St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-04-27

you arc old enough to know you,
own mind. my boy. and rich enough -
make your own choice So will cay
nothing Of possible objections or com.
ments. But think I will telegraph TO
your aunt That poor child will need
a home and . mother for . long time
before you can protect her."
Thank you! When did you over fail
to be my best friend!' was the CRATE.
full reply.
They entered the house then, and
sat by the open window talking OF in
different subjects. almost unconscious
ly straining their ears to catch every
movement in tho next room. from
which the invalid's choking. labored
breath could be distinctly heard.
In the small hours they caught an
indistinct murmur, and then a low,
clear voice answered.:
LET me be sure l understand you.
father. You wish me to send for Mr.
Dunning?"
Again the thick, muttered voice.
and again the clear one answering:
''Poor-leave me poor? Oh. father.
can you think would ever touch that
money? Restore it. for my sake. Us
we'll as your own"
Again the low mur.nur and the an.
swer:
Il will send the message at once.
Mr.. DanfOrth will take it for me-"
Charlie started up at once. but Mr..
Dunning whispered:
If it will not be too late. let them
think l come in answer to the message
And send for your aunt"
A nod was the only answer. and not
five minutes later Charlie was speed
ing to the Easthaven telegraph sta
ton.
The dawn broke soft and clear, and
the invalid. for the last time. looked
out upon the rising sun.
When. ut noon, Mr.. Dunning re-
turned from the station with his wife
leaning upon his arm. neither Mr..
Porter nor Lulu suspected that the
lady alone had arrived by the last train.
With face from which all anger
was gone, and only a grave. tender pity
remained. Mr.. Dunning received the
confession OF his old cashier. and the
restitution OF the bulk OF the stolen
money.
1T leaves Lulu penniless." the sick
man said, In his thick. indistinct tones.
land she has not a relative in the
world"
Il will not let her suffer-" was the
quiet reply.
And then. leaving his wife to comfort
the sobbing daughter-to support her
in the last trying hours-Mr. Dunning
again Joined his nephew.
Don't think mo very rd-hearted
il I send you away" he said. ''You
may trust her to US. and later she will
understand"
1t was not easy for Charlie to leave
Lulu in her first grief for her father.
but he saw the wisdom Of his uncle's
advice. and accepted it.
And when, in the early fall, he came
once more to New York. and met the
gentle girl who had been his aunt's
guest all summer. he saw the dreadful
gloom was gone from her fair. sweet
face. only a softened sorrow remaining.
His love SUIT was not soon granted.
for Lulu felt keenly her fathers crime.
but she loved Charlie, and her love was
deepened by the knowledge Of what his
forbearance had doue for her. and for
her dead. Mr.. Dunning had long BE-
fore told her why Charlie was at East
haven. and why her father had never
been arrested.
And love and gratitude. united with
Charles pleading. proved irresistible.
and Lulu became Charles wife. none
the less faithful and true, for that cloud
that had Swallowed her life after her
fathers crime and illness, while Char
lie Dunning and his uncle and aunt.
who loved Lulu like a daughter, never
regretted that tender pity that led
them to grant mercy when justice
might have been exac;ed i'm full meas.
ure. Anna Shields. in N. Y. Ledger.