The Hazlehurst signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1883-1885, 1884-01-31

This was H. then! But one slight
wooden door stood bctwcen Clara and
the thief she had wished she could find
Only to step round the corner. There!
she knew, was tho police station. and,
Tor the news she brought them she
would get ESQ! She claspcd her hands
tight, and sat perfectly still. all the
while knowing that every second less.
ened her chance OF securing the living
piece of property valued at ESQ. In
her present straits. ESQ seemed fort.
unc to her. No ono who has not gone
through a sim lar experience can ever
know what that temptation was to Mrs,
Craven. As she sat, her strained ears
caught the mothers voice again.
'Ill not keep You. though my heart
IS breaking. My bonny boy come TO
this! Oh, God. most mcrciful, save
him from fclon's doom"
Mother, pray for me. II l escape,
vow to lead an honest life and make a
home for you. II has not been my
fault Pray God TO forgive and help
me-"
Clara's grasp OF her hands relaxed.
Then. with white facc and sorrowful
eyes, she stood up aud looked ut her
two tiny sleeping boys, Then on her
knees she fell. and STAYED in earnest
prayer until she heard the stcalthy foot
steps creep down the stairs. and the
front door closed; and then she stole to
the window of her darkened room.
and. looking out into the lamp
liz street, watched quick walking
figure In an old country woman's cloak
with a deep cape, aud large poke bon
net, such rs her old neighbor always
wore; and she knew that the young
man had escaped in his mothers
clothes.
II.
One Of the most old fashioned houses
In an old country town was Miss Grey
brooks. A steep flight OF Immediately
clean steps led from the pavement of the
High street To her hall door with its
shining brass knockcr and bell.handc.
On each side Of this hall door was q
large bay-window. just high enough To
make IL announcement for any one 10
oder To shake hands with Mss Grey
brook when they were in the street and
she was tending her flowers in the win
dow. At the back Of the broai hall that
went straight asross the house there
worc stops leading down into large.
we'll kept gardens, and these were in
closed by n substantial brick wall that
cifcctually protected the fruit aud low
er- from pilfcring fingers.
Inside the house everything was cx-
prcssiyc OF wealth and solid comfort.
Miss Grcybrook herself was regarded
by the towns-.olk ~ peculiar. but her
popularity being accompanied by riches,
she was never made To feel il unplcas-
antly. In person she was tall AMI
angular, and pair of piercing
black eyes that shonc out in vivid
contrast To her gray hair gave hCr re-
markable appearance. Her caps were
always made high and her dresses
shorter than anybody clsc's. and she
made no change for fashion or favor.
Now this old lHly was Mr.. Tom
Craycn's godmothcr. And on the very
cold. dull winter morning. Of VIII ch |
have now to speak. she had ri,cn from
her hgh-backcd char in front of the
bright steel fender at sound Of the post
mans knock. aud advanced TO meet the
elderly servant who brought in the let
tiers ON silver salyer.
"Nonc from him." said the old lady.
when she was alone again. turning over
tour letters eagerly in search of a hand
writing that was not there. "Poor and
proud. like his father! Well. I've seen
much folly in my time, but il he refuses
my offer. question II there is q COM
panion idiot for such man"
II was three weeks since she had writ
ten 10 Tom Craven. addressing her let
ter To the office OF Brown X Co., by
whom she thought he was still en-
ploycd. and offering 10 overlook tho
hideouS mistake he had made in marry
ing apenuiless orphan-girl. and to de-
vote substantial sum TO further his
prospects in life. On the very morning
that she was bewailing openly
her godson's pride. and secretly her
own. our friend Tom received n reply
to the letter he had sent TO Brown X
Co. politely regrettins that they could
do nothing further To help him, and in
closing Miss Gteybrook's letter. which
had been lying nearly three weeks at
their Office.
Clara. with the sadness of the last
nights struggle still upon her, ran
down the rckcty stairs at sound OF the
poStInau's knock. and received the let
ter for her hu ,band. When she arrived.
brcathlcss. mt the top iloor aga II, she
watched his face rs he opened IL. The
few polite lines from the business men
fell unread TO tho ground. while the
envelope they incloscd was torn eager
ly open. Clara looked over his shoul-
der and read. to-, and then with one
glance at the renewed light and vigor
in his worn. anxious face. she rclin-
pushed her roe Of bravery, and cried
out the misery of months in his arms.
Bobby walked and BERTHE crawled To
the scene Of acton, and seeing their
mother in tears. lent shrill a,d to the
chorus Upon which they were kissed.
blessed and cried over till they thought
the world Represented TO them By their
father and mUther) had gone mad.
When partial caimness had returned.
Tom spoke ioyously:
"Now wife. sell something of your
small store. and send telegram from
me TO the dear old girl"
"rom!" cried Clara. laughing
through her tears, show disrespectful."
But the telegram was sent and
brought in solemn wondcrment to Miss
Greybrook before ten o'clock by the
postmaster himself. When once she
had the opened paper in front OF her
eyes. and deyourcd the in.
formation that her godsou was
In London. and DESTROYS of seeing her
immed a,ely she gave orders for a lily to
be in readiness TO catch the next up.
train. and that her fur travelling cloak
and boots should be put 10 the fire inn
mediatcly. In the anxiety that all the
domestics felt to take share in the gen
eral excitement. Miss Greybrook's cloak
threatened To- be- torn in pieces, and
when wanted. ono fur boot was found
warming in front of the kitchen, fire, the
other reposing on the sheep-skin rug
beside the drawing-room steel fender.
However. vouchsaiing never word OF
explanation. but, happily for the sanity
Of those she left behind, dropping the
N