The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-09-08

alton. md Mrs. Hardinge watched the
slight fiure as it softly glided to and
fro on it errands of love in the house of
sorrow.
The lille one had been laid to rest be-
meath OBJ of the willows of the Trinity
cemetery, and the household seemed un-
der spll-the weight of tho first great
grief. Irs. Vale was in her darkened
chamber the children in the nursery,
and May sat in the low, bay window OF
the Library. Her face was very pale, for
long wathing had exhausted her. Mr..
Vale had told her in the morning OF his
intention of sailing for Europe next
month, Ind had placed check for
handsome amount in her hands.
This larry at once returned. There
was fiuh of the old pride warming her
cheek wien she wrote the simple lines
enclosint the check to Mr.. Vale:
81 shd hid be false to my name did l
receive Jay for any service it has only
been mypleasure to render. The salary
agreed UPON is only one.fourth of the
sum returned This I shall be glad to
receive. MARY CARTER"
And ndx she was thinking of her flu
ture, shefelt that she must find another
home, thDugh no one could shrink more
from intercourse with strangers. There
were mady Mrs. Edelberts in the great
world, alfl governess was only consid-
cred poison to control and instruct I'M
manageable children; not a woman with
the heartand soul of q woman, but
piece oflhousehold furniture, to occu-
by its Own special place. and nothing
more.
And SO the rough tide SUI, ged on, and
two burning tears blinded her eyes as
these hail realities formed the picture of
her life = come.
Her Intercourse with Mrs. Vale had al
wavs beh pleasant, and Mr.. Hardinge's
visits had become more of an anticipation
than sh( cared to acknowledge. Now
fate Won "a drift her away and her very
name wd nd be forgotten.
Why Ind she met these kind people?
and whyIMr. Hardinge-
"MarN, sounded well-known voice,
and she looked up to meet the very face
she had been dreaming of. Il have come
to tell YOU little story. Have you time
to give ne half-hour's patience?"
She could not speak then for her heart
was full full of sorrow that knows no
utterane. He drew up one OF the old
gothic chairs close to her low seat and
commenced :
"a very long time ago, Mary, my
father died and left my mother with two
little children and not dollar to support
them. We were comparatively strangers
in New York, and was then boy only
fourteen. and still attending school.
81 shall never forget the dreary No
yember afternoon on which my fathers
corpse vas borne from the house. My
mothers grief maddened me, and on my
knees beside her, l promised to take care
of her.
WANDERED out the next day with a
boys determination, but with boy s
faint heart. In twenty stores l offered
myself and was twenty times refused.
Work was what l wanted-labor, honest
labor, and money for my toll. At last,
foot sore and pinched with COLI Il nerved
myself for my last attempt, and then
walked into the Office of one of our mer-
chant princes.
"There was q gentleman writing at one
of the desks, who was pointed out to me
as the only partner in. He was inst fin
ishing letter and looked up as l paused
before him.
"My appearance seemed to please him,
for was neatly dressed, and he spoke
with some surprise as he answered my
request.
lyon have an honest face, my lad,
he said in conclusion, and l will see
what can be done for you.'
1.-THE words were few and simple, but
l afterward learned that he never prom
Used without fulfillment.
81 saw him next day and he gave me
employment-not only employment. but
he saw my mother, and for years,
through his kindness, we were saved
from want.
Then came great crash. My kind
friend died, and We heard that his family
had left New York.
Fortune smiled upon me and l be-
came rich; but one sorrow weighed upon
my heart, the family Of my benefactor
had escaped me. What if they were now
suffering?
Il came back to New York last au-
tumn, and as soon as / saw you felt
the haunting resemblance to face that
had somewhere crossed me. Your name
at once struck the old chord and found
to my surprise that you were the daugh'
ter of Thomas Carter.
"And so, darling, wish you to hell
A. III fnkl1 nv