Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1889-06-13

A1c eAplalueu very CouI uIIeously CuaV
Mr.. Meredith had requested him to see
if his professional services would not
help her, and examined the arm. His
directions were brief, and he left her
wonder ii indeed her old friend was the
gentleman who was helping her boy,
and whose card lay beneath the leaves
of the Bible.
DR.. Turner's report to Mr.. Meredith
was:
Delicate woman, evidently lady.
Arm doing very we'll, but general health
at the lowest ebb. Wants good food,
better air, and above all, mental quiet.
Fretting herself to death.
George Meredith being one of those
rare philanthropists whose left hand
knew not the good deeds of his right
hand, made no parade of his generosity.
If Mrs. Scott guessed, she never knew
whence came an envelope with a gen.
erous gift Of bank notes. 1t enable her
make George neat, to add to her own
scanty attire, and to provide the med.
icines and food DR.. Turner no longer
hesitated to order.
In the weeks that followed Georges
engagement as errand boy to Mr.. Mer-
edith, the boy won his way far into the
heart of the bachelor lawyer.
For years, after his rejection by Ag-
nes Wellden, he had lived busy life,
trying to forget the pain Of his broken
love dream. A man already reserved,
caring nothing tor society, be had given
to his old friend child the one love of
his life, never striving to replace her
image in her heart. never seeking to
add family joy to his scheme Of ]ife.-
1t would be too much to say that he
had not recovered, in the years that fol.
lowed his disappointment, from its
sting.
AS time rolled on there were often
months when he never thought of his
old love; and when he took George
Scott into his employ, her image was
entirely buried under the varied inter.
ests of his career of professional useful.
ness and political interest
But the boy stirred new we'll springs
in his heart, of love and gen:leness.-
He was quiet, gentle child, with an
active brain, but delicate constitution,
one of the frail little ones who seemed
utterly unfit to cope with the trials and
sorrows of this hard world. Willing,
respected and gentlemanly. he was
trusted with many errands that Mr..
Meredith would have hesitated to give
to boy of less refinement and intelli-
gence, and his gratitude made him ca
ger to do his best to please his kind
friend.
Winter was over, and April winds
sweeping over the city, when one day
Mr.. Meredith sat waiting an answer to
a note, in a state of wondering impa.
tience. 1t was something altogether
new for George to loiter on the way. Or
to neglect any detail of an errand. Yet
he had been sent on mission that need
not occupy twenty minutes, and three
hours had elapsed without his return.
Impatience was giving way to unea-
siness, when policeman presented
himself.
Lad employed here name of Scott? 2
he asked.
Yes. What happened%
Knocked down by runaway team,
and badly hurt. We took him home,
and be wanted me to let you know why
he was away.
Thanks. l will 60 to him.
He took up his hat as he spoke, Won
dering himself at the thrill Of pain at
his heart. He knew then that he low.
ed the boy as he had not loved any one
Tor many long years. The lads own
sweetness, with the eyes that were a
memory of his mother, had endeared
him to the world-worn lawyer, till it
was with positive pain he bent over the
bed and saw the little face white and
drawn with agony.
MY poor boy! he SAID tenderly.-
What can l do for you?'
Did mother go away?' the child
whispered. She SAID might see you
alone
There is no one here but ourselves.
Maybe I'm wicked,' the child said,
because mother told me not to tell you
what l am going to tell you now. No,
please don't stop me. I'm badly hurt
sir, and may die, and mother will be
all alone aud so want to tell you that
she knew you once, many years ago, and