The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-04-29
POOR, DEAR TOM


am sure do not know. She is no more
fitted to go out into the world and earn her
own living than babyl"
As Mrs, Benner uttered these disagreeable
truths, she looked at Hortense with cold,
unsympathetic eyes. Hortense covering in
the deep, old-fashioned window-seat, only
answered with tears.
Poor Hortensel She was only seventeen
and this great, great calamity had overtaken
her. Her father had fallen in fit, stand
ing In his own counting house, and she was
left alone and unprovided for. There was
her stepmother, to-be-sure; but Hortenss,
like many another silly maid, had always
kept up sort of armed neutrality with the
good, bustling woman, who had tried her
best to be kind to the motherless girl She
was berry for it now, but the time for una
vailing regrets was passed.
81 never did get along with Hortense,"
said Mrs. Benner. "She was always defy
ing me- she even told her father about
poor, dear Toms sorapes, and got him sent
off to the Bahama Islands. Poor, dear
Tom might have been little wild-boys
will be boys, you know-but there never
was bit of harm in him. And he
went over there and died; and 1 shall al.
ways feel rs If it WIS Horiense that murder
cd him."
At these sad retrospects she burst out
crying. Hortense crept up close to her, and
tried to take her hand.
" Mother, don't p she whispered. "Please
don't I was only pettish child in those
days, and Tom tsased me. l could not i'm
agine what dreadful mischief was doing.
Oh, you don't know how sorry have been
ever since. It's quite true what black Chloe
said, Luck went out of the house when Tom
went out of it Oh, mother, mother don't
lay it up against me !"
There, child-there You are orump-
ling my new Grape trimmings" said Mrs.
Benner, sharply. Poor, dear Tom, IL he
were only here, we should have some one to
lean on--some one to help us in our trou-
BILE. AS it is, goodness only knows what is
to become of us ~
Couldn't we keep boarders, mother ?"
hazarded Hortense.
Mrs. BenRer shifted disdainfnlly.
Who would board with us ~ said she.
Where would the capital come from ?"
L" I could go into store"
" You look like it." said Mrs. Benner
=" Into store, indeed Why, you couldn't
hold out for week. You that have never
known what hardship is"
Hortense wept afresh.
oh, if 1 had only taken your advice
and learned to sew !" walled she. ''Then,
perhaps, could have been assistant to
dressmaker; or if had paid more attention
to my French and mathematics. But Mad.
am Grighi said there were no necessity for
girl who didn't intend to become teacher
to work SO hard at her studies. Oh, dear
oh, dear what mistake I have made of
my lifeln
II should think SO, said Mrs. Benner,
severely.
And she went away 10 interview the arc-
doneer, who had arrived to catalogue the
furniture for the approaching sale, while
Hortense dissolved into new tears.
1t seemed to her as if she could have
borne anything but the reproachful mem
cries of Tom, at this sorrow-burdened mo-
ment.
Why-why had she taken such ridicu-
lous and unreasonable dislike to Tom By
ington. her step-mother's son ?
He had been handsome lad enough, and
good-humored, too, in his way. He had al
ways manifested hearty desire to be
friends, but she had checked and snubbed
him in every possible way.
If only Tom Byington were here now,
how good she would be to him What
help and comfort he would be
For Tom had loved his mother dearly,
and he was brave and manly fellow, in
spite of the boyish delinquencies which had
banished him to Nassau, In the Bahamas.
As she sat there, thinking and crying by
turns step fell on the threshold. She
looked quickly up.
A gentleman stood there tall, stately and
handsome-in fur-trimmed overcont and a
long, silky beard.
Hortense thought of the sign "To Let
on the front door, and jumped up.
"Oh, l beg your pardon !" said she;
"but did you wish to look at the house Pr
1.-THE house--no!" said the stranger,
with rather u puzzled look. 1T was Mrs.
Benner that wanted to see. 1t can't be
possible that you are-Hortense |"
"Toml" she cried out, with little
shrek. "But no it can't be Tom died
out in the Bahama Islands,"
"Not exactly" said the distinguished
looking stranger with q smile. "He came
very near it, in that yellow-fever epidemic
so near, in fact, that his name was pub
lished in the death-list; but there's name
less individual that always takes care Of his
own. And made up my mind that would
not come back until could succeed in con-
quering my ill-luck. Well, have succeed
ed. And it seems" with glance around
the room, " as if were just in time. Where
Is my mother ?"
Without word, Hortense pointed to the
adjoining room, where Mrs. Benner and the
auctioneer were in full conclave.
But when Tom was gone, she burst into
flood of passionate tears.
de never shook hands with mel" she
sobbed. " He never told me he was glad to
see mel And he has grown so handsome
He is like prince! Oh, mech, mel
wish l was dead"
Mrs. Benner was exultant now. Tom
Dyington had come back to her, as it were,
from the dead. Tom Byington was rich
and successful There was no more poverty,
no more trial, for her now. Tom had turn
ed out all that she could possibly desire,
and had brought all his wealth to shower at
her feet.
Poor, dear Toni" said she. But it
don't seem possible that this is he, does it,
Hortense9 He was such a wild, reckless
fellow; and now he is so staid, and quiet,
and grave! used to be scolding him every
minute, and now, if you'll believe me, I'm
bit afraid Of him at times. What are you
doing, Hortensel Why don't you listen to
what oxy, eo,,scr.