Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-12-18

Her husband opened his arms 20 ca
ress both, and laughed as he said:
ssOh, these mothersl Do yon sup
pcse, madame, that babies are admit
ted rnio The sanetums Of legal gentls-
men ?"
81 do" said the mother. "ifthe legal
gentlemen have the additional honor Of
being their papas."
Listen 10 the most coneeited ol
mothers. comparing legal hon0ss with
the ownership Of little pink FOly-pOlies
like thaal'
"Did you know. Harold, " said Meta.
her lips qusvenng slightly. as she felt
the deep import Of her words. ''that
this Is my birthday. and you have given
mes GO niff afs
"You are ampatient, little wife," he
answered. thinking Of the costly bau-
bic that was 10 come without Gail by
noon.
"Bnt I would like to chose my own
giit," she persisted.
What can give my rosebud that
she has not already 7"
Does not your Office include the
power ofpardon ?" she asked, her Weet
face palIng with earnestness.
"In limited degree il does" he re-
piled, "but, dear one, shouldn't like
Il to be known that had shown elem
ency to a criminal upon your solicita-
ton. You would be constantly annoyed
by the loving relatives Of seamps trying
TO move me TO pity through your inter
cession."
"But this is not q case Of roguery.
Harold. only a true penitent; one who
erred in extreme youth. was led from
a path Of duty by love as warm and
true as onr own. but mistaken. Oh,
dear husband. do you not know for
whom | would pleads Cannot you
guess for whom would begi"
"CIarice :" he asked, hoarsely. "Who
has told you Of her"
"She has come herself to seek your
forgiveness"
"She is Eere :"
Eyes. You will forgive her. Fol
| the sake Of you own boy, Harold, let
thls be home for her and Stephen"
Stephen l' he cried. starting.
Her son. Her husband is dead
She is widowed. poor and lonely. lie
her return to your home and your love
Harold"
There was a moment Of silence. anC
the mother softly carried the strong
right hand Of her husband in her owl
uutiI it rested upon the head OF the
babe in her arms.
He looked down and said:
81 will grant your birthday wish
Meta. Take me TO CIarice."
With a tender. loving kiss upon the
hand that still rested upon her chiId''
head, Meta led the way back to heI
own pretty sitting room, where Clarict
awaited the result Of her errand.
She waited, with fast throbbIng hear
and trembling lips, for the words thai
were to give her sorrowing lonely hear
peace and rest, or the stern mandate
that would close the doors Of home upon
her and her boy forever.
Her gratitude could never fail, she
felt sure, for the beautiful woman who
had - undertaken the Office OF medI.
atOr on her behalf, and the tears rolled
down her cheeks as she thought Of the
unselfishness Of her s:epmother.
As she heard the steps coming acros:
the wide ball toward the room where
she was seated, her agitation became
too great for patient waiting, and she
stood up holdiag her child by the hand
her breath coming in quick, painting
sobs, her eyes dilated with suspense
and her whole figure quivering with
intense emotion.
Il was this eager, flushed face tha
met the fathers eye as he opened thC
door-tbe face Of the child TO whom hs
had given the entire strength Of bis love
for years.
He forgot her waywardness, her dIs
obedience and the six years OF ab
sence.
He remembered that she was his onIJ
daughter, the child Of his dead Cla
rice, and he opened bis arms, with ;
smile that carried love and forgiveness
10 the sore heart.
There was a cry Of:
"Father, dear, dear father u
And they were folded fast 10 eacl
others arms while Meta drew wonder
ing Stephen into an inner room anS
closed The door.
II was not long that Stephen wai
withheld from bis grandfather's kiss
for father and daughter alike turned e
the gentle influence that had united
them once more.
The gOssips are divided in their oP'n
Ions as 10 the exact amount Of hatred
andieaIousy existing between the younl
wIie n The great house, but it would b
quite beyond the power Oftbeir nsTrou
minds TO understand such true SisteTli
love a. exists between Clarence Man
dersOn and Hepworth's second wife.