The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-11-12
in that of bronzed stranger, whose as
pect was benevolent.

pect was benevolent.
III.
1t was an unusually bright and lovely
Sunday. Trinity Church was thronged
at an early hour with an eager crowd.
Charley Erskine was of the number
slender young man irreproachably at
tired. As he made his way slowly up
the aisle, he was surprised to see his
uncle Mark, far in advance, with par
ty. The party comprised shabby old
woman, pale youth and a handsome
! girl with a bouquet of violets in her
corsage. Mr. Hunter whispered in the
girls ear, and soon her voice, full and
rich, joined in the opening anthem.
Charley Erskine remarked. ''By
Joyeo' put on his eyeglass to inspect
this group, and forgot them, until din
ner time.
"Ah, by-the-by, mamma, saw our
uncle at church. He was with some
peoples; friends from China, perhaps"
81 do not mind, if he is happy" re-
piled Mrs. Erskine, plaintively.
The service had been poisoned, so to
speak, by Paris bonnet worn by a
friend in the adjoining pew. Affairs
were going badly in the household, in
addition. The arch Mabel persisted in
flirting with her sisters fance, Mr..
Scroggs.
At that hour a joyous banquet was
transpr ing in the small workroom of
the young inventor--a true feast, pre-
sided over by the joyous donor, whose
spirits and appetite stimulated those of
his companions. A pot of roses bloomed
in the open window, and on the wall
hing an illuminated text: "Thy word
shall be a lamp unto my feet" From
time to time Mrs. Davenport turned her
placid face toward this text, and direct
ed Martha's gaze in the same direction.
Martha was regaining her usual courage
in the kindly sympathy of this unex-
pected guest. One could see that she
was destined by nature to be the prac-
teal helpmate of the inventor, the
rock of strength in the wilderness,
the Aspasia of this Pericles. Mr.. Hunt
er was unacceptable; he laughed
boisterously at his own jokes; he told
long stories to enraptured listeners; he
drank toasts in the bottle of wine
brought under his arm to the fete.
When the meal was over and darkness
/,
} his tone became graver.
: g have a plan to submit to you, "
| he said. "When Marks invention is
patented l will become his business
partner. Tut! know more about bust
ness than you do, and l need occupa.
} ton. We will find cottage in the su.
: burbs, after the wedding, and build q
: modest factory near as a commence
ment. Martha must take care of me
5 when have govt and rheumatism
r 90 You do it all for my advantage -
said the inventor, with emotion.
/ " You have already done more fol-
: me-" replied the man who had come
Y home, with certain solemnity.
Q Martha had slipped away. She re-
S turned with silver lamp, lighted, ant
/ it glowed pure star of flame.
s Mrs. Erskine received letter from
g her brother in the morning.
g The idea!' she cried. L" Mark ha:
q found Henrv's son at pawnbroker' s
and thinks he will yet build up our fam
h lily name. He blames us dreadfully.
am sure l did not know Henry's DO,
It was in New York and engaged to
d shop-girl. Listen to this, children;
/ wish my nieces might have displayed
the same zeal in giving bread to thei
: cousin that they evinced at the Chart,
bazaar
. But that was begging money o
!, other people," interposed Theo, naively
:, "Do not interrupt, Theo. IF the
u philanthropists of every city would
form league, and agree to each haun
the door of pawnbroker' for one daV
d in the year, how many lives would bC
e savedr Mark always lacked practica
sense" added Mrs. Erskine.
Mabel eloped with Mr.. Scroggs tina;
u day. She was better fitted for the pc
:. sition than Helena, the bride later af
e firmed. The soul of Mrs. Erskine wa
" tossed like a shuttlecock on the storm
a clouds of Helenas grief and ole
II Scroggs' indignation. At midnight sh,
g burned package of letters never for
VI warded by her to the Western village
e She had acted wisely at the time, sh'
o believed. Now she shivered and weep
e little. She felt herself judged by the
u dead brother Henry and the man who's,
!; homecoming had developed such un
L foreseen results.
i To-day the half jesting boast of thu
e uncle that Mark was destined to buil(
J. up fame for his family has been ampl.
}. fulfilled. The mandatory of the sub
a urb has become giant structure, thu
cottage home a spacious country resi-
!, dence, and wherever great centers o
u industry are created in the civilized
Il world, the name OF Hunteris associated
n with them. Mrs. Erskine is very gra
? cious to young Mrs. Hunter, and talk
l of proposing Charley as a third partne
e in the firm. The Hunters remain un
IL moved by these suggestions, but hav,
$ left to the Erskines, without dispute
that crest of their mothers, so highl,
priced by her-the cock gazing at