The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1882-12-23

Aud meanwhile his mother betook her
self to making cup Of tea for her pro-
tege. 1t was wonderful how n little
warmth of human feeling had reused this
/ woman to life and activity again.
When Tom returned, laden with vari-
ous articles ofapparel, the two were quiet
ly slipping their tea together at the old
rouud table.
He did not return alone, however. Fol-
lowing him came o tall gray-headed
gentleman.
Here's father!" cried the girl, srrirg-
ing forward. "Oh, father, this good lady
saved my lifc!'
LADY, The Widow Minton wanted to
kiss the beautiful rosy lips that prouounc-
ed the words.
"Wtll, my dear" said the old gentle.
man. good-humoredlypinchipg the plump
cheek, "she has done il very thoroughly.
You certainly don't look very near death
just now
Whoreat the story, with due enlarge
ment and variation, was told with rret-
ty pout The father smiled, but also he
furtively wiped avay.a.tear.
"Well, madam" said he courtecusly,
''accept my cordial thanks for looking
after my little nadcap Belle. Sizes my
only child, yon see, and as iull of pranks
as any dozen"
Belle playfully put her hand over his
mouth. II wont have my character tra-
duced where they've been so,good to me, "
she cried. "And oh. father, isn't this
beautiful place-such a nice view of the
water! mean to come down here every
day and do my sketcbing."
"Im afraid, said the sire, shaking his
head, "tbis good lady will have cause to
wish she had thrown You overheard"
"oh no, father; she likes me ana like
her. And I've fallen in love with Tom
long ago, you know"
Tom blushed painfully. Something
strange and new stirred in his mind. |
Compliments did not sweeten his
thoughts as they did his mothers, for
Tom had never seen better days. and felt |
as if he had been made jest of.
A week passed during which the young
girl strolled almost daily to the cabin
When she was there Tom seldom entered
the house. He had grown shy and
sulky; he sat on the shore darkly brood |
ing, or went off silently to his fishing.
One morning Belle and her father de-
parted. Belle kissed the withered cheek
of her friend, and that was all, For
when mention had been made of helping
her substantially, the widow had drawn
herself sharply up, all the lady shining
in her eye.
II may have seen my better days." she
said, "but I haven't come to that yet.
And if needed any reward, I've got it
now" she added, as she felt the soft
blood mantling in the cheek that Belle
had kissed.
Long after the two had left, Tom went
about with cloud on his face, and in
his ear were those mocking words: ''Im
in love with Tom" A disgust for his
fishing life and for himself and for all
their miserable surroundings of poverty
filled the lads heart with an unwonted
bitterness.
Mother" said he one day, as he sat
darkly brooding over the hearth, "you
said you were born lady; why didn't
you make gentleman of me?'
Il hadn't any money left when you
came" said the widow briefly.
Then It's money that makes people
gentlemen and ladies?"
II don't know" said the widow. puz-
zled; "they somehow me silly have it,"
One day Tom came and told her he
was going to sea. There had been a man
down looking for hands, and he had taken
Tom gladly, for Tom was handy fellow
at almost any kind of sea craft, and
would soon make good seaman.
"And you must just bide here patient
ly till come back, mother; for if there's
better days anywhere. shall bring 'em
with me, be sure"
After that tho sea looked bitter md
colder than ever, and The solitary woman
lived a sort Of hernit's life. No CHEEKY
voice of gossiring neighbor lghteped
the droary cabin, no children prattled
about her; and only Belle, the bright,
blithe-h,arted lassie, seemed to remem-
Der to cheer her with II letter now and
then. Belle was awny now visiting some
distant friends, bat in kindly heart she
kept corner, it seemed, for the poor old
woman who had saved her life.
Three years--four- passed away, and
daily Of summer afternoon you might
have seen the widow sitting in her door
way, eager and hoIlow-eyed, looking obt
for some possible ship that might be
Toms. Tom WAS not a good CORES
pondent, but occasionally up at the little
postoflice wandering epistle waited her
trembling hand, She va, growing very
old and feeble now; out Tom was get
ting up III the world-Tom was first mate
Of his ship-ToIn was success-Tom
was a gentleman-nnd oh, above all
things, Tom was coming home!
Not every one watches in vain, though
We may not always be looking in the
right direction. 1t Was SO with the widow.
As she sat Christmas day, with stnino d
eyes gazing on the far-off sun-lit sails,
and seeing how some of them hoyered
nearer and nearer, and some, alasl took
wing further and further away, the DOR
way darkened suddenly; there came
rushing upon her, rs if dropped from the
clouds, plump, dark-eyed, rosy-cheeked
lady, who flung herself into the arms of
the watcher with cry OF Joy.