Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-09-08
HER BROTHERS. DEBT.

HER BROTHERS. DEBT.
ooh, Charley, Charley, how could you
do such n thing2"
Lilias Wayland's rounl cheek was
blanchcd to an unwonted whiteness as
she stood before her brother in the close,
cramped room which constituted her sole
home.
Charley Wayland, ahandsome dissipa-
tcd.loolling youth of two or three and
twenty, with bold, black eyes and merry
mouth that seemed made only to smile,
sat opposite her, looking half-repentant,
half defiant, as she spoke.
"Lilly, couldn't help it. I tell you
I was hard up. A fellow must have
money; you women don't know anything
about the temptations and necessities of
the worldm
"But, Charley" she faltcred, "do you
know how this same world, as you phrase
it, looks at the deed you have just COM
mittcd? Oh, Charley, and her voice
grew low and trcmuous, "it is a
forgeryw
"Nonscnsc, Lii! It's only borrowing
q part of Old Glcncross' unused millions
to aid my needs. wrote and asked him
for cash, and he, the unmanncrly lout,
refused. Well, what could he expect
after this, but that l should help my
sell2'
Lilias wrung her slender hands.
GLOW dare you, Charley That
Wayland should come to this" she
walled.
"Daredw he echoed, rccklessly; "it
was but the stroke Of pen, after all;
and old Glcncross would be palhicr
miscr than l take him to be if he makes
| fuss about matter of five hundred
dollars"
'Tt is the right and the justice of the
thing" cried Liias, almost franticaly'
"lf VIC could pay him in any way; but l
have sold everything that remains of our
former wealth. see" and she looked
round the miserable apartment. "Se4
how live! Last night l sat up until
midnight sewing to have little money
to pay the rent. have not jewel left,
nor trinket."
ooh, bother, Lii! If old Glencross
cuts up rough, it is only taking a run
across the water. 1 know lots of ship.
captains that would stow me away un-
der their holds, almost any moonlight
uight."
Llias looked despairingly at him.
Was it, then, impossible to make him
comprehend the moral obliquty of the
deed he had just committed4
'But I can't stay foolng here" OBJ
served the young man, with toss of his
black curls. 81 must be off about my
business. Good-by, Lill. Give us
kiss, my girl. Except that you're un-
common fond of lecturing fellow,
you're not bad sister in the main."
After he had gone, Lillias sat down to
try and realize the new situation in
which she and her brother were placed.
All now depended upon the spirit in
which Paulus Glencross should receive
this new encroachment upon his purse
and patience.
Lily had never seen this distant rcla-
tion, yet she had formed an opinion of
him in her inmost mind, as we are all apt
TO do of unseen persons whom we hear
great deal about; and whenever she
thought of Mr.. Glcncross the image of
hook-nosed old man, yelow-sk
and cadavcrous, engaged in sorting
over piles of mortgages or counting bags
Of gold, suggested itself to her mental
eye.
"But he must be human, at least, |
thought Lily, in the agony of her dis i
trcss. ''If go to him myself, and tell
him just what poor Charlcy's necessities
werc and how good hearted he is, in
spite of all his faults and thoughtlessncss
if say frankly to him that have no
money nor jewels to rcimburc him, but
that will stay and work for him, as n
servant girl might work in the kitchen,
until l have discharged the horrible
debt, surely, oh, surely he cannot have
the heart to refuse. can do great |
many things. can sew and cmbroidcr,
and can make good bread and biscuit,
and poor mama always said was good !
housekeepcr, and if Mr.. G!encross is
really so misery as Charley thinks he
would look at the economy of the ,
thing At least, it is worth trying
SO favorably did Lilias Woyland re-
gard this idea, broachcd in her sore cx-
tremity, that in two days from the even
ing in which she had biddcn good.by to
her handsome, reckless brother, she
stepped from the cars ut the New York
depot, dressed in q sober brown suit that
made her look like shrinking little
mouse, with her carpet bag in her hand.
A little inquiry sufficad to bring her
to the street where Mr.. Glcncross re-
sided-a stately avenue, lined on either
side with elegant palaces, the like of
which Lily had never seen in the palmer
city where she had been born and bred. |