West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-08-16
Good Intentions.

Hattie you will attend to that matter 2"
said George Dale, coming back into the
breakfast room.
Certainly, George, answered his wife.
slipping her coffee
And Immediately, please. have no
doubt that the poor man needs the money.
Iou know his wife has been sick 80 long 3"
"Oh, yes, had forgotten about that.
will send over some wine at the same time.
intended To last week
eyes. do. | expect wine is rarity
there, and it will do the poor woman good, !"
replied George, closing the door and hurry
ing of.
Ten days after, when George came in to
dinner he said:
''l saw Grey "A few moments ago. Poor
fellow he looks miserably. Is there any
tinkering about he can doi | want To help
him whenever we can. Can't you make
mp something and send II over, with little
more winei At the same time, tell John
To ask him TO come here. ! will look about,
and find something he can do
Hattie Dale uttered an exclamation,
which caused her husband to ask anxiously:
What is iti What ails you, Hattiei'
'Oh, George, forgot all about sending
that money and wine. Please don't look
50 angry. 4 am so sorry.
81 am not angry, Hattie, but very sorry
and truely mortified al this. What must
the poor man think of mei professed to
be so much interested in him, and gave him
my word he should have the money that
day. His family may have suffered during
that bitter cold spell. Where is the mo-
ney2 ! will go with it Immediately myself.
While Hattie was making up some little
Hplipupiao To To ol,n o,Ia
up frequently in her husbands stern face.
Wishing to offer some apology for fail
ing TO do as he desired, she said
ooh, George, that day had so many
things to attend to-so many callers. am
very sorry. intended fully to help Mr..
Grey's family as much as could
''Well, well, Hattie, IL can't be helped
now. We must do the best we can TO make
amends-that is all. Send over the basket
by John. ] must hurry with the money. 4"
Mrs Dale dispatched John soon after
laden with many comforts TO the sick wo-
Half an hour after George Dale returned,
looking very much troubled.
Hattie almost feared to ask the cause
At length she said
''You look worried, George. Did you
find Mr.. Grey needing the money very
muchln
Her husband looked earnestly at her an
instant and then simply answered:
''Yes.
Hattie, wishing TO draw his mind from
what she had failed 10 do, TO the amends
she had tried TO make asked;
did Mrs. Grey seemed pleased with the
thingsl ] sent her a soft, warm shawl TO
wrap about her when she sists up. "
Hattie, am sorry TO add to the feelings
ot regret that know you truly feel Mrs.
Grey will never sit up on cath again"
oh, is she so very ill2n Hattie asked,
with sharp tinge Of self-rcproach
''She is dead
'Deadln exclaimed Hattie. ooh, If /
only had thought did intend 10 do all
you wished, and more. Perhaps she might
have died anyhow. George, surely you do
n)t think my neglect"
"Killed herr" Certainly not, child. But,
Hattie, we should both have felt better
about this if we had done what we could
10 help them. II is very annoying 70 have
our hearts filed with regrets. We will not
talk any more about il now. Only try and
remember in future that good intentions
profit no one.
Hattie did very weIl for some time after
this, and her husband congratulated him
self upon the happy change
They were people Of abundant means,
and both liberal and charitably inclined
Hattie, however, was very fashionable
and gay her time taken up always with the
latest whims Of society, of which she was n
great belle, notwithstanding she was a
wife and mother
A few months after this, Hatties
brother, who was naval officer, returned
from three years cruise.
While sitting with his sister one day, he
drew from his pocket a worn and faded
needle-bOOk, saying
Yesterday was clearing out my sea
chest, and found this. Dora made II for
me over twenty-five years ago when first
went 70 sea- How well 7 remember her
trotting me through town with her, 10 show
me of in my midshipman's uniform. Poor,
dear Dora ] suppose you have heard moth
ing If her during my absence, TIatteF
'No, nothing.
"Have you ever sought %, Hatue"
You know, although not our own sister.
che was our fathers child, and he loved her
very dearly
II know she broke his heart am sure
her running away and marrying that worth
less fellow caused papa's death. ] suppose
he has drunk himself out Of the world long
before this But don't LET us talk about
them. ! don't IKE even 70 think that there
1s, or ever was, Dora Bartlett, Hattie