The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-02-18

not a. home, she abandoned herself to
grief. But after year had passed. she
was Obliged to rouse herself. Her health
was failing, and the good vicar, one of
her faithful friends, could no longer re-
frain from reproof.
Mrs. Beaufortswas. not selfish, and she
was not irreligious. At the call she lifted
her head, looked about the world. outside
her retreat, and saw work enough to do.
At that sight her energy awoke, and she
laid aside her lamentations. But no one
could see her" white, sad face, without
being convinced that life held no charm
for her.
And so four years passed. The Beau
forts of the manor had taken no notice
of her; but some of the county families
still visited her, and she had many
friends. Her means were small, but all
the poor blessed her, for. her kind word
and helping hand were better than gold.
No one saw the lonely nights when she
wept, and kissed those locks of gold hair,
and gazed at'the miniature of her boys
face.
One day the widow had been out on
an errand of mercy, and was strolling
slowly homeward in the soft, rich light
Of June sunset. The blossoming
hedges were full of singing birds, the
trees bent over, the air was silent and
laden with sweet 'odors.
AS she walked slowly along the road, a
strange gladness stirred in her heart; for
something pleasant had happened that
morning. She, had met the vicar that
afternoon in her visiting-not the first
time, by any means; for Mr.. Vernon was
kind to the poor, and was also kind
friend to this bereaved lady. But some
thing now had shown itself in his man
ner; or ifnotnew, it was, at least, shown
in decided manner that seemed new.
The Rev. Mr.. Vernon had married
early in life, and his wife had lived but
few years. His friends thought that
the less said about this lady the better.
The gentleman had been drawn into the
marriage at;an age when lie should have
been at his studies, and it was happy
thing for him that the companionship
had been brief. He had not cared to
repeat the experiment. With large
circleof admiring friends; and quiet,
well-kept home, he said to- himself that
he would be foolish to change. And he
had not wished to change till now His
sympathy'had been aroused by the sor-
rows OF the lovely Mrs. Beaufort, and his
tenderness by the beauty Of her charae-
ter. Butnot till within a few weeks had
he known how deep that tenderness and
sympathy were, nor how sweet it would
he to have that fair face and form to
adorn his home and he ever in his sight.
To-day, for the first time, the truth
had broken out. 1t Was but word.
Seeing her look paler than usual, the
handsome clergyman had asked anxious
ly, care you i'll. AliceT'
It was the first time he had called her
by that name, and the color flushed over
his face as soon as the word had passed
his lips. But hts bright eyes dwelt on
her face as he saw the answering blush,
the sweet, sudden smile, the quick up
look into his eyes, then. the dropping
glance.
"No, not i'll" she .stammered. 'I am
very well"
Others came near, and both interrupt
ed and relieved them. Enough had be IN
said for that time. But when they parted,
Mr.. Vernon took her hand in gentle
clasp, and asked permission. to come
to see her soon, and thanked her earnest
ly when permission was accorded.
That was all, but it was enough to
change all the world for this, tender,
lonely heart.
"How good he is to think of me, who
have nothing, when 50 many younger
and richer ladies would gladly have his
preference" .
"There is little boy waiting to see
you, ma'am," the servant said when she
entered the cottage. "He has a letter
for you"
"Who is he" Mrs. Beaufort asked.
"He is stranger, ma'am, and pretty
lad. I think he is a sailor like, but a
gentleman's son."
"'You can send him to me-" Mfs. Beau
| fort said.
She entered the parlor, and in a few
moments the messenger stood before her.
She merely glanced at him, scarce NOV.
ing, as he gave her the note, and stood
cap inthand, before her while-she read.
! lt1was written coarsely by an ignorant
person, and the name signed was that ol
b man servant who had lived at thu
manor when she had first been ousted, {
retainer at her husbands relatives. Il
was dated at Calcutta, and marked "1m
! portant."
l "MADAM-~
II think you would do well to- adop
this boy as your son. Perhaps you vii
like him almost as well. He is a smar
little fellow, ard has no bad habits, anc
he has no father. I've known him evel
since he was two years old. If yor
want any more information, ask it O.
yours to command,
II "JoHN SLADE"
A strange enough note, presuming and
inexplicable. She dropped it, and looked
\ at the esmessenger, a straight well-formed
boy, with slender hands and feet Hi
hair was light, and curled loosely like
Il ntbor bo;r oho had eaans His. 1ar0a viz.