The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1881-06-23

had against tramps- particularly 20 many
six Of us-six, tho twins, the three bows
and myself. clasped my hands in agony
/ What will become Of me and my chill
dren?" I cried. ~. a.,,s4
"Come,' he replied, with unspeakabl
tenderness out Of this room int
the open garnet. So! Now the whole worl
may hear and see us. Is it not so, my child
Weare not afraid of idle tongues?"
''N-no," stammered, my heart il
my throat, for fear one of the boys shoult
pop his head up the garrett stairs and cal
mamma.
you arc so innocent, he continued. 81
free from hypocrisy and deceit, it is har,
to make you understand that I cannot an,
longer lend you money, or help you in tn
way that have done. The wicked innuen
does Of slandering tongues that stab in tn,
dark have left me but the one way to pro
teet you. wonder if it will be as holy
as sweet, to you as it is to me? / wonder
if you would be glad to give up this viii
nest of scandal altogether, and keep board.
ers no longer, but home for a husband
who would adore you, and would love you
and cherish your dear little girls Us hif
won?"
He didn't mention my dear little boys
who were out risking their lives at coastine
that very moment. What noble, gener-
Gus, altogether perfect old gentleman he
was! If Charley had really been dead, and
had not been the miserable imposter thai
circumstances had made me, my poor, des.
olate. widowed heart would have melted to
him, I know. That heart was desolute
enough, God knows, but it wasn't widow
ed; I was sure of that. The time for my
dreadful confession had come. It was SO
hard to lose the one thing that seemed left
me just then-his confidence, his esteem,
felt cold and faint and sick.
Dear Mr.. Chandler, II began, "a home
and husband would be very sweet to me. y
And heaven was my witness it would, only
not just the husband he meant; and was
just going to tell him so, when Bridget put
her flowzy head above the stairs, and said q
man was below and wanted to see me, and
wouldn't take no for an answer. "It's the
plumber" I said, tremblingly, or the CAL
ciminer, or the carpet man. Oh, MIR. Chan
der, dear MIR Chandler, cannot face these
people"
"You forgot that you have given me the
right to share your troubles" he said.
Come, my dear, we will face this person
together"
We found him in the parlor-a big,
broad-ehouldered splendid looking fellow,
with a new ulster on, and very becoming
hat, and perfectly splendid pair of boots,
without break in them. The twins were
Ginning to each of his hands, and around
him were dancing and bowling like Indians
three dirty little boys.
"Moments there are and this was one,
Snatched like minutes CLEAN of sun
Amid the black simoon's eclipse"
"1ve got a capital position, Kate, in a
new company out west. Get the young
sters ready as quick as you can. Ill ex-
plain everything on the way" said the per-
son.
"Who is this MANI" said Mr.. Chandler
to Aunt Maria, who had been brought thith-
er by tie wild yells of the dear little boys,
and stood like pillar of salt in the door
way. Who is he-her brother?"
Her husband" said Aunt Maria.
And these boys?,
Her children"
God bless my soulw said Mr.. Chandler
and these were the Last words 1 heard.
tainted dead away in Charley's arms.
Charley and l, the twins, and the three
boys started for our new home in the ives
the next day, from whence I write this
poor, weak, but contrite confession to MIR
Chandler,