The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-02-09
IN A pocU


those without hope? Nay, surely
not, since all flesh is weak and un-
able to meet and withstand tempta-
ton in its own strength; and our
dear boy, Lionel, still gives us hope
of his repentance. All is not lost,
sister Kesiah," and he pressed his
spinster companions withered and
trembling hand reassuringly, as he
bade his pretty, fearful niece tthe
culprit's sister to re-read the letter
of confession that had that evening
burst like bombshell in their
midst and caused the good and sim
ple-minded great sorrow and ankle
ty of mind.
Lily Courtney held her brothers
singularly lerky and illegibly writ
ten epistle open before her. Indeed
she had never closed it since it came,
but continued to pour over its sha-
ky characters in the vague hope OF
gleaminga a ray of light TO illumine
the murky record. At her uncle s
request. she tried hard to swallow
the painful lump that had been ap-
parently growing in her throat ever.
since her startled mind took in the
wretched tidings. She was a gentle,
shy-mannered girl, of great personal
beauty and equal modestv; but her
strong, and as vet untried trait OF
character was unselfish devotion.
She loved the dear old pair who had
received her brother and herself in
their early orphanage, and who had
given every energy and thought to
the education and moral training of
the otherwise friendless children.
Without ever having been outside OF
Greenville-since she came there 4
little girl ten years before-Lily
knew quite well that her aunt and
uncle were singularly innocent and
unworldly people, and though she
could not help but fall into many
Of their primitive ways and il
logical views, she was quite sure
that neither of them was fitted to
start out in winter and travel TO the
great city where her poor dear broth,
er was in trouble. She had quite
resolved from the first that she
would go to him herself, and whea
her voice trembled and the choakine
sensation oppressed her most as she
read on, It was then the conflict be-
tween her native timidity and cour-
ageous sense of duty occurred.
The note was dated a day or two
before Christmas and written in
pencil so badly that it was difficult
10 read. Its style, too, was unlike
Lionel's; in fact, there was no way
TO account for its abrupt and un.
even character except the true one
The dreadful snares and tempta
tions OF that frightful city, agains
which the elder pair, who had neye.
passed a night in its polluted air, who
had so faithfully warned him-haC
seized him in their Elusive grasp
lie had succumbed; he had strayeC
and fallen from grace; some evil be
ing had robbed him, and now con
trite and helpless, he called home
ward for relief. His scrawling epis
tie ran thus:
My DEAR UNCLE AND AUNT.
don't want Lily to be alarmed (if
was she that opened the note, SO
include her. / have had a misfor
tune-I trusted myself in thes
slippery ways. i was a fool not t,
listen to counsel-but / thought
knew it all the result is, becamt
lost, grew confused and fell Do no
alarm yourself, dear aunt and uncle
4 might have been much worse
AS ii is, in the confusion, 1 lost M,
pocketbook. The people anon:
whom, on coming TO myself, | prov
ed to be, are not of the class for 10
10 remain dependent on for a singh
day. Please send or come. / in
close address. Regret to alarm you
With love,
LIONEL"
In different hand was a com
plicated direction, which Lily care
fully detached and put it in he
pocketbook-
That was the first step taken-th
rest followed quickly:
"Uncle and aunt, / am going t,
the city. Ny mind is made up 5,
please don't say, No. You, dear un
Gle, are suffering with one OF YOU
worst attacks of rheumatism, and
aunts head is threatened VITA her
regular January neuralgia. Martins
Is needed to look after you both
ard Simon can't leave the barn,
poor old man. As for me, | wa.
nine years old when | was ther,
last, bat / remember the streets
perfectly. 1 could even 90 to TN,
plaee"-she pointed to the direction
in the pocketbook-"after 4 little
studying OF the localities"
She spoke SO confident, looked 81
brave, and withal so hopeful that
the good couple could only accept
her strength of purpose as providen.
tial, and sent" for the trying occa-
sion.
=
1t was over. On Christmas day
she sat in the centre of the middle
car-safestplace in case of accidents
The cold air had frozen the tear:
on her cheeks; she looked through
the blurred window at the dark out
line of the old family carriage which
Simon was driving up the lane
homeward, and sent the venerable
occupants a silent kiss pressed
against the unsympathetic glass.
The train was a full one; at every
station new people came in, and at
the second place from Greenville, a
gentleman OF excellent appearance
and pleasing manners came in and
found no vacant place except the
one beside Lily.
He wore 4 handsome sable collar
round his overcoat; in Lily's start
led eye it seemed like partial mask
TO his face, and when pointing TO the
seat, he bowed his request to be al.
lowed TO share it, she assented with
a start and Immediately placed her
hand protectingly over her coat