Morning journal and courier., 1884-01-07

little lame Jim," the people whom Jackson mentioned in his sermon. When he gave
 the lame boy gayly painted new sled, and
 each of the feeble old women thick wool ! en shawl, they saii that they felt as if an l angel had been sent to them. It seemed to
 him as if angels were softly singing deep | down in his own heart. The joy that he had I given others was beginning to throw it's cheering rays into his soul.
 | When Christmas morning came Fiske had given invitations to only ten people to come
 and dine with him, all of whom had accept
 ca the invitation. They were all intimate 1 friends who were in the habit of visiting at his house, and Fiske could think of no others 1 to make out the dozen he had spoken of who
 would fit in with that set, and he remarked | to Mrs. CapweH that unless some special l providence sent alorg two more there would l be only ten guests.
 The chosen ones were Mir. and Mrs. Hall 1 the Episcopal rector and his wife. who were 1 most excellent and agreeable people, but not rich in this worlds goods; two elderly ! widows with whom Fiske's mother had often exchanged visits; Luther Latimer and his l wife and three daughters, and his friend Gordon. Latimer was the old schooimate l whom Fiske was visiting when he bought his l farm. He and his family were often invited ! to dine with Fiske. They were educated and l attractive people, but their pecuniary situs- I tion would not admit of their induleing in ! ! to say to his mother, in giving them g feast occasionally. When Jake with beamiug face came four 1 ishing down stairs that morning in a span new suit of clothes, which his master had given him the evening before, and, picking ! up Fiske's letters, was about to take his usu 1 al walk to the postofice, Fiske said to him {: Stop 8 minute, Jake. You rendered me 1 such efficient service yesterday I think that you must have the privilege of making somebody happy on your own hook to-day. noticed, Nhie you sat outside waiting for me down at Jackson's. that there were half g score of little pickeninnies hanging around you and crawling over you, and that you seemed to enjoy 1t quite well as they did. Here are ten dollars You can spend five of l it for nuts and candies and nicknacks, and take them to Jackson and ask him to distrib- ute them among the children of his cougre gatlon in your name. It will please Jackson and make ths little ones supremely happy Can't spare you long enough to-day for you to do 1t yourself. The remaining five you can spend for yourself or your friends, but remember, Jake, not one penny for liquor don't want you muddled to-day"
 ''No, sar; no, sar, not single plcayune, marsa, for drinks ter-day,'' Jake replied. ''Now go on, Jake. .and bring me my mail as soon as you can Keep your eyes open while you are gone and if you See a sad, forlorn locking person in the place whom you think l COQio cheef, come ana CSti H1e. s'Yes sar, seems zif narsa's 'termined dat ehery body shall joy themselves dis day." Jake said as he passed out.
 When Jake returned and gave Eiske's mail 10 him, he loitered as if he had sonstAing to
 say. opened letter.
 'tA bery queer ting happened in de pos office when wor dere. A lubly-lookin' lady an little gal comed out ob de hotel an coraed inser de pos office des' as I wor comin' out. I took tieuiar notice ob de lady cause marsa tcP me to 'bserve de sad folks. an dat lady had bery sad 'spression on her facs for all she wor so lubiy lookin-' l l 'spec's shs use ter know marsa, and nlarsa 1 use' ter know her, end I fought p'haps marsa'd like ter 'vite her ter dinner" "What are you talking about ?" said Fiske, l s'Who was the lady? And what made you 1 think I knew her once? What queer thing was it that happened at the post-otfice 7? Tell l the story straight through, Jake, don't go all l around Robin Hoods barn.
 ',WeIl, ssr, ies as I wor comin' out ob de l ball door I met de lady an' her darter in de 1 door am de lady asked me which door opened l inter ds telegraph office; an des' den de l fringe on de Iittls gals sack got kort on one 1 ob my coat buttons, 'sn 1t took her mudder some time to git 1t of widout breakin' 1t, ar' from de gals talk to de lady while VIC stood dere, found dat dey comed from do West, an dat de hack driver got it inter his head somehow dat she wor goln' to take the vest ern train stid ob de eastern, an so dey wor too late for dc train, an now she will hab tor
 stay ter de hotel till five o'clock; an so she wanted ter telegraph her frien in Providence ter meet her at de depot dIs ebenln." tsAIl Of which is unfortunate for the lady," said Fiske rather impstientiy," and sm sor- ry for her; but I can't see, from anything
 you have told, why you should think that she
 and I eV6r saw each other '
 s'I hadn't got to dat part, Marsa," Jake re
 piled While we Eor discunglipg dat
 fringe dropped one ob marsa's letters. an
 de little gal picked it up des as I stepped
 away She said Here's letter for Clinton
 Fiske, Esq; did you drop it?' Fore could
 take it, de lady kort it right out ob her hand
 an looked a+ de name herself, an den she
 leaned gaiust de raiin' an' turned des
 white as ghos. In Q minute she kin O got
 ober it, an she gin de letter an said: 'scuse
 me; use ter know 2 man by dat name.
 An den she asked ne if I libed with Mir.
 Fiske, an if his family libed here; an if dis
 war his natib place. tor her marsa's fam
 fly did libe here, but nlersa war borned in
 Maine. She shock des like leaf an leaned
 on de railin' ag'in, a minute, an den she
 vent inter de telegraph office."
 As Jake told his story, he watched Fisks intently, with half closed eyes, and he did not fail to see that his master was irly much aeitsted, and vas endeavoring to maintain an outward cslmness.
 II ses no reason, Jake, the said almost sternly, with g slight quiver in his voice,
 flor your concluding that that lady is widow. Msn do not always accompany thslr wives in their travels"
 "But she am widder, "J&ke replied, flor de little gal said You neber sent telegram fore did you mamma 'cept when papa died2' So you see sar. dat she am a widder, 'less she's married secon time"
 Al. I-S T,A1 IT [ nan1 my letters, now"
 Five minutes later he rang for Jake and told him to harness Ned into the phaeton. Jake felt sure that his master vas going to the hotel in which the lady was stopping; and that is where he did go.
 He went with hesty strides to the clerks office and ran through the names that were registered the day before The last name on the page was: 'fytary Arvine Rathburn." Fiske's heart beat rapidly. He and the wo- man whom he once expected to make his wife were both under the same roof: aad she undoubtedly was widow, for the sdr- name of the man to whom she was married twelve years ago. that very morning, was .sRathburn.' Why was she so agitated when she saw his name on that letter? and why did she ask so many questions concerning him2 He would see her once more let what would come of it. He sent his card up to her with 8 request for an interview. AS soon as Sh6 received 1t she came down to the reception room and, trembling in every nerve, she went directly ts him and reached out her hand. At the first sight of her Fiske longed to clasp her in his arms-Jake might well say that she was lovely looking woman-but he did not even pass his hand to her and he said. coIdIy:
 q cannot shake hands with you Mrs. Rathburn before know why you treated me as you did.''
 q am thankful for this unexpected and I can but feel providentisl opportunity to tell you" she replied in low sweet voice, trem ulous with emotion.
 It will take too long to tell the story as she told it to him; but long before she was through. Fiske was fully convinced that she had been more sinned against than shining. The mischief was wrought by willy, merce- nary stepmother and her son. They knew nothing against Fiske, neither had they any personal dislike to him, but 1t would answer their own selfish ends better if Mary conld be induced to marry her stspmother's cousin. | Thomas Rathburn was a rich bachelor, and old enough to be Mary's father. While on l visit at his cousins soon after Mir. Arvine | died, he fell deeply in love with Mary. and L.. oa;d fr his eouGin ma day aff aba bod