Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-10-19

"a frequent visitor. notwithstanding
mu,h"r's circumstances.
1t could not be- trllthfully said that
Fl-ta Hollywood was a badly inclined
girl. she had of late become way
ward. but i was only one of the many
Instances where love beng an ihc"n-
tive. "a girl i led away. t" BIZ governed
! hv no one. not even a kind mother.
| how many illustrations Of Il like
unfortunately Of daily occurrence.
and the victims. whom they blame
" one. To blame would he to cen
sire themselves: and tL"y silently
bear tha; sorrow brought on by Their
own folly They find ont tie rash
hess Of the step tley have taken. but.
ala. too late.
/ But To- rc>umo tie story. O7wln
| Chalmers visits became more fire
Gu"nt. Flcta' infal,iation wa, grow
ng stronger. and her mother determ-
med on crushing the impending evil.
| with what result yon already .-now
| When Flcta left the room that day
little did that fond mother dream OF
her resolve.
iva, May morning. and the
lawn that -klrted the plain cottage OF
Mrs Holl ywool had assumed that
verdan; hue that nature nestows al
this season. Tho twittering birds
played at hide and seek through the
almost leaiiess branches caused a feel
| ing of JOY and a scele of animation
To peryade the very atmosphere
Happiness seemed to have chosen
this very spot as IA resting place. But
oh. how deceptive. Had it taken
unto itself wings and flown away il
could not have caused a greater
change to come over this once happy
home. Fleta, had not returned since
she left her discpnsolate mother.
4 messenger had been sent notify
ing Mrs Hollywood that Fleta ha(
been welded to Oswin Chalmers. She
bore this information calmly an(
awaited developments. One day
passed and the next brought Flet;
and her newly made husband. H'
made great promises, and was appar
emily so honest in his intentions tba
it required but Il short time to in
gratiated himself into the good grace
Of his mother in law. They ha(
come on a visit. and in a week wer'
to move to N. a small tow
where Oswin was TO take charge 0
the books of large manufacturin:
concern. The time for their depart
NE arrived. and with a mother
blessing they took their leave.
Three months have passed and fire.
quent letters told Of Oswin's goo,
behavior He had gained promo
ton since his coming. and now held
in conjunc. on with his former duties
a position OF m Ore trust. Five month
more and there was percept,ble de
crease in the number of letters.
Christmas came and passed, and tn
, new year. with its mantle CT snow
was here. Mrs Hollywood had no
for some time heard from Fleta. an,
: her forebOdings were not good
Judge Chalmers had been to see he
,, and told her in all candor that he wa
afraid that Oswin had gone back +
his old tricks. If Mrs. HOLLYWOOD
was uneasy before, she was mad
doubly so by this exposition. Sh
still hoped for the best, but alas!
letter blasted her expectations. ant
a newspaper detailing an account o
, a large embeZzlement confirmed be
fears.
Oswin for three or four months ha,
led an exemplary career. He sa,
prosperity within his grasp. A NOR
: lucrative position was his reward. Ii
,, this short time he had gained the con
fidence and esteem of not only HI;
employers, but of all his newly mad
, acquaintances. The tempter came
He yearncd for his old vices. Hi
hours were less punctual. That reg
ularity which had characterized hi
every movement had of late show
signs of weakening His eyes ono
full of expression, were losing thei
brightness. He was gradually losin.
, that free. cheerful manner that com
mended him to his employers. Flet
noticed all these changes, but stayet
her hand when wont to write to tina
dear mother who foretold them. IT,
senior member of the firm had als'
noted a change in Oswin's demeano
and suggested to other members th'
. propriety of an investigation of hi
accounts.
The cloud had burst. Oswin Chal
p1ers was an embezzler. He was al
rested and bonds refused Will
negotiations were in progress where
by compromise might be effected
, the community were startled on
morning by the suicide of Oswin VIII
had hanged himself in his cell, thu
Kidding the world of one who, had
: not been for drink, might have bee
an ornament to society.
He had joined that army of on,
casts who are lost to all sense @
. shame, whose one object in life is t
seek degradation and become worth
less, be burden to civilization an
: fill untimely graves.
Fleta returned to that home, wher
loving mother was ever ready to re
: ceive her, and though years hav
: passed, she cannot forget what rui
: she brought to herself by her willfu
ness. There is an emblem of tia
union, chubby-faced, golden haire'
: youngster, and as he wildly prance
through the house, he little dreams
: and may he never know why pap
!; don't come home