The Penn's Grove record., 1888-10-06
ASLIGHT MISUNDERSTANDING


Three years ago I was never con.
tented unless in the presence of a young
lady near whose home were my bache-
lor lodgings. We lived III the southern
suburbs of London. My name is Free
Latimer. Hers is Edith. How I dotted
on that namel 1t used to be Edith
Mannering, but her surname has been
changed for a long time. 1 cannot
remember what it now is. 1.-THE in.
telligent reader'' will at once infer that
she did not become Mrs. Latimer.
Before the time of which l am about
to write, 1 used to spend a part of
every day at Hill Villa, where she
lived with her rich widowed mother
and little brothers. Those boys con-
stituted a multitude that l could never
number or remember, in spite of
Edith's pride In them all.
Often after spending hours (not to
mention what was more precious to
mel In endeavorlng to win their favors,
l have failed to recognize in the street,
many Of them, and SO have gained,
after all my precious perseverance,
nothing but their scorn.
1 began to be careful to call only
during school hours, when they were
off the premises. 1 am afraid Mrs.
Mannering discovered that l Stunned
her darlIngs; she tried to make her
daughter believe it too. and so brought
about a GOODNESS, on Edith's part,
between us.
How my heart sickened at the
thought that She was becoming careless
Of my d%evotionp What prayers and
expostulations Ipoured out, and, in.
f1uenced by her proud mother, how
coldly she disregarded theml l saw
my visits become less and less welcome,
was forced to suffer longer and longer
terms of Punishment.
l returned from town to my lodgings
very late one night flor despair was
beginning to drive me into bad habits
and struck a light In my sitting-room.
There was a letter for me on the table.
Try to imagine the restorative effect it
had upon me when / assured myself
that it was in Edith's handwriting:
"MY DEAR MIR. LATIMER:-Charley
Is lost. l am in such agony 1 hardly
know what l write. If you find him
for us, l a never sufficiently thank
and bless you. He has been lost since
two o'clock. He started to school then
with Tommy and Bobby and the others.
but they didn't keep together, and
Charley never reached the school, and
he did not come home. We are help
less women, aud whom a l ask but
you to help usp He always hates to be
absent, and would never stay away if
he were free and alive. win you not
find him for us at oncep
"You know what you say about
proving your devotion. SC. Do it
now, II you really want to visit us
here as you used to do. We can hear
ne tidings yet. Come early in the
morning, If you have any love for
EDITH MANNERNG."
Here was a blessed opportunity 1
could not doubt my ability to find the
lost boy. What an easy way to gain
what Edith Offered-her ''thanks and
blessing" by ''proving my devotion"
and l could "visit her as l used to do"
1 actually danced with Joy as 1 read
again the sweet words b had written
Which OF that tribe of little brothers
rejoiced in the name Of CharleyP l
could not recollect. However, what
did 1t matterp They were much alike.
I reflected, not much to choose between
them. ! was to call at Hill Villa in
the morning. and could be with Edith.
She would give me a description of the
lost boy to help me in my search.
The only fear l felt was that Char
ley, or news of Charley, must reach
Hill Villa before l could 60 there,
Edith and Mrs. Mannering we're SO
wrapped up In the child, that they
failed to see how easy a matter it was
to ascertain what had happened to him
On his way to school.
l was very uneasy as / thought of
the probability that already he had
been strained to the bosom of his re-
ioieing family. perhaps hours ago. l
must certainly call as early as possible.
1t would not be very long till dawn, so
I would not 60 to bed that night; /
waited impatiently for eight O'Clock to
come.
at last l started; l had decided that
seven WOulu uOt Do D early. EllCn
should not fail to find me obedient to
her summons, and awaiting her when
she came down in the morning. AS |
walked to her home how ardently l
prayed that / had not been forestalled
In my task of restoring the boy to his
sister. The house looked deserted and
uninvitIng at that early hour, and it
was some time before q servant an-
swered my ring.
ais Charley found?" l inquired as l
entered the hall, eager To end my
suspense.
s'No, sir"
"No news of him YETI"
"No, sir" the servant replied again.
I was shown into q cold room, where
I paced up and down; stopping every
now and then to listen for Eiith's
coming. at last the door opened and
she came in, looking SO pale and grief
worn.
You have not delayed" she said,
smiling very sweetly.
ibid you think l could9 l have not
been to bed since l had your letter."
] aid reproachfully.