The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1878-03-28

tell you that my course OF Wlci1edneSS
IS run, and from this moment l am -
Here he stopped. He hesitated a
moment, and tlen his feelings over
came him and bowing his head he burst
into tears, aud sObs, loud and deep,
broke from his lips. The merchant was
deeply affected, and with the warm
tears gathering quickly in his own
eyes, he started forward and placed BIS
hand upon The youths head.
.Charles, be uttered in a tremulous
! eager voice, have you resolved to be
a aman2" -...-
''With Gods help I will be man
again!" was the youths reply.
'Is-your money all gomez
~ es, sir. This morning 1 had one
solitary sixpence left, and that gave
to a poor Old woman who bade me come
here.
''Ay, know her. She is an unfortu-
nate creature, and has suffered much.
1 bade her if she saw you, and you were
cast down and repentent, to send you
here, for 1 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 bis thanks and stated
the resolution he hid taken.
And now" said Mr.. Williams, after
the matter ind been talked over some,
''we must End a place where you eanre-
eruit your strength little before you
try to work. There is my brother who
owns a farm at NJ. lie would be glad
to have you come there and stop awhile;
and when you wholly recover your
wasted streng, you shall have a place
there. 1 hope the arrangement viii
suit you"
. eyes, sir, returned the youth, with
emotion.
From that tims Charles Aubrey went
on nObly and truly in the path he had
marked out.
Little did Charles Aubrey know how
closely he had been watcbNd. Mr.. VIII
iams knew his every movement, even
to his prayers which he poured forth in
the privacy ofhis own apartment. 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.
"WeIl, Charles" !" the merchant COM
menceI "how would you like to change
your boarding-placeY"
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.
"If you would like" the merchant !
resumed, in the same low, strange tone, /
you may. come and board with ME
viii not deceive you, Charles. Un'n 1
could know hat you would entirely re-
form, I darednOt carry you to my house.
But 1 am satisfied now. have not
doubted yous-1ut- I would prove -you-
And now, if yCL please, you may inform |
Mrs Swan that you shall board with
her no more. She will not he disap-
pointed, for I have spoken with her
on the subject"
With these words BIr. Williams left |
the s;ore, and as soon as Charles could !
recover from the strange emotions that |
had almost overpowered him, he called
for the porter to come and lock up, and |
then having locked up the great safe,
be took his departure.
On the next morning he came 70 the |
store, and when his employer came, he |
him that he had given his no
tice to Mrs. Swan.
VERY well, returned the merchant.
This evening, then, you will so home |
with me-"
Evening came, and Charles Aubrey
accompanied his old friend home. Tea
was ready, the rest of the family hav-
ing 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.
Charles sat down there, and his en-
DlOyer went out, but he could not read.
Thus he sat, when the door was slowly
opened, and a female appeared within
-he apartment. With a quick step he
3prang forward, and without a word he
caught the fair girl to his bosom.
Mary" he uttered, as he gazed into
-he sparkling eyes Of the fair being who
still chung fondly to him, ''yOu stilIloYs
ne-yOu forgive me aT-and trust me
Once mOre?'
Yes" she murmured; and ere she
could speak further her father entered
the room.
'A-ha-so you've found him, have
you, Mary?" he cried, in a happy, JOY
lus tone.
MIR. Williams" uttered Charles,
still holding Mary by the hand and
speaking with difficulty. Il hope I'm
not deceived. 0, you have not brought
ne here to kill mel You cannot have
passed this cup tony lips only to dash
It away againl"
''Of course not, returned the mer-
,hsnt. But you must now know the
whole truth. and for fear my child may
lot tell you all, III tell you myself.
This noble girl has never ceased to low
you, and when you were the lowest
lown, she loved you the most. She
same TO me and asked me if she might
ave you if she could. l could not tell
ler nay, and she went at the work. She
Ias suffered much, and, Charles, it re-
mains with you to decide whether her
'"rure shall be one of happiness or not
She knew that you were down, that
your money was all gone and that your
'alse friends had fOrsaken you. Then
leT love for you grew bold and strong.
she wondered if you would repulse ner.
She knew not what might be your feel
ugs, and to save herself the pain of
iirect repulse from You, she assumed a
disguise, so that she might approach
7Ou without being known, and yet gain
jOme idea of your feelings and save
7OU if she could. think she has done
veil. At any rate she has Tegained you