The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-11-06
THE wIFE's APPEAL.


The wise people-those who manage
their neighbors' affairs in theory much
better than they do their own in practice
shook their heads in solemn conclave
when Mr.. Hepworth married the second
time but an added shade Of venom was
in their councils when the village paper
noticed, in fowcry paragraph, the
birth of son and heir at the grca;
house.
"Poor Clarice," they said, "has NO
chance now. 1t was bad enough when
Hepworth married chit of girl who
Of course cares for nothing but his mon.
ey; but now their is son, there is no
hope for Clarice."
A young, fair woman, herself in the
very spring-time of life, yet having al
ready taken the holy ties of wife and
mother into her pure heart, knclt 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 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 oi
luxury to preside over another.
She was very beautiful, and many had
thought it great sacrifice when she mar
ricd man rs old as her own father, yet
in her sweet humility she only prayed
to 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 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 chair and
looked sadly around the room.
Everything is altered" she said in
a mournful voice. "Perhaps / had bet
ter stayed away. Mrs. Hepworth, you
have heard of Clarice Manderson ?"
al have not" was the reply. al 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 spoke my
name it is useless to hope he will for
give me-"
"Your father? Mr.. Hepworth your
father He told me he had lost his only
daughter.
"Not that / was dead. l was lost to
him by my own disobedience. You love
my father p
Just a smile, proud, happy and tender
answered her.
"Then you will understand me-" said
Clarice, "when tell you l loved my
husband better than father, home or
duty. Father would not hear Of our
marriage, and sternly forbade me to
speak to Lucien Manderson, assuring me
that he was fortune hunter, a gambler
and unworthy my love. l would not
believe this. To me he was the noblest
and best of men, and for him I left all
to fly secretly from home and father
l have been bitterly punished. When
the letter imploring forgiveness was re-
turned to me by my father, with few
brief words casting me from his heart
and love, my husband proved what
had so fondly hoped was false. He had
married the only child and presumed
heiress Of Hepworth, the millionaire,
and found himself burdened with pen
niless wife. / spare you the history
Of the four years Of married misery that
followed. Then my husband and eldest
child died Of contagious fever three
months later this boy was born. heard
Of my fathers marriage, returning here,
hoping for pardon, but the house was
shut up. When you came, / determin-
ed to make one more effort for forgive
ness, hoping you would plead for me.
Oh, by your love for your child, plead
for me. Think, if he was an outcast
from his fathers love, sorrowing and
penitent, and begging Of a stranger the
gift Of his birthright."
'lf my prayer will keep you here,
Clarice, you shall not leave your faith
er's house again. Mr.. Hepworth is in
the library and will speak to him at
once"
She waited a moment to bathe the
tarces Of tears from her face, and came
again, smiling, to the anxious group.
"Cheer up, Clarce." she said, brave
ly; "what is your little boys name %
"Stcphen. 1t was the name OF my
brother who died. My first boy was
called after my father"
"Stephen," said Mrs. Hepworth,
opening her arms, "come here and kiss
vOur grandmother -