The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-12-26

| failed has returned to England, and is
in prosperous circumstances; and it
worried me for little while to think
that my excellent, upright hus-
band went to his grave in sorrow
and poverty, while this dishonest man
holds up his head and grows rich; but
it was only for a minute, child" and
Mrs. Warde smiled now with less
effort. 81 know to whom I have COM
mitted my cause, and I will not mur-
muir at anything He Wills"
Lottie kissed the placid speaker af-
fectionately, but she was not as SYM
pathetic as usual. Her little sisters
hung about her, wondering whether
they should have Christmas pud-
ding, and of them blurted out fact
hitherto concealed; that mother did
not go to church on Sundays till even
ing service because her shawl was SO
shabby.
| Lottie slid her hand into the pocket
where lay her little purse, but drew it
back again, telling herself that she
could not possibly go to visit Charles
friends meanly dressed; and when the
youngest child climbed on her knee
and frankly asked what she was 60
ing to bring him for a Christmas
present, he was set down again and
SO sharply told not to tease that Mrs.
Warde's mild eyes were raised in sur
prise.
81 beg pardon, mother" said her
daughter, coloring under the reproof
the look conveyed. 81 am afraid 1
am rather stupid this evening. What
were you saying about Robert?-he is
elected pupil teacher at his school.
OF course he isl knew he would be!
he has worked SO hard for it, dear,
good boy!" and she ran across the
room to kiss the studious lad, who
warmly returned her caresses.
"Then you're glad of it, Lottie? So
am I, only 7 think mothers bothered
bit about the books I shall want"
Twill they cost much?" asked his
sister
"Well, dear, it seems much to per-
sons of our limited income" Mrs.
Warde replied. "And he must have
new suit of clothes. But I hope to
manage it without running into debt,
if you can help me little"
Lottie did not speak, and her
mother thoughtfully added
'"The girls will have to do without
the new hats I promised them; and
baby's pelisse must last another win
ter; and"
But here her daughter stopped her
by pettishly saying
"Oh, mother! pray don't tell us Of
any more wants; they seem endless.
How miserable it is to be SO poor; how
sick of contrivances and make
shifts you must be. I know I am.
And somehow the children always
seem to need most when one has least
to spare"
ct did not know you were in that
predicament, dear, or would not
have spoken SO plainly" Mrs, Warde
replied; "but don't let it worry you,"
she added, with the cheerful air that
covered a multitude of anxious
thoughts "we shall manage very well,
I dare say"
Lottie went away with her money
still in her pocket, but with load at
her heart-half shame, half selfish
ill-humor-which was not lessened by
standing at the mercer's window for
another half hour before she went
back to Sir Johns.
While her gaze was fixed on the
silk, her rebellious spirit was murmur-
ing at the difficulties of her position.
1t was so hard that she should always
be hampered with the home-cares.
Other young people could spend their
salaries on themselves, while her
purse had such constant calls upon it
that there was nothing left for herself.
And mother was not thoughtful for
her; she never seemed to remember
that girl Of her age would naturally
wish to be smart, especially when she
visited persons in better circumstances
than herself.
Miss Dayton wanted some trife
brought from her own room that even
ing, and Lottie had executed her COM
mission and was retreating, when the
voice of Sir John, who was reading
the evening paper, arrested her.
"Dear me! how sad these cases are,
one never knows who to trust. Listen
to this, Letitia: "The confidential
clerk of Smithson Brothers absconded
last night. His employers had had
their suspicious aroused by some cir
cumstance or other, and limited an in
tention Of looking into his accounts.
AS soon as he learned this he made
business in the country d pretense for
his flight, and it is supposed that he is
on his way to America"
To Lottie's strained ears every word
Of this was horribly audible, and the
next minute she was running down
stairs, putting on her hat and shawl
as she went.
eff L am asked for" she gasped to
the wondering housekeeper, "say that
am ill = that I have gone to my
mothers; but don't stop me-don't
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