Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-04-10


thin, most wretched object.
She stood silent a moment after clos
ing the door behind her, and Maude
looked at her with puzzled eyes, till
slowly tender smile came upon the
pallid face.
Then, with great cry, ,Maude rushed
forward, and gathered the slender, was
ted figure in a close embrace, raining
kisses upon her lips and cheeks, sob
bing over and over:
"Oh, Lena. Lena"
When her first burst of joyful well
come was over, she drew her visitor to
the fire, gently placed her in the deep
armchair, and knelt beside her, strok-
ing the white cheeks with loving touch.
"Are you so glad l come, Maude?"
The question was asked with a wist-
full love, and eyes full of deep happi-
ness.
1Glad? | can never tell you how
gladr'
"And my father? Does my father
ever speak of me?"
Maude's face saddened instantly.
81 see," said Lena, softly. "But l
came TO make one last plea for forgive
ness, Maude.''
As if to answer her words there was
a tap at the door, and voice asked:
MAY l come in, daughter?''
"Yes, father said Maude, springing
up TO open the door.
Mr.. Ingraham entered the room with
smile upon his lips. But in moment
it vanished as his eyes fell upon the
white face resting against the arm
chair There was no glad recognition,
as he asked, coldly:
"What is that woman doing here?"
"Oh. father, do not-Oh, do not
speak so,'' Maude sObbed, taking both
his hands in her own. ''See how pale
and i'll she looks She has come for
forgiveness-for place in her home.
Oh for my sake, forgive herr"
And the stranger in her own home
spoke no word, watching father and
sister with eager eyes.
''For your sake.r repeated Mr.. Ingra-
ham. SIT is for your sake l will send
her away. You were but child, Maud
when she left us. You did not under
stand the disgrace she brought upon
her fathers house"
"But now Maude would have
pleaded.
''Listen," said her father, in a cold,
stern voice, with his eyes as full of
pain as they were of anger. ''Ten
years ago to-day, New Years day,
Helena Ingraham elOped from her
fathers house with a man she had
been forbidden to see or to know-a man
her father knew for gambler and a
scoundrel. Is this not true, Helena:"
at is true, was the quiet reply.
''Two years afterwards, Harold Pla-
eide, as the man called himself, was
srrested for bank robbery, was tried,
convicted and sentenced TO twenty
wears hard labor in the States prison.
Then, when her sin was sorely pun
ished, offered Helena place in her
old home if she would accept the di-
vorce the law gave her. She refused.
She lived as near the prison as she was
allowed; she earned a scanty support
at her needle, seeing her wretched hus-
band when permitted, clingIng to the
name he had disgraeed. And now she
comes here. the convict's wife, 10 dark
en- your life"
"My husband died two years ago"
Dead. 1t is well, But you are none
the less Helena Placide, a convict's
widow. My will made years ago,sives
Maude my entire estate; my home Is
all hers. If you come, you take from
her all that is given to you"
You hear, Maude:" said Helena.
''J heard,' was the quick reply, land
| say thatJ will gladly share all-every-
thing-with my sister, my only sister.
If she was wrong at first, father, in the
act of disobedience, she has atoned for
it by years of poverty and suffering.
Let her come home"
| our " Nisii
where a convict's widow lives"
"Then their friendship is yalueless
to me-"
"Your promised husband"
"May pray that will be as faithful
to him as Helena was TO her husband, y
said Maude, blushing rosily.
Mr.. Ingraham was silent for mo-
ment. while his children watched hi:
face with wistful eyes. The hard pres,
sure of the lips softened to a smile, his
, eyes lost their angry expression, ano
turning to Helena, he said:
"Daughter.''
!, There was no other word as she
, sprang into his arms and lay there, al
her calmness broken up in sobbine
gratitude.
"Maude," Mr.. Ingraham said at last
"can you dress your sister to assist a
your receptionf"
> Certainly l can"
"walter is in the library, and l viii
explain to him. We will speak no NOR
of the past, Helena
Then he kissed her, and left her will
Maude, happy Maude, who had m
thought of regret, as she dressed he
sister in heavy black silk, and insiste'
upon being her sole lady's maid.
q There was little ripple of excite
. ment in society, when Mr.. Ingraham'
two daughters appeared at the New
Years reception, and Mrs. Holt had +
disappear every few moments to wip
tears of happiness from her eyes at tn
family reunion.
Her two pupils were very dear t
= her, and no one grieved more sincerel.
over Helena's disgrace and punishment
- than her old governess.
The next morning when Mr.. lngra
ham was in the library, looking owe
some papers, there was rap at tn
door, and Helena came in, plainly bu