The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1879-01-31
MisCelIa @ O III q.
Kitty ThOrne's Duty.

ave might mortgage the place, said Miss
Kitty, signing.
"And retire to the almshouse, ell ?" re-
turned her sister
"But what alternative in open to us g
Shall we allow Tom to come to grief?"
"Tom richly deserves all the grief that
will fall to his share, poor fellow. Such a
schemer Expected to make fortune for
us all, forsooth, that we might faunt in our
velvet, drive our span, and fare sumptuous-
ly every day One dollar for us and two
for himself, reckon. What should such a
boy know about speculation2 It's the old
story over and over. Specializing with
other peoples money is little indiscreet,
to say the least. l should have chosen
sackcloth and ashes rather than velvet won
by such means"
Certainly. But now that Tom is involv-
ed, nothing but money will extricate him.
There's my watch, the heirloom from
Grandma Pentecost; there are fifty dia-
monds bedded in the case if there's one"
Rose diamonds, every spark of them"
"Not to mention the pearls and emer-
aids"
"Doublets and split pears, dare say"
You are so discouraging, Liddy We
must have the money. don't suppose that
the watch would bring tenth of the sum,
but it would help. Dear dear there's
Hannah de Rothschild with two millions of
income, while you and can't raise five
thousand dollars though we should break
our hearts-not even to save an old and
honorable name from contempt and fool
ish young fellow from ruin. Alas alas ~
You know, Hitty, it might have been
different" suggested Liddy, her eyes wan
| dcring toward the old-fashioned square
mansion browning the hill within sight,
with its fringe ofelms and its spicy orchards
beyond. "You might have had enough and
to spare, Hitty-enough to keep Tom out
of temptation"
"And it a1as a temptation to poor Tom
no doubt" returned Kitty, ignoring the
allusion, ''seeing so much money lying idle
and such chance for doubling it over and
over, as he fondly believed"
"Pshaw A Thorne had no business to
be tempted. Was our grandfather tempted
at the time Of the embargo, when he could
have had false papers made out, as every
body was doing, and saved his fortune, and
left us all Independent ? If we mortgage
the place, it won't bring five thousand dol
lars; and who could we call upon to take the
mortgage, and what should VIC do after
ward-live in tent, gypsy style2 Oh
Hitty, ifonly you hadn't been so headstrone
about Searle, all this would have been spar
| ed us
Don't speak of it, Liddy; it hurts mt
still. How could know what would BIZ
best ?" and Miss Kitty, pacing the long
room with head bent paused at the case
ment, and saw the sunset reddening upor
Searle Hill, and touching the window panes
into jewelry. The twenty years of happi
ness which might have fallen to her share
up yonder had proved twenty years of ST
lent endurance merely. She had watched
the seasons as they passed over the Hill
with an interest which she had hoped
would die, but which had only strengthen
ed with the years-the lovely dallying Of
the spring-time, the summers overflow OF
bloom. the splendor that autumn wears, the
white magniticence borrowed from winter
If, twenty years ago, Hitty had loved Ansor
Searle well enough to die for him, if need
| be, she had loved little Tom we'll enough tc
renounce happiness and children and love
for his sake, and to live on through the bar
rem, hopeless days without murmur. Ton
had come to her arms forlorn and helpless
| tWo-yeaT-old baby, without father or moth
err, when Kitty was eighteen, and her love
had grown with her growth and strength
ened with her strength. Toms mother had
eloped with her music master, and had
broken her fathers heart and when the
old gentleman died, he had left respecta.
BILE fortune, the interest for the benefit OF
his two living daughters, the principal fall
ing to their children; and only in case
Liddy and Hitty died without leaving di
rect heirs could any thing more than thu
merest trifie revert to poor little Tom.-
Hitty had been engaged to Arson Searle 0
year when old Mr.. Thorno shuflled off the
mortal coil and, this unjust will came tc
light, and Searle himself was at that time
only young lawyer wrestling with circum
stances, with no great amount of funds al
his command.
And nothing for little Tom but this
paltry hundred dollars |" groaned Kitty
when the will had been read and the estate
administered.
-" OF course l shall never marry" said
Liddy, who was plain and old-looking fol
her years, and whose one lover had Tilted