The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-12

| WI 70 VI uhoA pVOoSu CViueIo HltH Nuiel
the glazier had nothing to do.
But Mr.. Irwin was not one to cavil al
his accommodation, however meagre
A ray of sunshine was always good Wis
| itOr, he said; and so thought little Ma
bel, ray of sunshine herself, brighten
ing her fathers abode, as well as warming
his heart. Mr.. Irwin was widower.
1t was supposed that he had come tc
Braybrook soon after his loss; for though
he never mentioned his wife's name, and
Mabel wore no mourning-clothes, his face
bore the impress Of an unconquerable
sorrow.
And yet the villagers declared that
Mrs. Irwin must have been dead at least
year, for in Mabel's simple vocabulary
mamma held no place; and when ques-
toned on the point, as the gossips
were very fond of doing, she would shake
her little curly head, with puzzled air,
but never seemed to stumble on any remi-
niscence which could give them clue as
to the time of her mothers decease.
So the curious were bafiled, and soon
ceased to interrogate the child, or, in
deed, to trouble their heads about it.
"Well, May, what do you say to a
walkT said Mr.. Irwin to his daughter
one morning, just as they rose from the
breakfast-table.
| Mabel's face-which had that mature,
thoughtfulexpression which we generally
see in children who are much with their
elders-fushed transiently as she gave
her eager appropriation to the scheme,
and tripped off to make ready. In a few
minutes she returned with her hat and
cloak on, and they were soon in the lane.
For a time, neither spoke; then Mabel
suddenly asked where they were going.
"To Mrs. Weston's," answered her
father. II thought you would be glad to
see your friend Bessie" and then, MOTTO
ing sudden shadow on her face, he add
ed, rather anxiouely, twas / mistaken,
May?"
The child glanced us at him wistfully.
81 used to love Bessie, papa, next to
you in all the world; but 1 don't love
her now"
"Why, MayT
because they say I've got to have her
for my mamma; and never had nam.
MAJ don't want onep' answered Mabel,
very decidedly.
Mr.. Irwin had flushed up to the very
hair at her first words, but he was very
white when he next spoke.
"Who told you that absurd story,
childW
"Old Dame Winter, papa. She said she
knew it was to be because you were al
ways at Mrs. Weston's and that any one
could see with only half an eye, Bessie
wanted badly to come and be my man.
ma"
"May," returned her father, gravely,
81 must not have you 60 to Dame Win
ters again if she speaks to you in this
way. 1t is very unwise and foolish of
her to put such ideas into your head"
"But you won't do it, papa?' coaxed
May.
"Do what?
"Marry Bessie Weston"
"IIeaven forbidw calculated Mr.. Ur-
win, in tone SO gloomy and severe that
the child was awed into silence for the
rest of the walk.
At last they reached Mrs. Weston's
house, and Mabel, oosening her fathers
hand, rushed to greet Bessie with re-
newed confidence and love, happy in the
the thought that she was not to have her
for mamma, as the gossips bade her
believe.
Mabel had an instructive horror of her
fathers marrying again. 1t was not that
she feared having an unkind stepmother,
for she had never known unkindness yet,
and would have found it hard to realize
that possibility. Besides, Bessie was
most gentle and tender, humoring all her
childish caprices, and descending from
the pedestal of young womanhood to be a
child with Mabel, and to share her sports.
In the eyes Of the world Bessie Weston
would have been an excellent wife for
Mr.. Irwin, as Mrs. Weston's fortune was
large, and Bessie was an only child.
Whereas, Mr.. Irwin depended for his
very bread on the living of Braybrook,
which was only POOL q year, the great
tithes going with the Hall estate, recent
ly purchased by Mr.. Roper. That Bessie
herself would have looked with no dis
favor on an offer of this kind from Mr..
Irwin, the villagers had managed to dis
cover, deriving their information from
sources they deemed infallible-namely,
Bessie's loving attention to little Mabel,
and the vivid bushes which always pre-
ceded any greeting from the young wild
over. ......
1t was cruel that Bessie's secret should
have become so well known, for she had
labored with all her strength to keep it
even from her mothers eyes, and had
fancied she had succeeded, not only here,
but everywhere else.
But her blindness was dissipated pres
emily by the innocent speeches Of little
child.
[To BE Continued