Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-26

blow Of her having gone to wofk-if this were
work-it was as well she knew it early There
was a gulf between them then. In their least
emotion, one never to be crossed and the sooner
she let the place that he had filed become
void the better.
But she did not suffer Laura to take charge Of
the books. II can't see why" Laura urged.
pouting her pretty lips. eff you don't let me,
1t only shows that you don't believe what you
won't let me be degraded"
cit is not that at all" said Teresa at Is be-
cause you are her own daughter and whether
think 1t right on her part or not, I don't want
to pain mamma so much as know 1t will pain
her. And then she would really be too lonesome
at home without you"
So the months wore away and Teresa sent her
forewOman to Paris for fabrics and fashions and
began her third year feeling q new interest In
her business, which was taking an artistic char
acter In her mind, and giving her. 80 far as sue.
cessful, an artists satisfaction.
Trevor, meanwhile, still kept his place In the
cOunting-roOm. more from the good nature Of
the employer than because he filed any require
ment Its abominable," he said to his mother,
that, taking the place I could In society, I
should be hampered in this way by Tara's low
bred tastes and by the want OF Uncle Trevor's
money. When see the other fellows with their
drags and tallyhos, having tho freedom Of their
clubs with their opera-bOxes. marrying the
to make q fellow take his own life!"
And this awful threat overwhelmed Mrs. Ever
sley, who wrung her hands and cried, and
begged her darling to remember he was her
only son. his fathers image all the Joy she had,
the hope Of her existence and to spare her, to
answered. Good gracious, mother! Do have
little sense" -: -.
TWAS surely desirable that his mother should
have some sense for Trevor had hardly any.
himself. Nor did he seem to know how to find
any pleasure except in rich clothes and behind q
housekeeping horse. 81 can't take you to drive,
Laura" he said, 'for the fellows will ask what
pretty girl 1t Ii, and when they hear they will
say, oh yes, the sister who keeps . shop!'"
He spent the whole Of his salary on his pleas
ures. The whole Of it, Much more than his
salary 1t seemed to Teresa, who looked furtively
at his goings and comings and realized with
her already better knowledge of the world what
some of these PLEASURES must cost. Was he
gambling ga In gentle way1 Had he begged of
vor suddenly opened his heart and filed the
young mans purse? That purse was evidently
full. She began to feel vague fear of she knew
not what. She knew what very soon.
Uncle Trevor waited upon her one morning in
her private room, and sat down with his hat on
Taking from his pocket q large wallet, he
opened 1t with elaboration, ran over its con-.
tents, and handed her, without word. a bit of
paper. It was . note for large sum- signed by
had been presented to him for payment That
told the whole story. 1t was a forgery-a cum
ming forgery-for 1t was the name Of both uncle
and sister, and both names carried weight Her
heart beat so heavily against her side It seemed
impossible that 1t should beat again. Her color
fell she could not lift her eyes. For him TO
ruin them all!
"Well2" her uncle said, in his hard voice.
She still held the bit Of paper, held It 30
tightly that her fingers were white and her
WQa no fr do uxar -b&o
ran swiftly as lightning runs. To pay this
note would ruin her, close up the bust
ness, return her to the tyranny of her
stepmother, destroy all the hope that she
and Laura had had Of independence. put them
mans shoes: But not to pay it! Toilet another
soul beside herself know of the disgrace of her
fathers son; to let the miserable boy suffer any
more agony than the self knowledge of his base
act; to let his poor mother suffer such shock,
such shame. such misery 1T was all in second
"Well7" she said, her heart gathering itsstrength
again. perhaps I don't understand. WHY did
YOU bring me my note? Have you bought it?
You need not have done that, Uncle Trevor. It
was very kind of you, but l am good for it This
is day too early you see. and It's not very bust
ness-like to pay your notes before the last day
OF grace; but, SO long as you're here, may as
well take 1t up"
"Do you mean to say" said the old man, in a
slow and terrible way, ''that this is YOUR note?"
him, although 1t seemed as If her voice were
some infexible weight that she must needs pull
up from vast depth and distance. SIS not that
my name?" pointing to the signature. lis not
that my handwriting3" The room was growing
dark was beginning to whirl; she put out her
hand In ablind way, but grasped nothing, and
the note luttered to the floor
There was silence for moment. Her uncle
looked at her slowly from head to foot.
You are handsome girl" he said then.
q md
as gypsy queen, and proud as royal duchess
Yes you are handsome girl-but you are a
liar. That note was neither given nor signed
by you 1t Is the forgery Of your brother Ire
because 1t is his own name also. What ails nv
brothers child" he cried, "that he should do
this thing?"
Sand his mother does not spell her name
with pr" said Teresa, to break the force
OF the horror that was freezing them, and
bursting into laugh that would have been hys-
terical II she had not remembered Mrs. Evers-
ley's habits. She clasped both hands about her
throat In the effort to quiet herself, and stag
gered to q seat.
?" her uncle said again. "I suppose
you'd have brazened it out to the end with any
body else You're plucky girl As for your
being liar wont say you lied in good
cause; but the truth should not be spoken at
all times, we've heard say. And don't know
as should be the one to reprove you, as shall
pay this note"
''You!"
Il. 1 gave you hard trial and find You
hard material. I'm glad of it. I'm glad there's
somebody to uphold the Eversley name when I'm
gone. And that won't be long first For this
thlng-this thng-ths finding my brothers child
a rascal-has given me blow. There never was
a blot upon the name before"
1t was very plain it had given the old man
blow: He stopped and picked up the note,
trembling from head to foot as Teresa did, al,
though making strong fight. She crossed over
to his side as he turned to go, took his hands in
hers. and kissed them.
They are clean hands," he said, looking at
them thenin ahalf-wOndering way '.They never
did thing I am ashamed Of before God. And
II they have not been open hands, it is because
they have been busy ones. "Well. well, well"
and he went stumbling down the stairs, and
Teresa left the room to set her girls their tasks
through Miss Mahala.
How long that day seemed! And when It
ended. what then? To 90 home and keep tho
horrid secret burning In her heart. How terri
Bile thing was life where lover failed brother
betrayed. home was desertl She would have
been glad to shut her eyes upon it all that mo-
ment in the marble sleep from which no one
wakes. And leave Laura7 Poor little Laural
No. has y~A