Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1883-05-11


sumption with which she had long
been threatened, hastened on 10y the
grief for her daughters unnatural
desertion, WIS fast wasting her away
and ere the winter winds swept ovel
the Potomacs angry waters, she pas.
sed from earth, pitt ousIy calling fol
her child.
All. well for her those prayers were
unanswered. well for that she was in
mere, spared the knowledge of hel
daughters shame,
Poor Tom Harris seemed to have nc
oE ject IN life now. Afrer that wild
ride TO c. and his bitter disap
pointmcnt. he had come back weary
and hopeless. The objects which
once gave him pleasure could interest
him no longer lie bad loved Rita
with that passionate intense love which
BOYS ever have for their trst sweet
hearts. In his boyish day dreams he
had ever associated her with all the
happiness that youth always looks for.
ward to with so much coutidence-and
he bad lost her.
II the handsome stranger " ho bad
won her young heart. had been an
honorable man and made her his cher
ished wife. he could have borne it
his pride wonld have helped him TO do
so. But. O. TO lose her to such fate,
his pretty gentle little Rita, ii was
more than he could bear.
The shad"w which had c, ne over
his young lif. was crushing out every
hope, and changing him from the
merry, sprightly hopeful boy of old to
a tired weary hopeless creature. II
would hill him lie hoped. Why
should he wish TO live:
His parents noticed the sad change
which bad come over their blight boy
aud were deeply grieved at 1t; tut they
tried ty their cheerful example 10
rou,c hlm from his unnatural deJec
uon.
Il had been determined to srud him
70 college at the beginning Of the
scholastic wear to educate him for the
law. and Tom had looked fo' ward to
gong with SO much pleasure. d ter
mining TO earn for himself name and
for Rita's sake, but now b. seemed 10
have lost all ambition.
One day bile he wss sitting III his
little room looking ", arily at the river,
lie felt gentle touch on his bowed
head. He did not mo,e, but be knew
II VAS his mother.
Tom" she said in an anxious voice,
1T grIeves me deeply 10 sey you thus.
The time FOR your departure to college
has almost arrived, but | cannot bear
10 see you 20 in Your presen: STATE OF
mind. Your father too is deeply con
cerned. lie has look,d forward so
proudly TO the time when you ", uld
come home covered with honors which
We knew you would win if you applied
Yourself. q Tom Tor our sakes will
You not try and be more cheerful /
know that you received terrible blow,
but try and b. man and bear It more
braye!r. Too many SORROWS come to
us in life 10 give way TO them SO. Be
sides, my son, the love you are cher
IshIng Is sinful now, since Rita Is the
happy wife Of another, and amid the
gay circles to which she has gone she
doubtless never thinks Of the humble
tanner BOY who 10y, d her So.
All If 1t Was onlv go he eoHld bear
il. Strong III the l~yalty 10 his first
love. lie ha. never betrayed the story
of her sIars,, and all thought as his
mother.
Eut Lc knew Low different it was
He knew that the sacred name of wife
could never be hers. and he bowed his
head in his hands as these thoughts
crossed his mind and low moan O
anguish came from his lips. Hi:
mother heard that dtspairlng moan
saw the thrill of agony that shook hi!
bowed frame. She Was on her knee:
beside him Low, her head buried il
his lap as she piteously exclaimed be
tween her sobs.
40 Tom. you are killing your moth
er, she " no loves ,ouand would neye de
sert YOU through all the world shoult
cast YOU off, begs you to arouse your
self from this unnatural despair hicl
is killing you and killing her O Ton
for your III, theirs sake. be more cheer
fu more hopeful. Your mother who
IN ker lours Of sroLdency has beel
wont TO gather hope and courage from
her cheerful, happy boy, cannot btal
10 see Nou thus. . my son. throw
of this gloom that IS on YOU aud b,
my own bright 10y again.
His arms were around her now, hi!
lips pressed to the d, ar head, as ht
answered.
30 mother, mother | did not know
was grieving YOU SO. For your SAX,
will bear my sorrow more bravely
Tell father | will go to college, ano
that he shall never have cause to be
ashamed of his boy hence forward.
will live for my parents sake and-fol
vengeance" he muttered under his
breath.
After this interview with his mother
Tom seemed to be more cheerful. His
laughter was heard again in the house
and he departed to college apparently
hopeful. His father was thankful thai
his boy was again his own bright self
but his mother knew.
All. it is so often so, laughter, tests
and gaiety, and IA broken heart under
it all.
To be c0ntinued)
"l'm sorry to keep you waiting fol
your money" said the bank teller t(
Smithers, "but here's the money ii
yellow boys" ''Never mind,' sale
Sn,;tborc 81 c,o ~, mouth a. ,;. .