The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-04-14
That was long, lonely winter for Mrs
Mildmay. senior. at The HemlOcks.

boiled and bubbled, at the foot of per-
pendicular mass of gray rock, under the
shadow of gloomy evergreens; the sunshine
glittered with frozen brightness over the
hills, aud the old lady was often secretly
sad at heart as she sat all alone in the
crimson parlor, by the big fireplace, when
the logs blazed in the twilight.
And as the New Year passed, and the
bitter cold of January took possession of
the frozen world, vague apprehension
crept into her heart.
Something is going to happen she
said. IL am not superstitious, but there
are times when the shadow of coming
events stretches darkly across the heart.
Something is going to happenr'
And one afternoon, as the amber sunset
biazed behind the leafless trees, turning the
snowy fields to masses of molten pearl, she
put on her fur lined hood and cloak
Il will go and take walk" said she.
81 shall certainly become hypochon-
driac if sit all the time by the FIRE and
nurse my morbid fancies like this"
She took long brisk walk, down by
the ruins of the old mill, through the ce-
dar woods, across the frozen swamp, and
then she paused.
Il will come back by the Black Pool, ~
she thought. at is wild and picturesque
spot in winter, with icicles hanging to the
tree-boughs, and weird ice-effects over the
face of the old gray rock
1t was dark and gloomy place, funere-
ally shadowed by the hemlocks, which grew
there to a giant size; and when Mrs. Mild
may got beneath their boughs, she started
back.
Was it the iilusive glimmer of the dark
ening twilight ?-or was it really man
who stood close to the edge of the Black
Pool?
"Rufus Oh, Rufus, my son r
She was barely in time to catch him in
her arms and drag him back from the
awful death to which he was hurliug him
SELF
When they reached the cedar wain-scot-
ed parlor, where the blazing logs cast II
ruddy reflection on the red moreen curtains,
Mrs. Nildmay looked into her stepson's
face with loving eyes.
"And now, Rufus, said she, "tell me all
about it. The Lord has been very good
to you for saving you from a terrible
crime"
"Mother, why did you stop me?" he
said, recklessly. II am ruined man 1
shall be dishonored in the sight of the
world Death would be preferable, a
thousand times, to disgrace.
"Rufus, said the old lady, tenderly,
"do you remember when you used to get
into boyish scrapes at school? Do you
remember how you used to confide your
troubles to me? Let us forget all the
years that have passed. Let us be child
and mother once again"
So he told her all-of the reckless ex-
penditure on Rosamond's part-his own,
also, he confessed-which had woven itself
like a fatal web about his feet-of the un-
paid bills, the clamoring tradesfolk, the
threats of public exposure, which had
driven him at last to the forgery of his en-
ployer's signature, in order to free himself
from one or two of the most pressing of
these demands,
"And if my investment in Erie bonds
had proved success" he said, eagerly,
81 could have taken up every one of the
notes before they came due, But there
was change in the market, and now
now the bills will be presented next week,
and my villainy will be patent to all the
world Oh, mother, mother why did
you not let ME fling myself into the Black
Pool ?' :.
"Rufus, said his stepmother, "what is
the amount of these-these forged bills 2"
"Ten thousand dollars" he answered,
staring gloomily into the fire,
Exactly the amount of the Govern
ment bonds which your father left me"
said Mrs, Mildmay. "They would have
been yours at my death. They are yours
now, Rufus.
"Mother, you don't mean"
''Take them" said Mrs Mildmay, ten
derby pressing her lips to his forehead.
''Go to New York the first thing tomorrow
and wipe this stain from your
life as you would wipe few blurred fig
ures from a slate. And then begin the
record of existence anew"
And up in the little room which he oc-
cupied as a child, Rufus Mildmay slept
the first peaceful slumbers which had de-
scended upon his weary eyelids for many
and many night.
In the midnight train from New York
came Rosamond Mildmay to The Hemlocks,
with pale, terrified face and haggard |
eyes.
'Oh, mother, mother y she sahhed;
''where is he-my husband He has
left me, and the letter on the dressing table |
declared that he would never return alive
Oh, mother, it is my fault have ruined
him! Help me, comfort me, tell me what
l shall do"
Mrs. Mildmay took her daugAter-in-law's
hand, and led her softly to the little room
where her husband lay sweetly sleeping,
"Hush p said the old lady; edo not
wake him. He is worn out, both in mind
and body. Only be thankful that God
has given him hack to you, almost from
the grave, -
And as the two women sat together by |
the blazing logs in the crimson parlor, Mrs.
told Rosamond the whole story
of the meeting at the Black Pool.
"Mother," said Rosamond, with quiv-
ering lip, ''it is my doing. You warned
ME of this long ago. Oh, why did 1 give
no heed to your words ? deserve it all p
sYou would do better for the future,
my dear, said the old lady, kindly "0nly |
be brave and steadfast,
So tie young people went back to New
York and commenced tie world anew with
drawing from the maelstrom of Society"
and living within themselves. Mrs. Mild
may, senior, came with them, and Rosa
mond is learning the art of housekeeping |
under her direction.
"Mamma is an angelf says the young
wife, enthusiastically. "And if 1 could |
only be just like her, I should have no
higher ambition.
Give American Boys Chance.
From Philadelphia Press.