Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-02-18
LoTTlE.

choice between steady, sensible Charles
Handel and his cratic brother Jim,
chose the latter, many people thought
she must have taken leave Of her
senses. Some girls. it is true, saw
we'll enough that Jim's eyes were
hlacker and brighter; bis sway" the
ways that charms young heart most.
But no one expected any domestic
bliss for her, and when, contrary to
all prophecies, he settled down to the
farm and quite forsook the tavern,
the general remark was that ofcourse
It couldn't last long.
Again, however, the prophets failed
TO prove themselves true ones, for
there seemed to be no. change. The
farm pfospered. Lottie seemed hap
py; children came and throve; and
after awhile the GOODNESS that had OK.
isted between the two brothers passed
away and the bachelor doctor took
the uncle's part in the little house
hold. Now and then, it is true, some
woman who prided herself on her ga.
gacity In affairs Of the heart declared
that Charles was as much in love
with Lottie as ever, but no man ever
agreed with her.
Indeed, bis profession seemed to
absorb the young doctor altogether,
in their eyes, and anything like love
seemed to be entirely out Of his way.
wee wheA Me- -eleless boy was
nearly ten years old, and there were
two little girls besides of seven and
three, as well as a baby, that James
Handel one morning declared his in
tention Of buying q certain piece Of
land that adjoined bis farm. Hehad
talked the matter over with the owner,
and settled upon the price, which was
two thousand dollars. He had the
money 10 the bank in town, and that
day be declared he would draw II and
settle the affair. With this intention
he dresaed himself Ia better garmenta
than those he usually wore At work,
and set out on horseback soon after
breakfast.
Before be went he kissed bic wife
and the children all around, and prom
iaed bring the latter something from
the Asors.
II was only natural that be should
make days holiday Of bis journey,
and though he promised to return to
dinner Lottie did not actually expect
him; but when evening came, and the
tea, which had waited for him an
hour. was over, and the sun was set
ting. and the children stood peeping
through the garden pailings, Watching
the road, and a. casting her eye along
u. Mrs. Handel saw nothing Of the
brown hofae and its rider, she grew
suddenly very serious and was Erou.
hlsd By fancy that che should have
bean more anxious about her husband /,
that Il wss not syen quite loving and
wlfslY not 10 have wondered Al his
absence.
Az The same sine she knew that abe
was not anxseua, but that sadness
bed settled upon her lie that which
tails gnen people 10 The heuas Of death,
when 81 a over, and thert d nothing
10 b feared, or hoped, Of aons.
&he tried 10 shaka tho feeling Oh.
but II would not leave her. She
found herself going about her work
eoftly, and speaking 10 hushed man.
nel. When IA litsla while she
called her children into the house and
put tken 10 bed. abe could moi smlls
d thar pranks "a uanAl. and had 10
promises Of thsir fathers speedy re-
turn to give them, and WHEN hopes eli
aolls and marbles and wagons had
quite deserted them, aud they were ell
asleep, abe went down into her kitch.
On, and aittlng on the doorsill hid
her face Ia her hands, without the
sliehtaas hope Of her husband's return
In her heart.
She sat for long time quite alone.
The faint rays ofsunsst faded, twilight
died eut and the moon arose. The
light fell over her, and made her. with
her fAir hair and akin, II her light
dress, look more Ike . statue than .
living woman.
Suddenly . voice Dried In her ear
WAY Lotkie. 10 anything the matteren
And looking up, she saw her brother.
in.law, Charles Handel, leaning over
the gate. "Is II the moonlight o. are
you really 30 palse" he added. And
e her syss BE- looked very pale him.
NhiE
She asoss than and stood with her
hands folded loosely and hslplessly
togsthsr 10 way quits unusual to
her.
"Jim i not home pet" she said.
nkt IL . thought--a abe began, and
dWslls" said As.