The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-11-16


How the wind whstled, and how
the rain dashed against the window
panes Why did she start and trem.
BILE at every uuwontcd sound What
made her so nervous tonight? Did
she hear her name called, or was it
only Imagination Her hand trem-
bled so that she could scarcely light
the gas; she smiled grimly. 81 am
growing DID," she muttered, "but |
did not think | was quite so weak
minded"
The door-bel rang. 1t was nothing
unusual, but Miss Kingstone turned
pale, and stoo1 quite still in the mid
die of the room, till the servant entered
with the information that a boy want,
ed to see her
ale looks poor, and is wet and
shiveriug ma'am, but he walked into
the hall like real gentleman, as he is,
I'm sure"
Bring him to me- said Miss King
stone.
The servant bowed and retired, and
in few moments she ushered into the
apartment a boy about sixteen, who
advanced toward the lady, and then
stopped, as if awed by her silence.
Grace turned her head, looked at
him, and the whole expression of her
face changed she grasped the back of
a chair to steady herself, her eye di-
lated, and when she spoke it was in a
hollow, unnatural voice:
"Charlie, my brother, is it you? No,
OF course, it cannot be; but oh, how
like he is! Who are you, boy !"
"My name is Fred Kingstone," an
swered the boy politely, "and l am
your nephew, Aunt Grace
"Why do you come to me, child {?
Have you run away from your parents,
that you are dressed so shabbily for a
gentleman son! Do you want me to
help you out of some scrape or debt ?"
The boy held up his head proudly,
but somewhat sadly, as he replied;
"No, madam; l have come to you
with letter from my father which |
found among his papers after his death" "
"His death {" almost shrieked
Grace. "Oh, l have not understood
you! Charlie cannot be dead; it is
impossible T. Then bowing her head
in her hands, she murmured, "Oh
this is too heavy punishment! and
yet deserve it, deserve it,
The boy stood looking at his aunt
for some minutes, and then, seeing she
did not move, he said, softly:
"Did you love my father so much,
Aunt Grace? He always loved you to
the last, and moved by sudden i'm
pulse, he put his arm caressingly
around her.
| Miss Kingstone lifted her Woe
stricken head, and gazed at the young,
handsome face earnestly and lovingly.
| 81 have never kissed anyone since
the last happy evening spent with
your father. Will you kiss me for his
sake ?"
She put her aims around his neck
and drawing him close to her, kissed
him repeatedly, calling him her own
darling Charlie, and the first tears she
had shed for many years fell from hel
eyes when she saw how thin and worr
he was, and what scanty, threadbart
clothes he wore.
"You must have some supper, child,
she said, ''and l will send you back tC
your mother in my carriage, though
hate to part with you"
"My mother is dead, too answered
Fred, "there is no one left but Lillian
and | must go back to her now, sh'
will be afraid to stay alone"
"We will both go back and bring
her here said his aunt, and while
they were waiting for the carriage, sht
opened her dead brothers letter, which
she read eagerly, her tears binding he
as she proceeded
My DEAR SISTER: | feel din
foreboding tonight, that before man,
days have elapsed | shall be no more
and | am anxious and troubled abou
the future of my children, whom
leave without protector, and entirel,
penniless. am broken down il
health and spirits by the troubles o
the past year First, lost every cen
| had N the world, and then my wife
whom you would have loved if yo,
had known, died very suddenly.
have longed to see you necessarily
Grace, since we parted, and still hop
we may meet and become reconcile
before l die Will you, for the SAX
of the old love, sister, take care of m
poor children7 They are good an
very lovable, and | think that after m
death all your bitterness toward m
will be gone, and you will recei,
! them kindly and affectonately. Fo
give me for all the trouble | la,
caused you, and that God may ble
: you, Grace, darling, and bring yo
) after this life, safe to heaven, pra,
: your brother, who will love yc
; through eternity.
> CHARLIE.
; Miss Kingstone and Fred we
driven rapidly to an humble house in
narrow street, Fred ran up the stai
q, when they entered the house, his au
: following as quickly as she could
y the uncertain light, and when tn
4 reached the landing, a door was ope
;s ed, and little girl appeared, saying
70 SIS that you, Fred = What h
q kept you so long?" She stopp
20 when she saw Miss Kingstone, a
- nesting against her brother, she loc
N ed at her shyly with blue eyes, fr'
,f underneath the long lashes.
% "This is our Aunt Grace, Lila
y said Fred. "She has been so kind
y me, and has come all the way to
re you this rainy night"
10 The child seemed very timid,
,r' held out her hand to Grace, who k
ed her, saying, "You are going to
er my little girl now, | have been "
he lonely for seventeen years, and y
10. dear father has left you both to me
w. Lillian looked up into her face {
ie, said, pressing the hand that held he
lat 'Yes, for / love you, Aunt Grace.
m While the children hastily gathe
nd together their few clothes, Grace
es- watching them, and thinking how Ii
.le, she deserved the sweet affection wi
so these two youthful hearts were
to ready to bestow upon her, and