National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-10-11

ing repugnhnJ 10 nBr strong rntlOnaliSm.
He perceived quite plainly that between
her compassion for the unfortunate
mother and the zest she found in his
original If irrevorent idea. she was fairly
inclined to cOnfsderacv--until tho state
ment of Magdalons identity. Mr Locke
bad, of course, been quite cognizant that
Mrs. French had broken with her in
tended husband u week before tho day
set tor their marriage, on discovery OF
his ENHANCEMENT with the Aylmer. And
yet no had confidently expected that
generosity and sense Of justice would ig-
more personal feeling in dealing with the
matter in hand.
"You talk as If that poor girl wcro tho
only sinner in the worldW cried George
Locke at last, cxaSperated by her obsti-
nary, while time was dying. "You are
thoroughly unjust to her, aud you are
less generous than she. / didn't know
you could bo so narrow minded. Mary
French, this woman you despise, tries
more sincerely-ay, | believe sho does
more--to help the weak and sinful than
you do"
Mrs. French lifted her bowed head in
amazsment. But George Locke's noble,
kindly countennnce was full OF stern sim
Cerity aud rebuke.
81 mean what say. She preys on men,
rs Is the manner of her kind poor girl !
But 10 man pays tribute to her ut the
expense of q family. Her speech is as
blamsless rs your own, amid all the
ribaldry that surrounds her; sometimes
it has even seemed to me that her sweet
songs purify the atmosphere about her.
O Mary French you need not snecr.
Men are not always full of evil. | do
believe that many ono goes there to let
her music work its spell on hcart-chords
that have long been silent"
do the people of the Continual saloon
find this IN ission work profitable, or Is 1t
a labor Of love 2" inquired Mrs. French,
with meek sweetness.
He went on, ignoring tho feminine sar-
casm:
"she has made workable crusade
against tho young lads. nero boys, who
used to haunt the salOous-calls them up
to her piano, and talks to them like n
mother. All, bah" cried Mr.. Locke, ''it
is folly to expect one woman to show an
other mercy. And yet.' he added. his
voice tremulous with some tender MEM
ory, II have known one woman to warrant
such confidence"
Mrs. French looked up.
would that woman have dono what
you ask me to do 2" she demanded, n GER
tain grievance in her tone.
Dir. Locke smiled to himself at that
little touch of cumulative jealousy, tend.
ing as it did to confirm his suspicion that
Mrs. French's pride had suffered, rather
than her affection, in the rupture with
her lover six months before. He must
have been more than man If he had
failed to perceive that her interest in
himself was deeper than was strictly con-
x,y,Nl hi nd
would have been abnormal, too. had he
failed to take advantage of that weakness
for the furtherance OF his wishes.
There was no selfish faint in her whole
nature. She would have aided to the
utmost what / thought right"
Mrs. French rose and looked into his
face with eyes full of infinite enthusiasm
and yearning pity, well nigh divine.
"When will she be here-that dear,
old, lonely mother? Oh, we will be
SO good to her, will we not? And you
you really believed in my heartlessness-
you know you did What right had you
to think me pharisee? For shame.
George Locke l thought you knew me-"
ain tho nick Of time y thought the
man. following helplessly as she moved
to answer the knock announcing the
weary pilgrims coming. And he was not
the first man-nor yet tho last-con-
strained to own that, as compared to the
nimble wiles of women, mems artfulness
is but o clumsy and transparent effort.
And so it was that twenty-four hours
later Mary French, with diplomatic,
deferential interest, sat listening tn the
disclosure on spiritualism. into which
she had skillfully led her guest. 1t was
not difficult to understand how all the
more mystical and poetic phases of that
doctrine had taken hold in this gentle,
uuphilosophic mind, of Anticipated sim
plicity.
81 do not doubt that our dear ones re-
turn" she said; "but we do not perceive
them often, for our senses are dulled by
the worlds gross usage. l have tried
strenuously to comply with the condi-
tions in order that might receive the
materialized presence. l have some
times thought that if my daughter
She stopped short with little,
faint cry. A woman's form stood
in a window fronting upon the
long front gallery; figure grace.
full, small, of perfect mold comprised
about with flimsy. misty clouds of vapor-
Gus white, the little head was banded
round with bands of waving golden hair
the great blue eyes were full of mournful
resignment, the sweet, faultless lips were
sad, the whole face was the face of a suf,
fering angel. She held one lovely hand
toward the twain within the room, and
the sweet, sad lips spoke.
"Mother-return ~
Then swiftly aud silently tho vision
was gone.
4
Jack Daniel did not tsrry with the
pseudo news he bore. The mother had
not spoken when he came in. The de.
tails of his story had been skillfully de-
vised. Smallpox had broken out in
! FlIntville the week of tho teachers ad-
vent there. She had contracted the
scourge, and q sudden chill had driven IL
in with swift congestion. Death had come
very soon, and immediate interment
had been needful. She had died with
her mothers name upon her lips. Watch
ing the mother carefully. the young man
was going on with tentative platitudes of
| sympathy, and the regrets of those who
knew the dead girl. The old lady COW
cred her dim eyes with her hand: her del
icate lips wruug piteously.
"You are very kind" she said still with
precision, "but-will you leave me In
solitude with my sorrow? Dear young
lady, will you come to me later on? To-
morrow-I will leave you."
Without word Mary French and Jack
Daniel went softly to the room where
George Locke was watching beside the
Aylmer. She covered like some stricken
creature, still yelled by the foamy masses
ofClnging tulle that had made her appear.
ance at the window ghost like. The
Creole touched their hostess, bending
down humid eyes,
Say something to her." he said pitt
fully. II think her mothers suffering
hurts her less than her position with you
She would not stay in here with Daniel
but made him go and leave me with
her"
That argument was an unwise one. II
was not enough then that her old love-
stood here with his face downcast in con-
scious shame for his relation with thii
fallen creature, She must ply her nefari