The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-12-31

escort
She looked at me wistfully when we were
alone, her soft brown eyes questioning my
face, but she asked no questions, onl ly when
she kissed me good night she whispered,
with an earnest emphasis:
"God grant you happy New Year, dear
Miss Jane" and went down to her mother,
softly and thoughtfully.
Alone, with the whispered blessing for
company, fastened my door, and then
turned to my mirror to see what my face
had betrayed to those questioning, innocent
eyes. [ saw small, frail figure, face
that had once been beautiful, thai WIS now
white as marble, set with hard lines of suf-
fering and concealed pain, and framed in a
heavy mass of jet black hair; eyes large,
black, and full of sadness, and dress OF
black to add to the dark reflection.
Seven years before that night my mirror
had given to my gaze form robed in rich,
dead white, with founces and bertha of rich
black lace, and cleaning on neck and arms
the blood-red carbuncles New Years
gift. 1t had shown me face full and bril-
liant with health and happiness, cheeks and
lips of crimson, eyes radiant with hope and
joy.
I had turned from the mirror happy
maiden, with the knowledge that | was be-
loved where | loved, and that below, in my
fathers spacious parlors, where guests were
already assembling one waited for me,
whose dearest hope in life was the prospect
of claiming me in few short weeks for his
bride, | left the Foom to be queen of
festival, hostess of statel y mansion, my
father idol, and without one cloud upon
my heart. | came back at midnight, an
orphan, hopeless and heart-broken.
My fathers partner had secretly appro-
priated the money Of the firm in some in
yestment that my father considered stain
upon his honor. On that night he learned
this for the first time, and, smarting under
the bitterness of disgrace upon his COM
merciaI name. he called his partner into the
library and charged him with having dis
honored the firm High words followed,
finally blow; pistols were called for, sec
onds found among the guests, and an hour
later my father lay dead, with hall through
his heart, his partner a fugitive from JUS
tice.
The next day all A was discussing
the story The use of trust funds was
found to be added to the list of charges
against the firm, and the ignoble purposes
of expenditure having failed, nothing was
left to meet the demands of enraged cred
itofs.
had no mother to share the grief. no
sister or brother to tighten it. [ was all
alone. / was not a strong minded girl to
face the troubles, and so shut myself up
alone until the funeral, refusing to see even
Charlie. Then | ran away at night. |
had one friend in Cleveland to whom L
dared confide all, and | went to her. |
wrote to Charley, and told him [ should
never ask him to fulfil his VOWS to me, re-
leasing him from our disgrace, and praying
God to bless him ever, bade him farewell.
For days after I arrived at Cleveland, L
was utterly prostrated; but my friend was
kind, as | knew she would be, and when [
was able to think, aided me in all my plans.
[ had brought nothing from home but the
one mourning suit had worn to the fu-
neral, and Charles carbuncles. They were
my own, bought with no stained money,
and [ clung to them as the one memento OF
the past [ might dare to retain.
Mrs. Munroe, my dear, dear friend, was
a widow, and childless, living upon an in
come that returned to her husbands family
upon her death; not wealthy, but occupying
a good position in society. She had been
an old friend of my mother and had visit
ed us more than once, always urging me to
return the visits; but, unable to win my
fathers consent to part with me for so long
Journey, for it was three days railing
ride from my old home. AS soon as was
able to undertake teaching, Mrs. Monroe
exerted herself to procure me scholars, and
soon had a class that paid me an income
sufficient for my modest wants. For SIX
years | had home in my frind's house,
she alone knowing that Miss Jane Grey
was the missing Ella Thorne, advertised by
her relatives, more to save their own repu-
tation than from any interest in her fate.
[ made, no doubt, nine days wonder in
A, and then my uncles, aunts, and
cousins probably forgot my existence.
Charlie, perhaps, was one of those seeking
me. but | was resolved never to share my
fortune with his. Some more fortunate
bride, with wealth and an unspotted name:
[ argued, would never grudge me my mem
ories and my carbuncle.
When the death of my friend and bene-
factress was added to my list of sorrows, |
was known enough in Cleveland to retain
nv scholars, and found new home with
Mrs. Burgess. Need again say that New
Years day was the bitterest anniversary OF
the year?
[ was still sitting with locked door
brooding over the past, and unconscious
that Christie had been gone three hours
when Mrs. Burgess came to my room, de
manding admittance in an excited voice
[ opened the door at once.
20, Miss Jane! Miss Jane!" she cried
Charles has come Charles has come anc
he wants to see you
"Wants to see me ?
ooh, yes! It's the strangest thing al
together He has been here more than ar
hour; he met Christie at the party; anc
only think, he has been home over three
months; part of the time in A, and
part here, trying all the time to find us, Sc
it was no wonder Christie's name strucl
him at once at the party. He talked tt
her little while, and then came to me
But am talking on, and forgetting we ar
keeping him waiting. You will come
down."
"But what can he possibly want of n.eF
ITO thank you, [ guess, for sendin'
Christie to the party. He knows she coul'
not have gone but for your kindness. ="
"Oh, we'll, that will keep! Excuse m n,
this evening, dear Mrs. Burgess, and vii
be introduced the next time he calls.
Only half satisfied, she went down stairs
to return in few moments with the eX
traordinary message = -,
"Charles says he mast see you, Mis-
Grey"