The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1884-01-30

visitor nould be NJ such an hour Then
the sound OF frightened sobbing and
expostulatlon made her listen attentive
ly, for she feared her neighbor was In
trouble, and determined 10 rouse her
husband, II necessary.
mot yet. joel Oh, don't say you
must 90 yetT'
"Mothor, I've stayed too long al-
ready. They'll be after mo sharp, now
tho rewards outl Think OF 600,
motherl The mon who tempted mo.
and got tho jewels, would round on me
now and get the reward"
This was H. thenl But one slight
wooden door stood between Clara and
tho thief she had wished sho could lind
Only 10 step round tho corner, THERE
she knew, was the police station. and,
for tho news she brought them sho
would get f60l Sh0 clasped her hands
tight and sat perfectly still, all tho
while knowing that every second less
ened her chance OF securing the living
pioce OF property valued nc ESQ. In
her present straits, ESQ seemed fort.
une 10 her No one who has not gone
through n similar experience can ever
know what that temptation was TO Mrs,
Craven. As she sat, her strained ears
caught the mothers voice again,
"Tll not keep you, though my heart
Is breaking. My bonny boy come TO
thisl Oh, God. most mercliul, save
him from afelon's dooml'
"Mother, pray for mo. II escape,
vow 10 lead an honest life and make
home for you. IL has not been my
fault Pray God 10 forgive and holp
me-"
Clara's grasp OF hor hands relaxed.
Then, with white face and sorrowful
eyes, she stood up and looked at her
two tiny sleeping boys Then on her
knees she fell, and stayed In earnest
prayer until she heard tho stoalthy foot
steps creep down tho stairs, and tho
front door closed; and thon she stole 10
the window OF hor darkenod room,
and, looking out into tho lamp
III street, watched quick walking
figure In an old country woman's cloak
with n deep cape, and u large poke bon
net, such as her old neighbor always
wore; and she know that tho young
man had escaped In his mothers
clothes.
II.
One OF the most old.fashloned houses
In an old country town was Miss Grey
brooks. A steep flight Of Immediately
clean steps l0d from tho pavement OF tho
High street TO her hall door with It's
shining brass knockor and bellhandlo.
On each side Of this hall door was u
large bay.window, Just high enough 10
make II inconyenlent for any ono b.
oGer 10 shake hands with Miss Grey
brook when they we're In the street and
she was tending her flowers in tho win
dow, Az tho back OF the broad hall that
went straight across tho house there
were steps leading down into largo,
welhkopt gardens, and these were in
closed by substantial brick wall that
ofiectually protected the fruit and low
ors from pilforlng finger
Inside tho house everything was or
prcssvo OF wealth and solld comfort,
Miss Greybrook herself was regarded
by tho towns.lolk ~ peculiar, but her
peculiarly being accompanied by riches,
ehe was mover made 10 feel II unpleus-
antly In person she was tall and
angular, and pair Of piercing
black eyes that shone out IN vivid
contrast 10 her gray hair gave her re-
markablo appearance. Her caps were
always made high and her dresses
shorter than anybody olso's, and She
made no change for fashion or favor.
Now this old lady was Mr.. Tom
Craven's godmother. And on tho very
cold, dull winter morning, OF which I
have now 10 speak, sho had risen from
hor high-bached chair In front Of the
bright stool fonder at sound OF tho post
mans knock, and advanced 10 meet tho
elderly servant who brought In tho lot
tors on a silver salvor.
"None from him. said tho old lady,
when she was alono again, turning over
four letters eagerly In search OF hand
writing that was not thoro. poor and
proud, like his fathorl Wen, Tvo soen
much folly In my time, but II hc refuses
my ollor, | question u there Is COM
panion idiot for such u manr'
II was three weeks since she had writ
ton 10 Tom Craven, addressing hor lot
tor 10 tho office OF Brown u Co., by
whom sho thought he was still om-
ployod, and ollorlng 10 overlook tho
hidoous mistake ho had mado In marry
Ing apcnnilcss orphan-gIrl, and TO do
vote substantial sum 10 further his
prospects In life. On tho very morning
that she was bowallng openly
her godson's pride, and secretly her
own, our friend Tom received reply
70 tho letter ho had sent 10 Brown 4
Co.. politely rogrottlng that thoy could
do nothing further 10 help him, and In
closing Miss Groybrook's letter. which
had bcon lying nearly throo weeks nj
their Office.
Clara, with tho sadness Of tho last
nights struggle still upon hor, ran
down tho rlokcty stairs nt sound of tho
postman's knock. and received tho lot
ter for hor husband. Whom she arrived,
breathloss, NJ tho top floor again, she
watched his faoo rs ho opened 10, Tho
few polite lines from tho business mon
fell unroad 10 the ground, whllo tho
envelope they inolosod was torn oagor-
ly open, Clara looked over his shoul-
der and read, too, and thon with ono
glance NJ tho renewed light and vlgor
In his worn. anxious face, she reln-
pushed her role OF bravery, and crlod
out tho misery Of months In hls arms,
Bobby walked and Berthe crawlod TO
the scona Of action, and sooing thor
mother In tears, lent u shrlll nd 10 tho
chorus. Upon which thcy were kissed,
blessed and orlod over till they thought
tho world Represented TO thom by their
father and mothor) had gone mad,
Whom partial calmness had returned,
Tom spoke joyouslyi
"Now wife, sell something Of your
small store, and send q telegram from