The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-08-08

again" was the youths reply.
" Is your money all gone"
I" Yes, sir. This morning l had one
solitary sixpence left, and that gave to
a poor old woman who bad me come
here"
cay, I know her. She is an unfor-
tunate creature who has suffered much.
I bade her if she saw you, and you were
cast down and repentant, to send you
here, for I heard yesterday that you
were at the foot of the precipice. Now,
if you are determined, you shall not
want for help"
In eager, broken, sobbing sentences,
Charles poured out his thanks and
stated the resolution he had taken.
"And now," said Mr.. Williams, af-
ter the matter had been talked over
some, I'VE must find place where you
can recruit your strength little before
you try work. TLere is my brother
who owns farm sss M. He would be
glad to have you come and stop awhile
and when you wholly recover your
wasted strength you shall have a place
here"
At first the youth refused to accept so
much, for he knew his unworthiness I;
but the merchant simply answered
him.
You can pay me for all this if you
choose, SO you need not be delicate about
it; and as for your unworthiness-
when the lost ones of earth are not
worth redeeming, then some other
standard of worth must be regarded
than that simple one which Jesus of
Nazareth gave to his followers"
So it was settled that Charles should
90 into the country and remain while.
He found Mr.. Williams, the brother,
ready and happy to receive him, and
there he soon began to regain his health
and spirits. In two weeks he was as
strong as ever, and at the end of a
month the marks of dissipation had all
left his face. Then he returned to town
and entered the store. Amos Williams
gave him lucrative station, and bade
him remember nothing Of the past save
the one great lesson he had learned.
"Charles," he said, "you remember
the Widow Swami"
"Yes, sir"
"Well, / have engaged board for you
there. hope the arrangement will suit
you."
eyes, sir,' returned the youth, with
emotion.
From that time Charles Aubrey went
on nobly and truly in the path he had
marked out.
Little did Charles Aubrey know how
closely he had been watched. Mr.. Will
liams knew his every movement, even
to his prayers, which he poured forth
in the privacy of his own apartments.
Thus passed away three months, and at
the end of that time Mr.. Williams
called the young man into the counting
room one evening after the rest of the
people had gone.
"Well. Charles" the merchant COM
menced, chow would you like to change
your boarding-place?''
There was something in the look and
tone of the man as he spoke these words
that made the youth start. The blood
rushed to his face and anon he turned
pale.
eff you would like" the merchant
in the same low, strange tone,
" you may come and board with me. 1
will not deceive you, Charles. Until l
could know that you would entirely re-
form, I dared not carry you to my house
but / am satisfied now. l have not
doubted you, but would prove you.
And now, if you please, you can inform
Mrs. Swan that you shall board with her
no more. She will not be disappointed,
for have spoken with her on the SUBJ
ject"
With these words Mr.. Williams left
the store, and as soon as Charles could
recover from the strange emotions that
had almost oyerpowered him, he called
the porter to come and lock up, and then
having locked up the great safe, he took
his departure.
On the next morning he came to the
store, and when his employer came, he
informed him that he had given his no
tice to Mrs. Swan.
"Very well," returned the merchant.
"This evening, then, you will go home
with me-"
Evening came, and Charles Aubrey
accompanied his friend home. Tea was
ready, the rest of the family having
eaten an hour before. After tea
Charles was conducted to the sitting
room, where lamps were burning, and
where Mr.. Williams informed him he
could amuse himself by reading.
Charley sat down there, and his en-
ployer went out, but he could not read.
Thus he sat, when the door slowly
opened, and female appeared within
the apartment With a quick step he
spraDg forward, and without word he
caught fair girl to his bosom.
"Mary," he uttered, as he gazed into
the sparkling eyes of the fair being who
still clung fondly to him, "you still
love me-you forgive me all-and trust
me once moreT'
eyes," she murmured; and ere she
could speak further her father entered
the room.
"Ahal So you've found him, have
you, MaryF" he cried, in a happy, Joy
GUS tone.
"Mr. Williams" uttered Charles,
still holding Mary by the hand and
speaking with difficulty, "I hope I'm
not deceived. Oh, you have not
brought me here to kill me! You can
not have passed this cup to my lips only
to dash it away againp'
"Of course not" said the merchant.
" But you must know the whole truth,
and for fear my child may not tell you.
I'll tell you myself. This noble girl has
never ceased to love you, and when you
were the lowest down she loved you the
most. She came to me and asked me if
she might save you if she could.
could not tell her nay, and she went to
work. She has suffered much, and,
Charles, it remains with you to decide
whether her future shall be one of hap
piness or not. She knew that you were
down, that your money was all gone and
that your false friends had forsaken you.
Then her love for you grew bold and
strong. She wondered if you would re-
pulse her. She knew not what might