The Newtown bee., 1877-11-01
9&!$s!$$s Stories.
A Happy Mistake.

Day by day had seen the lines of care deepen rOund my fathers mouth and forehead, and watched my mothers pale and anxious gaze rest upon him. Night after night did Maude and I lie side by side, and spend the hours--when sleep, they tell us, lends us beauty in wondering what trouble was lowering over us.
 But the knowledge came all too soon. My father had lent money which he sup posed he could call in at any time. The time arrived, but the money was not forthcoming His health was rapidly failing him, fact his business anxicIies in no way helped, and we soon knew he must mortgage heavily the farm. and that if his health continued 10 fail he mighi soon be unable even to pay the Then Naude and began 10 hold our whispered conversations to better pur- pose--to decide that we were strong.and young, and healthy, and such gifts were | given to us 10 be made use of And so it ended in our sending off il mysterious | letter to the old school. teacher and walt ing and watching days for reply, which came at last to tell us she had succeeded in finding situation ns gover ness, at a competency, which 10 u' seemed wealth.
 The lady was willing to take any on on her recommendation, and either 0 us, she felt assured, would fill the rtIe So she left it for Us to dccide--one mus go and one must stay.
 At last Muude said it must be she wh would go. She was older than l. an she thought she would be happier ava working than at home sitting with folt ed hands. She was so pretty, 30 lovel and loYable that it seemed us though VI could not let her go among strangers.
 At first, father and mother would m = listen 10 it, hut we overruled all oblec ion, and Maude wrote and appointed
 day tor her coming.
 5 The intervening time passed rapid away in busy preparation, and at Ia the oue Sunday left us dawned brig r. and clear. Maude looked 80 lovely tn
 morning iu her pretty hat, with it's lol
 dropping feather, that did not wond
 the eyes of stranger in the chur
 wandered persistently to our pew
 He WAS tall, handsome man, sitti
 with the Leonards--a name which, lg our village, represented it's arlstocra sst and wealth.
 There were gentlemen from the c = visiting there constantly, but their g
 did not often wander from the styli
 elegant Mss Leonards to seek any ot
 attractions.
 saw them glance around once ' twice, as if to discover what else Tn
 church could possibly distract attent
 
 from themselves, and fear felt Ill nd pride in Mudde's beauty than was q
 consistent with the sacred place in wh and we were.
 for But after she had gone, and at nj
 went, for the first time, to nay IL ee. alone, felt that she had chosen the
 ter part--that it was easier even to
 forth among strangers, with your b
 at the blow, than tc sit down quietly ,. the vacant hearthstone, 4" However, 1 soon found plenty asn. heart and hands My father grew ra ,o ly worse lusteaa of better, and Il
 hart. work so to word my letters to M' mems that she should not know of the skel affs, in our home--the shadow of col
 death.
 Her letters were bright and ch and like herselt; sud when at last l told haes father grew no better, she answered The had met Dr. Melrose. who was rel iE of the lady whose children she ia l and asked him to go down and see !