Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-08-05

"Certainly, Tom," said Hilda, smil-
ing graciously, and endeayoring not to
evince disgust at the odor of tobacco
which his embrace impaired. when
] am married my husband shall obtain
a post for you."
"Wait till ask, my girl, that's all, "
said Tom, with an aggressive laugh.
So Miss Hilda Dulcimer was fain to
be content with the terms her brother
voluntarily submitted to, nor did he
give her the slightest cause for uneasi-
ness. Her mother, happy at having
her son near her and seeing him occa-
sionally, acquiesced in the conspiracy
of silence regarding him, and as his
existence was not suspected by any
one, no contretemps arose. Mean
while five of the six months of the en-
gagged period elapsed. Hllda's trous-
seau was in an advanced state of prep
aration, when one afternoon she found
her mother almost fainting in her chair,
with an evening newspaper in her
hand.
"Mother! what is the matterp" cried
Hilda, with an uncomfortable PRESENT.
ment of evil.
"My dear child, a dreadful thing has
happened" murmured poor Mrs. Dull
elmer, carefully avoiding her gaze.
"What, mother?"
"Your poor dear brother"
"What has he been doingP" in
uuired Hilda, sharply, as she turned
pale.
"Nothing! He is innocent, the poor
dear boy is innocent" returned Mrs.
Dulcimer, firmly. "But-but-"
Hilda snatched away the paper which
her mother handed to her, and with
outward composure, which dissembled
her dismay and horror, read that her
brother, under his adopted name Of
Trower, had that day been committed
for trial on a charge of robbing his en-
ployers by means of forgery.
"God help us alln' She calculated.
"What fearfully shocking thing!'
"He is Innocent reiterated the pool
mother, in tears.
Innocent" repeated Hilda, with ar
expression which, could he have seen
it, would have been a wholesome reve-
lation to Lord Lexicon. CAT least, he
is committed for trial. / suppose thai
means something more than mere sus
picion."
There was long and painful pause
during which Mrs. Dulcimer sobbed
while Hilda bit her lip till the blooc
started, as she reflected with knitted
brows.
81 knew it would come to this,
Hilda said at length, gloomily. "Wha
blessing l never told Lord Lexicon.
81 suppose you must tell him nowP'
said her mother, nervously.
"What'' cried Hilda, with undis
guised amazement.
81 think he should be told" sait
: Mrs. Dulcimer, uneasily. at will
come out. Of course, you and | mus
support the poor boy through his trou
bles. We must decline all invitation
; for the present"
Mother, are you madp' crie'
Hilda, almost with violence. "Tel
| Lord Lexicon! Refuse invitations
Why, mother, we must do nothing
either of us, to give any one the leas
suspicion of this awful business
] 1t was Mrs. Dulcimers turn to Civ
: way to display of temper now, ant
the poor, meek spirited lady astonishe
her daughter by her resolute bearing
Hilda, she said, could decide for hersel
the propriety of concealing the matte
i from Lord Lexicon, and for her par
she was determined to be loyal to he
: son. Hilda found it necessary to aban
Q don vehemence and insistance, and t
9 adopt plausible arguments to brin
q her mother round to her views. Sh
2 feigned to believed that her brother wa
u innocent, and pointed out that to draV
attention to his unfortunate position
from which he would doubtless be nor
p orally acquitted, would be a mistake
= policy. 1t cost the astute young lad
i an hours serious talk and remor
t STRANGE to overcome her mother
q scruples, but in the end she triumpheC
e Poor old Mrs. Dulcimer was as plasti
as clay in the hands of her beautifl
r daughter, and she ended by reluctant
}. consenting to humor Hilda's wishes.
r 1t would be useless to attempt to d,
n scribe the agony of mind which til
$ poor mother endured during the ne,
few days. In addition to suspense an
o anxiety on her sons behalf she W;
n compelled by Der daughter to go inI
society and wear smiling mask ovt
n her woe. Hilda was relentless in ALLOW
q ing her mother no peace even to broo
u over her sorrow. The beauty W;
q haunted by a morbid fear that al
l. thing in the least degree unusual
the conduct or bearing of her moth'
:, and herself would give rise to susr
cions which might ruin her hopes. 81
e kept very strict watch upon HI
q mother, but in spite of her vigilan'
1t the poor lady contrived to visit h
= son IN his cell and convey to him Il
comfort of her loving sympathy. Thi
L. and the finding of funds, by secret
lie pawning her jewelry, to retain EN-
ID nent counsel for his defense ut q
r trial. were all that the unhappy WON;
pr could do.
Or When the prisoner was commits
e, for trial the sessions were close at han
er and consequently the period of suspen
er was not so long as usual, Ithappen
% that on the day of the opening of t
er sessions there was grand dinner-par
ID in Hilda's honor, given by the old Du
IN of Middlesex, Lord Lexicon's cousi
n In vain poor Mrs. Dulcimer pleaded
of ness and almost went on her knees
Id her daughter to spare her the agony
Mt going into society when her sons tr
IS, was close at hand. The beautii
C. Hilda was memorable; to begin wit
or without her mothers escort she won
n have to absent herself also; but APP;
lis from this it seemed to be of the We
highest importance at such a critic
at time that they should appear amo
of their friends as usual. She so i
en- pressed this upon her unhappy mothe
le- mind that the poor lady suffered h
he self to be over-persuaded, and she
| L 4