The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-12-16

Bankers that her errors OF Judgment
and conduct in her past treatment OF
our tutor should be atoned for in the
future.
A week passed by, and there was no
recitation in Professor Sterling's room,
for he had buried his wife.
Then we met quiet lonely man there
one morning, who mechanically went
through the recitation, and at the close
requested Mamie Barker and myself to
remain. He drew Nannie's watch from
his pocket, saying:
81 did not know until to-day, you left
this in my possession. You will please
take it again. l see by your face that
can trust you now without this pledge.
In examining this watch, see upon it
the name of Alice. That is not youl
namep"
'No. Alice is my mothers name"
answered Mamie. at was her watch
when she was Alice CARROLL
"Alice Carroll is your mother, them"
said the professor in tone of amaze
ment, and with far-off look in his
deep set eyes. 81 knew her once"
Then followed such inquiries as
old friends ever put, and our tutor left
us to wonder over this strange coinci-
dence.
More than year had glided swiftly
by, and the pupils at Madame Dor
says were preparing for Christmas hol-
idays, when l entered the deserted
drawing-room one dark rainy evening.
There were no lights; and as l CROPPED
my way to the register was surprised
to find chair occupied by form
wrapped in shawl, and face mutlled
in a handkerchief.
"Ah," thought I, "here is some poor
girl who has no home where she can
spend her vacation.
But Mamie Barker's low voice broke
the silence with:
''Oh, Mary. l am so wretched and
miserable"
"You wretchedr' 1 exclaimed. Il
thought you were happiness incarnate.
The pet of your schoolmates, the ad-
miration of your teachers, Professor
Sterling's acknowledged favo lite, bear
ing off honors like Dutch woman
black berries, and within three days of
home. don't understand this emo
tiOn."
81 have been happy here" she re.
sponded, land l have longed to 60
home to mamma: but now, oh, Mary,
she is going to be married"
l whistled, impolite and unladylike
though it was, for l knew not what
comment to make.
"Yes," continued Mamie, checking
her sobs; 81 have been pleased for q
long time that mamma wrote me such
happy letters. She has had much to
make her unhappy. When very Young
she loved some one whom her father
forbade her to marry. Then she mar
ried Clarence Barker, my father; and
it grieves me TO say he treated my
mother unkindly. l used to shrink
from him in dread; and hence my feal
of men. After all mamma endured, /
never believed she would marry again
and allow s;ep-faiher to separate u.s."
tried to comfort her, limiting that
this might be her mothers first love.
YES" she answered. mamma
writes me that before she knew my
father she loved this man who is to be
my step-father. Step-father, indeed!
How could my mother?"
Scarcely less resigned was she when
she left for home; but the next day
came note saying:
and am on Pisgah's top. met my
mother in melting mood in which l
have INDUCED since the receipt of the
letter, and went about with my head
bowed down like bulrush for the rest
of the day. Just at night, went out
for walk, and who should l meet but
Professor Sterling. Oh, how glad !
was! ! felt like sobbing out all my
grief, and answered his kind inquiries
with gushes of tears.
els the child unhappy he asked
kindly, peeping into my sad face.
"'Yes. am very wretched."
".And is it because Of this new step.
fatherp' he inquired anxiously.
81 was amazed ut his knowledge, but
supposed the gossip had circulated I'M
til it had reached his ears.
acknowledged this was the burden
of my grief. and the professor said no
more until we reached home, and he
accepted my invitation to enter.
Imagine my surprise when my
old tutor took both my hands and said:
$50 Mamie Barker dare not trust
her happiness and that of her mother
in my keeping"
ut all rushed over me then. and !
clapped my hands and danced for very
joy.
Before either married. my mother
and Professor Sterling loved each OH
er. The picture of Alice, of which the
dying woman spoke, was my own man.
mas, for the professors wife knew OF
this former attachment
.'The watch with the name of Alice
was the means of finding my mammals
whereabouts, for the professor never
knew my fathers name.
"Tell Jane Morton her superstition
in regard to broken glass is all wrong.
Instead of being an omen of i'll, it has
been forerunner of the greatest good
of my life"