI leave here who will care for
Tom?"
Then the storm broke. Tom was
a disgrace to them all. Tom was
twenty-four and able to take care OF
himself Tom had sneaked away
from the cemetery, and was probably
drunk somewhere. Tom, indeed!
But anger nerved Elsie. Had
Robert and Maggie tried coaxing, or
even argument, she would have found
it hard work to resist them, but she
felt she did not deserve reproach, and
so braced her heart to resolution and
stood firm.
1t ended in Robert and Maggie
leaving the house in anger, leaving
bitter, singing words, and in Elsie's
Iylng upon the sofa sobbing her very
heart away for more than two hours.
" And Tom will stay on and on,
spending Elsie's small fortune as he
spent your mother's," Robert said,
fiercely, 50 disgracing lis all. /"
"Pm sure / can't help it, " Mag
ole sobbed. Il did hope he would
90 away when the house was closed
till Elsie married or came of age. "
And Elsie, sobbing family, ex-
hausted, was lifted in two strong
arms. and voice that had confronted
her many time aud oft SAID:
"Dearie, don't cry any more
She's out O. trouble, and, God be
praised, we can think of her a saint
| in Heaven instead of sufferer OF
earth
Elsie nestled close in the old ser
wants arms.
s. Jane" she whispered, sit wa
not for mamma I was crying, but TO
Tom"
ssAnd indeed somebody may wei
| cry for him, for I'm thinking he'll g
ldown hill faster than ever now, he
have neither mother nor home. y
ssBut, Jane, he will have hi
home."
E'Ei, dearie?"
ssAnd his sister, il he can't haH
his mother. I'm going to stay hei
to take care of Tom.
eHeaven save us! What will M
Robert say?"
SHE has said / am fool, a co
Iceited IDIOT" Elsie answered, b
eyes flashing now through her teal
shut I'Tn going to stay. Tom