Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-10-11
Barren Honors.

Have YOU ever known povertyP o,
my reader. have. the saddest power
~ of all. which tries to keep up APP
pearances. My mother was left early
widow. with five children. all girls.
We Inherited nothing from our we'll
born ancestors, save well-formed noses,
white hands, and low, cultivated
voices. My mother was proud and
courageous woman. an l il am forced
to impute blame to her. let the reader
never imagine that am ungrateful for
the lovo and care which sho gave TO
my childhood. or unmindful of the ter
rible temptation which assailed her.
So scarce was money with us that we
early learned TO rise from q daintily-
served dinner cruely hungry, and
darn, and re-dan our spotlessly clean,
though simple dress Poor mother,
hers was stern rule, but l think Of
the long hours during which she play
ed the part of house k eeper. COVER
ne rs aud seamstress and marvel at
her streagth of mind and body.
We lived in country village, for
any city residence would have been be-
yond our purse, and Notwithstanding
poverty had the entree of every great
house in the country. If mamma sell
dom availed herself of such privileges
it was that no decent clothes were
forthcoming wherewith she might
clothe herself and us.
When | was II was invited to
spend few months with our father s
cousin. Mrs. Beaumont. who lived in
great style in London. She was that
most selfish of beings, a hypochon-
driac but to drive in Hyde Park. or
even Regent Park. was bliss to me,
and when had settled my face into an
expression meant deeply sympathetic
felt free TO turn but an inattentive
ear 10 my companions long list OF
Sinking sensations" and sudden
spasms. with which according to her
own account, she was constantly and
mysteriously seiZel. That L might do
her some credit, Mrs. Beaumont or
dered suitable outfit for me. and fine
clothes and good food soon transform
cd me frOn pale, STOPPING, dark-eyed
strip of girl. into a tall, upright,
handsome young woman. She was too
hopolessiy sunk in self TO observe the
change, and it was not until her fav-
orite nephew came on his annual visit
that the admiration which his young
face too plainly showed. opened her
eyes to the fact that l was that dan
gerous specimen of humanity-a PEN
niless beauty.
A scene was troublesome, therefore
nay hostess contented herself with de-
clarng herself very much worse, and
ordering her doctor to prescribe sea-
air. Jack Beaumont was requested TO
accompany her to the Isle of Wight.
and L was packed of home. / shall
never forget my mothers start OF sur
prise when she saw the change in nv
appearance. All that evening she re-
NAMED very thoughtful. and l began
to fear that my unexpected return was
hardly welcome, until two days later.
when. with her sweetest smile she in
formed rue that was to put on one of
my most becoming dresses, and be-
have my prettiest as she expected an
old friend TO luncheon. NV Younger
sisters were ordered off to partake of IA
cold dinner in the school-room while
all things completed. with a view to
we Jared sumptuously every day,
my mother and awaited Lord Silu-
rian in the drawing room. knew him
to be one of the oldest, as to title, of
highlands peers. and had heard
whisper that mamma might have bee n
his countess had her youthful beauty
been made more attractive by the hun
dred thousands of pounds sterling
tt. fa1. l. l.
married had brought him.
He came, a grim-faced, stiff old gen.
tleman, who put up double eye glass
and scanned me closely. A glance of
mutual intelligence passed between
mamma and his lordship, which did
not tend TO put me at NV ease How
ever, smiled and talked as we'll as 1
could, with q beating heart After
luncheon l was ordered off for a walk
with the others. and that evening my
mother kissed me. saying: Lord ST.
urian will bring his son. Lord Trenton.
to call on Wednesday," There was
something in her look aud tone that
sent me TO my bed with sudden
sinking" of heart, much more real
than any of poor Cousin Beaumonts.
What need 10 dwell on the wretche d
details of the next few weeks. Lord
Trenton came. saw, and. as 1t eventu-
ally proved, conquered. thought him
a most vacant youth. but my mother
explained that he was much struck
with ME. and ''such dear, simple shy
boy. Notwithstanding his great wealt h
and high position"
made brave fight, for was no
Iph genia, but mothers stern reminder
OF oil owed her, of the wretched flu
ture which opened before my four
Young sisters. Of the long struggle
with sickening poverty which had
made up the sum total of her life.
finally wore out my desperate opposi-
ton. and / burned the half dozen dried
aowers Jack Beaumont had given me.