The daily gazette. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1874-1883, 1879-09-02
THE WIFE'S APPEAL

their neiehbor's aRlain IN theory much
better than they do their own in prac-
tice--sbook their head In solemn con-
clave when Mr.. Hepworth married the
second time: but an added shade of
venom was In their councils when the
village paper noticed, In flowery para
graph, the birth of q son and heir at the
great house. ~ ...
"Poor Clarice," they said, "has no
chance now. It was bad enough when
Hepworth married chit of a girl who,
of course cared for nothing but his
money but now there il q son, there is |
no hope for Clarice."
A young, fair woman, herself in the |
very spring-time of Lille, 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 nearer to the |
cradle pillow upon which rested the soft |
cheek Of baby boy.
The child Of wealthy parents she had
married the man she loved and who
of luxury to preside over another.
She was very beautiful, and many
had though II q great sacrifice when she
married man as old as her own father,
yet in her sweet humility she only pray
ed 10 be worthy Of the love bestowed
upon her.
A low knock at the door aroused her,
and rising to her feet she answered the
summons.
Upon the threshold stood woman, a
| few years older than herself, who led by
the hand . handsome boy who had seen
| two summers only.
The woman was poorly dressed in
shabby mourning suit, but the child
wore dainty white garments.
| "Did you wish to see me?' Mrs.
Hepworth asked, smiling upon tho
child.
"May 1 come in ?" was the woman's
question In return.
"Certainly. You look tired.'
The stranger accepted chair and
looked sadly around the room.
"Everything Is altered she said in
mournful voice. "Perhaps had better
stayed away. Mrs. Hepw orth, you have
heard of Clarice Manderson ?"
~ have not" was the reply. 81 am
almost stranger here. We have been
travelling ever since was married until
few months ago."
"And you never heard of me ?" said
the stranger, the tears rising in her eyes.
Then my errand here is indeed hope
less. II, In his new happiness as your
husband, my father never even spoke
my name, 1t is useless to hope he will
.Your fatherp Mr.y Hepworth your
father? He told me he had lost his only
daughter"
mot that I was dead was lost ia
him BY my own disobsdience. You love
my father?"
just smile, proud, happy and tender
answered her.
"Ihen you will understand me-" said
Olarice, "when tell you loved my
husband better than father, home OF
dnty. Father would not hear of oul
marriage, and sterniy forbade me tt
speak TO Lucien Henderson, assuring
me that he was fortune hunter, gam
bier, and unworthy Of my love. woult
not believe this. To me he was the no
blest and best of men, and for him lef
al 10 hy secretly from home and father
l have been bitterly punished. Whel
the letter imploring forgiveness was re
turned to me by my father, with fe,
brief words casting me from his heal
and love, my husband proved what hs
, SO fondly hoped was false. He had MAJ
ried the only child and presumed heres
Of Hepworth, the millionaire, and foun
himself burdened with pennies wife
spare you the history of the four year
}. of married misery that followed. The
my husband and eldest child died O
con agious fever. Thee months later
!. on the very day this boy was born,
II heard of my fathers marriage. l re
turned here, hoping for pardon, but tn
house was shut up. When you came.
determined to make one more effort 70
forgiveness, hoping you would plead TO
me. Think If he was an outcast froI
his fathers love, sorrowiug and peniten,
and begging Of stranger the gift of hi
birthri. ht !"
aIf my prayer will keep you herr
Clarice, you shall not leave your fathe r
house again. Mr.. Hepworth is in th
library, and I will speak to him at once.
She waited a moment to battle tn
traces of tears from her face, and cam
az ain, smiling, to the anxious group.
"Cheer up, Clarice," she said bravely
"what is your little boys name?"
"Stepheu. 1t was the name of m
called after my father"
"Stephen," said Mrs. Hepworth, oper
= ing her arms, "come here, darling, An
kiss your grandmother"
o The child sprang at once to the lovel
grandmother, kissing her again an
again.
|. Putting him into his mothers arms IL
young wife lifted her own baby from il
cradle and left the room.
In the darkly-furnished library, M
Hepworth was leaning back in his arr
chair.
A light step reused him from his rever
and his wife stood before him.
Over her morning dress of delicate 70
color, that suited we'll her fresh your
beauty, fell the long white robes of Il
infant she carried with all the pride
motherhood.
Her husband opened his arms to care
both, and laughed as he said:
"Oh, these mothers Do you suppo
madame, that babies are admitted in
the sanctIms Of legal gentlemen
81 81 do" said the mother, eff the leg
gentlemen have the additional honor
. being their papas."
"Listen to this most conceited of mot
ers, comparing legal honors with t
ow nership of little pink roly-polies Ii
thatm
"Did you know, Harold" said Me-
her LID 0uivering slightly, as she felt I