Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-08-07

"Do you think. Rose" said the young
man gently, ''that it is wise for us to
go so much into society on our slender
income?"
That arrow came from your moth
er's quiver, Rufusm said Rosamond
with another laugh. "She was always
preaching about your income, w"
"And, after ALL" said Rufus, what
10 we care for the fashionable people
to whose houses we go, and whom we
invite to our partiesP They wouldn't
one of them regret if we were to go to
the Rocky Mountains tomorrow"
II would as soon die at once as live
without society,"" said Rosamond. do
leave off lecturing me, Rufus! Society
is all that makes life worth having for
me-"
And, with a deep sigh, Rufus held
his peace.
That was long lonely winter for
Mrs. Mildmay, senior, at The Hem
locks.
Snow set in early; the river froze
over, as if it were sheeted with iron,.
except in the one dismal place down in
the ravine, where restless pool of ink
black water boiled and Dubbled at the
foot of perpendicular mass of grey
rock, under the shadow of gloomy
evergreens; the sunshine glittered with
frozen brightness over the hills. and
the old lady was often secretly sad at
heart as she sat all alone in the GRIM
son parlor bv the big fireplace, when
the logs blazed in the twilight
And as the New Year passed, and the
bitter cold of January took possession
of the frozen world, vague apprehen-
sion crept into her heart.
Something is going to happen" she
said. Il am not superstitious, but
there are times when the shadow of
coming events stretches darkly across
the heart Something is going to hap
pen!"
And one afternoon, as the amber
sunset blazed behind the leafess trees,
turning the snowy fields to masses of
molten pearl, she put on her fur-lined
hood and cloak.
II will 90 and take 3 walk" said
she. a shall certainly become hy-
pochondriac if sit all the time by the
fire and nurse my morbid fancies like
this"
She took long brisk walk down by
the ruins of the old mill, through the
cedar woods, across the frozen swamp,
and then she paused.
II will come back by the Black
Pool" she thought. "It is wild and
picturesque spot in winter, with icicles
hanging to the tree-boughs, and weird
ice effects over the face of the old grey
rock"
1t was a dark and gloomy place,
funerally shaded by the hemlocks,
which grew there to giant size; and
when Mrs. Mildmay got beneath their
boughs, she started back.
Was it the Elusive glimmer of the
darkening twilight, or was it really a
man who stood close to the edge of the
Black PoolP"
"Rufus! Oh, Rufus, my son!''
She was barely in time to catch him
in her arms and drag him back from
the awful death to which he was hurl-
ing himself
When they reached the cedar-wains-
coted parlor, where the blazing log cast
ruddy reflection on the red moreen
curtains, Mrs. Mildmay looked into
her stepson's face with loving eyes.
"And now, Rufus" said she, ''tell
me all about it. The Lord has been
very good to you in saving you from
terrible crime"
-'Mother, why did you stop meP" he
said recklessly. II am ruined man!
l shall be dishonored in the sight of the
world! Death would be preferable, q
thousand times, to disgracer'
''Rufus," said the old lady tenderly,
'+do you remember when you used to
get into boyish scrapes at SCHOOL, Do
you remember how you used to confde
your troubles to me? Let us forget all
the years that have passed. Let us be
child and mother once again"
So he told her all-of the reckless ex-
penditure on Rosamond's part-his
own, also, he confessed-which had
woven itself like a fatal web about
his feet-of the unpaid bills, the clam
oring tradesfolk, the threats of public
exposure, which had driven him at last
to the forgery of his employers sigma
ture, in order to free himself from one
or two of the most pressing of these
demands.
4'And if my investment in those bonds
had proved success" he said eager
ly, al could have taken up every one
of the notes before they came due.
But there was change in the market,
and now-now the bills will be present.
ed next week, and my villainy will be
patent to all the world! Oh, mother,
mother! why did you not let me fling
myself into the Black Poolp'
"Rufus." said his stepmother, 'what
is the amount of these-these forged
bills?'
1.-Two thousand pounds,' he answer
ed, staring gloomily into the fire.
Exactly the amount of the Govern
ment bonds which your father left me-"
said Mrs. Mildmay; ''they would have
been yours at my death. They are
yours now, Rufus"
''Mother, you don't mean-''
"Take them," said Mrs. Mildmay,
tendcrly pressing her lips to his fore
head; Ego to the city the first thing to-
morrow morning and wipe this stain
from your life as you would wipe few
blurred figures from slate. And then
begin the record of existence anew"
And up in the little room which he
had occupied as child, Rufus Mild
may slept the first peaceful slumbers
which had descended upon his weary
eyelids for many and many night.
In the midnight train from town
came Rosamond Mildmay to The Hem
locks, with pale terrified face and.
haggard ewes.