The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-12-21

| "Go0d-by, Hubert my own dear boy !!
Write often, and tell me everything.
''Good-by, little mother If they don't
make you happy, I'll settle them p
\ parting hug and Hubert sprang down,
but still fingered near the carriage. \
tall, stout gentleman passing along the
platform looked scrutinizingly at him,
passed on, paused, returned, and peered
into the compartment.
"Oh there you are; | was looking for
YOU among the second-class passengers. .
The Colonel, who was preparing to get
out and stretch his legs, heard the remark
and its answer.
And there YOU would have found us
but for my cousins kindness in franking
us. Hubert come here and make your
ancles acquaintance.
m. So this is Hubert Nothing
of the Lloyds about him. Favors you in
appearance SEE"
Thank you, sir, smiled Hubert, hold
ing out his hand. though Mr.. Lloyd per
haps had not intended the remark for a
compliment
well, boy al any rate l hope you II
be credit to our kindness. If you have
any baggage look it up and make the porter
take it out TO my trap. I'm well known
here.
He drew himself up with much self
importance, bestowing condescending
look on the Colonel as he aHghted, lit 4
cigar, aud strelled away. But wien the
ecclesiastie appeared his manner changed,
"Ah Mr. Archdoacon, let me help you
Are these your rugs? Cold day for
journey
With parting nod to his sister.in-law,
he walked away to see the dignitary TO his
carriage; aud Huberts mother blessed the
Archdeacon in her heart, as presently her
boy came flying back for last word. The
Colonel, who had driven it rather close,
returned just in time to witness this second
leaye.takiug between mother and son. Per-
haps something sympathetic in the soldiers
eye embroidered the boy, for as I'll" guard
came up with his key Hubert bent for
ward ard touched the COlonels arm, say
ing eagerly, "Oh, SIR take care of my
mother p
She glanced up at Pomeroy with a
tremulous smile almost Of apology Poor
boy We have never been separated be
fore
He Is going To school p
Ne. 10 an unite who Is good enough to
offer him a home
The gentleman who spoke to you just
now p
Yes, and she sighed. Evidently the
offer was not unmiiigated good fortune.
4 shrill shrek from the engine, the
guard gives the signal, aud as the train
moves on its way there comes call at the
window again. and something falls into the
lap Of Colonel Pomeroy's fellow traveller
just 10 cheer you up, iit,le mother, cries
Hubert boyish voice
The something being unpacked turned
out 10 be Fun, Tit Bits. The Field,
aud a packe, Of butier-scoseh Bat the
twinkle in the Colonel's eye vas quickly
suppressed The sublime and the ridieu-
. loas are near akin, and instead Of cheering
his mother as Hubert intended, her boy
curiously chosen consolation had the efees
Of breaking down the last remnants Of her
composure. She had lowered her veil
again. yet the Colonel opposite could but
be aware Of the tears stealing down on The
F Field, which she held upside down. The
toagh soldier-ferce as lion in fight, and
i stern diss.iplinarian in eamp-had one
{ peculiArity-h hated to see a woman cry
Tie 6dgeicd aud famed, aud tuggsd at the
ends 81 his musiache,
Have you no other children he asked
AZ iasg. STOPPING TO move his travelling bag
out Of her way, and hoping to distract her
attention
Ne. he Is my only one. But after all
( a mother cant expect to keep her boy al
ways tied to her apron-strings, can she
And h.s uncle viii be kind TO him; it IS
very uugrateful Of me to mind 50 much.
And she smiled a sweet, patient smile,
which seemed To tear the stern soldiers
hcart-strings.
And what becomes Of You now you are
alone 2? he asked abruptly.
After Christmas | am going to take an
engagement As companion which 4 kind
cousin has secured for me. A bank broke;
T We are poor-almost penniless now 4
I faint aash rose to her cheek, for the ex-
( pcrience was new one. II must work for
nv daily bread, but | could bear that il
. only We could have been together still =
. Her voice broke and the gentle tears tell
afresh.
+ Il seemed kinder to let them have their
way So she cried silently behind The
/ Field, while Colonel Pomeroy looked out
I Of the window at the winter landscape aud
the elounds big with threateniups of snow,
/ aud turned over in his mind all sorts of
I impraeticable plans for helping her, He
would find out her name aud address and
/ lodge a SUN of money to her credit III the
T local bank He would smusgle few bank
notes into her little travelling bag, He
would get jack Drummond-0rr to appoint
her guverness to his children at a salary of
G2OO year, paid by himself. He would
hung it What was the use of a man
. coming into fortune if he couldn't do
some good with itG For wealth was as
Trcr IN czPrrsrroe I'50T z'ssriios, HUI
bert Pomeroy, as abject poverty to his
unhappy fellow-traveller
While with his usual impulsive, blum
dering generosity he hit upon and rejected
a dozen different plans, the threatened snow
began to fall, faster aud ever faster. The
prospect without did not tend to raise the
spirits, and Colonel Pomeroy was relieved
To find that his detected companion had for
the moment forgotten her troubles in sleep
SO much he could see in the evening dusk,
made darker by the heavy snow-elouds.
They we're crossing the Border now, hard
by the inbound shores of the grim North
Sea. The last glimmer of daylight had
disappeared. 1t was intensely cold.
By the time Edinburgh was reached
Pomeroy was glad to warm the inner man
with good, square meal, for he was not
due at his friends, the Drummond- Orrs,
until ii p. NJ His fellow traveller, too,
enioyed her coffee and sandwiches amid the
cheerful lights of the refreshment-room,
and came back with trifie more color in
her wan cheeks When Colonel Pomeroy
reioined her he found, rather to his annoy
ance. that there were to be no longer tete-
a-fete. A worthy north-eountry couple OF
commonplace aspect had secured the two
remaining corners, aud were in the act of
making themselves comfortable for the
night journey, Both had discarded boots
for easy slippers; ginger-colored travel
I;n,,-can protected the GOOD mans head aud