The Washington critic., 1886-02-12
TOMS RETURN.


her own living than babyv'
AS Mrs. Bennor uttered these dis
agreeable truths she looked at Hor-
tense with cold, unsympathetic eyes
Hortense, covering in the deep, old
fashioned window.scat, only answered
with tears.
Poor Hortenscl She was only seven
teen, and this great, great calamity had
overtaken her. Her father had fallen
in fit, standing in his own counting
house, and she was left alone and un-
provided for. There was her step
mother, to be sure, but Hortense had
never liked her.
II never did get along with Hor-
tense," said Mrs. Benner. "She was
always defying me; she even told her
father about poor, dear Toms scrapes,
and got him sent off to the Bahama
Islands. Poor, dear Tom might have
been a 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 shall always feel as IL
II was Hortense that murdered him."
AT these sad retrospects she burst out
crying. Hortense crept up close to her
and tried to take her hand.
Mother, DON'T" she whispered.
"Please DON'T / was only cross,
pettish child in those days, and Tom
leased me. / could not imagine 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,
motherl mother! don't lay 1t up against
mel"
"There, child, there! Goodness
only knows what is to become of
us.
Couldn't we keep boardcrs,
mother?" hazarded Hortense.
Mrs. Benner shifted disdainfully.
"Who would board with us?" said
she. "Where would the capital come
from?'
81 could go into store"
"You look like it," said Mrs. Ben
ner. "Into store, indeed! Why
you couldn't hold out for week-you
who have never known what hardship
is"
Hortense wept afresh.
ooh, If had only taken your ad-
vice and learned to sewI' walled she.
Then, perhaps, / could have been as.
sistant TO a dressmaker; or IL had
paid more attention to my French and
mathematics, But Nine. Grighi said
there was no necessity for girl who
did not intend to become teacher to
work so hard at her studies. Oh
dear! oh, dear! what mistake have
made of my lifev'
II should think so," said Mrs. Ben
ncr, severely.
And she went away to interview the
auctionecr, who had arrived to cata
logue the furniture for the approach
ing sale, while Hortense dissolved into
new tears,
II seemed to her as IL she could hav'
borne anything but the reproachfu
memories of Tom at this row-bur
dened moment. Why, why had sh
taken such a ridiculous and unreason
able dislike to Tom Byington, her step
mothers son. If only Tom Byingtoi
were here now how good she would b
to him! What help and comfort h
would be! AS she sat there, thinkin
and crying by turns, step fell on tn
threshold. She looked quickly up. !
gentleman stood there-tall, statel
and handsome--in ur-trimmcd over
coat and with long, silky beard
; Hortensc thought of the sign: "T
Let on the front door and jumpe
up.
, "Oh, I beg your pardon ~ said she
"but did you wish to look at th
house?"
"The house No I" said the strange,
with rather a puzzled look. '1t WI
Mrs. Benncr that wanted to sec.
: can't be possible that you are-Ho
tense p
TON !" she cried out, with shriel
"But no. it can't be. Tom died out
the Bahama Islands.
Not exactly" said the distinguished
' looking stranger, with a smile. "E
: came very near it in the yellowfev'
epidemic-so near it, in fact, that h
name was published in the death lis
: but there's nameless individual wi
i always takes care of his own. And
, made up my mind that ! would nj
come back until succeeded in conque
ing my ill.luck. Well, | have su
= ceeded. And II seems" with CLAM
{ around the room, "as II | were just
time. Where Is my mother p
!, Without word Hortensc pointed
the morning. room, where Mrs. Benn
"a and the auctioneer were in full co
Or clave.
Z But when Tom was gone she bur
2, into q flood of passionate tears.
TX 'IIe never shook hands with me
sbn snhhed "He never told me
- was glad to see me And he II
Iy grown so handsome He is like
Il prince Oh me-oh me l wish
- was dead p
= Mrs. Benncr was eXultant now. To
\ Byington had come back to her, rs
/ were, from the dead. Tom Byingt
= was rich and successful. There W
s. no more poverty, no more trial for h
n now Tom had turned ont all that S
: could possibly desire, and had broue
T. all his wealth to shower at her feet.
:. Poor, dear Tom '' said she. "E
~ IL doesn't seem possible that this is
does it, Hortcnsel He was such wi
reckless fellow; and now he is sta
!, and quiet, and grave. j used to
scolding him every minute, and now
You'll believe me, I'm bit afraid
him at times. What are you doiI
ID Hortense? Why don't you listen
70 what am saying u
bc II am writing an advertisement
th the paper" said llortense, family.
*, Good gracious me what forT'
al "To try and ob,ain some sort o
% position" .,..
"But, Hortense, that isn't necessi
| nax, - srruAd kAr slehl mother CT