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

~ zx< E~zIz0HG Who manage
l4ss nfia 1ifa IN theory mueh
N6ssNs tnen 1hHB ~ their own IN prac-
bee k6S& their N4as ii solemn con-
elAxe mham " Hepmnrlh married the
srrond l;Ise. An. ID addsd shade Of
0&a8m mas ii their councils when the
RiI'a@e paper noliesd. In noweFy par
s&Tsph, ~ biStk of : en- and heiF as
the great h0ose.
Poor Elafnce, /" they said, ''has no
ehanre now. i was BAD sno1gh when
Hepu|oflh married ehll OF glrl who.
of ccarse. cared foe nothing bot his
mener: bul now there j = son, there Is
A0 A8pM Eoe Clarlcm e aae. a>-.4-
A young. fair womsn, herself in the
very spring-lime Of lIfe, yet having al-
ready taken the holy ties Of wife and
mother into her pure heart. knelt in
one Of the rooms Of the great house
knelt TO bring her beautiful face near
the cradle pillow upon which rested the
sof cheek Of her baby boy.
The child Of wealthy parents, she
had married the man she loved and
who loved her. and had gone from one
home Of luxury 10 preside over anolh-
er.
She was very beautiful. and many
had thought il great sacrifice when
she married a man as old a. her father,
yet in her sweet hsmIlity she only
prayed to be worthy Of the love be-
slowed upon her.
A low knock at the door aroused her.
and rising 10 her feet she answered the
summons.
Upon the threshold stood a woman,
a lew years older than herself, who led
by the hand handsome boy who had
seen two summers only.
The woman was poorly dressed. in q
shabby morning suit, but the child wore
dainty white garments.
did you wish to see me :" Mrs.
HePworth asked, smiling upon the
child.
"May come IN !" was the woman's
question IN return.
"Certainly. You look tired"
The stranger accepted a char and
looked sadly around the room.
Everything is altered" she said in
q mournful voice. perhaps J had bet.
ter stayed away. Mrs. Hepworth. you
have heard Of Clarice Manderson 7"
81 have not" was the reply. 81 an
almost stranger here. We have been
travelling ever since was married, un'
Ill q few months ago."
"And you never heard Of me ?" said
the stranger. The tears rising in heI
eyes. Then my errand here is indeec
hopeless. IL, in bis new happiness a.
your husband, my father never even
spoke my name, il is useless to hope he
will forgive me-"
"Your fathers Mr.. HePworth youi
fatherI He told me he had lost his
only daughter"
mot that | was dead; was lost tC
hIm by my own disobedlence. You
love my father!"
just q smile. proud, happy and ten
der, answered her.
"Then you will understand me, " said
CIarice, "when tell you loved my
husband better than iather, home OF
duty. Father would not hear of ouT
marriage, and sternly forbade me tC
speak to Lucien Manderson. assuring
me that he was q fortune hunter, :
gambler, and unworthy Of my love.
would not believe this. To me he wa.
the noblest and best Of men, and for him
left all to fy secretly from home and
father. / have been bitterly punished
When the letter imploring forgiveness
was returned to me by my father
with few brief words casting me iron
has heart and love. my husband proved
what ! had so fondly hoped was false.
He had married the only child aud pre-.
sumed heiress Of HepwOrth, the mil.
Ilonaire, and found himself burdeneC
with penniless wife. spare you the
history of four years Of married mIsery
that followed. Then my husband and
eldest child died Of contagious fever
Three months later, on the very day
this boy was born, / heard Of my faith.
er's marriage. returned here, hopins
tor pardon, but the house was shut up
When you came, determined TO make
one more effort for forgiveness. hoping
you would plead for me. Think II be
was an outca.t from his fathers love
sorrowing and penitent, and begginl
OF a stranger the gift Of his birth,
right"
''If my prayer will keep you here
Clarice, you shall not leave your faith.
er's house again. Mr. Hepworth Is ir
the library, and viii speak to him q
once"
She waited = moment to bathe ths
traces of tears from her face, and came
again. smiling. 10 the anxious group.
"Cheer up, Clarice," she said brave
ly. What Is your little boys name 2
"Stephen. Il was the name Of nv
brother who died My 6rst child wa
called after my father"
'.Stephen," said MFs. Hepworth
opening her arms, ''corne here, darling
and kiss your grandmother"
The child sprang at once to the love
ly grandmother, kissing her again ana
again.
Putting him into his mothers arms
the young wife lifted her own baby from
its cradle and left the room.
In the darkly-furnished library Mr.
Hepworth was leaning back in his arm
char.
A light step aroused him from BIZ
revere and his wife stood before him
Over her morning dress Of deIIcas.
- - a.. ....A-L IN - ca