The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-04-11
ISABEL,
Or
From Shop to Mansion.
BY MRS. t. NJ. HOWARD.
CHAPTEC VI Continued.

regret taking me to your home. 1t would
break my heart had reason to fear that
you repented our marriage l am so happy
here" and she looked down on the sweet
face of the child, and the bright tears ran
down her cheeks and dropped on the fair,
unconscious head.
"Have no fears, Isabel" he replied,
'your love for the child would alone make
that an impossibility. You brighten and
make my home happy one also; so dry
YOUR tears, dear wife, and all will yet be as
we would have it."
How little one can tell what day may
bring forth; the letter to Lottie was never
written, for just as Isabel had seated her.
self at the desk, Mr.. Falconer came in with
q atelegram from her aunt, announcing the
death of John Harmon, and asking her to
come at once.
''Poor auntie," she said, with a sigh,
though it is really blessing, yet it will be
such shock to her, for she loved him, and
was always hoping against hope that he
would yet reform"
'Do you wish me to go with you, or
would you prefer going alone?" he said, as
he smoothed her hair with sympathetic
hand.
IL think had better go alone" she said,
slowly, after moments thought; sit
might distress auntie to have a stranger
see her in her sorrowful, straitened circum-
stances.n
''True, your intuitions are finer than mine :;
but dread to have you take the journey
alone"
"Do not fear for me-" she replied quietly.
i am accustomed to travelling alone, and
shall do nicely"
'You will stop in New York and bring
Miss Ford home with you9" he said, inter-
negatively.
Yes, think So" she replied, looking up
at him with a pleased smile; show readily
you plan for me.'
''If you find her badly off, had better
meet you in New York, in order to assist
her, he suggested.
''Thank you; will telegraph to you in
time should need your assistance"
There was barely time to pack the trunk
before the carriage would be at the door
to carry her to the station, and she had lit
tie time to think of any thing but the details
of the unexpected journey. Mr.. Falconer
took roll of bills from his bill-b book
Isabel" he said, II wish you to go amply
provided to do whatever is needed for your
aunt, you can help her moW to advantage.
Please feel no restrictions whatever, and if
here is not enough ask for more, and leave
her comfortable.n
"Mr. Faconer" she said, in trembling
voice.
II do not wish any one who has loved and
befriended you to suffern when we have
such abundance. 1 should he ashamed of
myself could allow it." He spoke kindly
and firmly
81 can not tell you how gratifying it will
be TO me to be able to relieve the distress Z
expect to find," she said, as she put the bills
AS the train whlzzed along her mind took
a retrospective turn. Only three short
months ago, and she had passed over this
road a bride, in such maze of strangeness
that she hardly realized that it was herself
Her book of experiences had been unfold
ing ever since, and what delightful one it
was, so widely different from any thing she
had ever dreamed of, and she thought OF
her husband with warm thrill at her
heart. "The kindest and most unseltis h OF
men," she murmured, land Oracle, sweet
darling! could q mother ask for lovelier
chllG?n
She was thoroughly rested now. Mind
and body had been treated to such an en-
tire change that she was once more buoyant
with life and energy, and the peevishness
produced by the long routine of work and
mental aggravation, which had SO worn
upon her nervous system, had passed
away, and she was going to her aunt in her
need with every faculty on the alert, and
with her tenderness aroused toward the
friend who had been all the mother she had
ever known.
A lady sat before her, holding little girl
in her arms; the child was peevish go
to sleep, DEAR" said the lady, kindly. sLay
your head on my shoulder and take nap."
'Oh, auntie, can't!' The child was al
most sobbing with excitement and weari-
ness, for they had come long journey.
"Auntien' The word, so familiar, struck
vibrating chord in Isabel's heart, and re-
minded her of the loving care her aunt had
gwen her in the old days, before poverty
and sorrow had come to wiring her heart and
chill her affections.
One time of sickness she remembered in
particular, when Mrs. Harmon had nursed
ber night and day for weary weeks, and
tears OF joy rose to her eyes as she remem-
bered that she had it in her power to re
pay, in some measure, her debt of graft
tude.
Meanwhile Mrs. Harmon was sitting in
| her poor home in q maze of sorrowful
trouble; John Harmon had been unusually
dissipated for the last six months, and her
| poor heart had sank away down, out OF
sight of hope or courage, and she had
prayed wildly that somethiny might come to
change the miserable routine
Something had come; he was q carpen.
ter, and in ascending ladder in a state OF
intoxlcation his foot slipped, and, falling, his
| neck Was broken. causing instantdeath, and
when no was carried to his miserable home.
WHICH he had left that morning with curses
and threats, the poor wife felt as II In some
way she was responsible for the awful oc-
| currence.
She longed for, yet dreaded, Isabel's ad.
| vent in the shabby little cottage. She had
written so little since her marriage that her
aunt had little idea of what her manner OF
life was now, but she was sure of one thing,
that it aggHla be painful to her to come into
the hame, which had so long sheltered her,
and SEQ the ravages drink had made, for
she had been obliged to part with every
thlng OF value in the house, an old seereta-
ry and shabby old bureau and O battered
sewing-machne the only pieces OF furni-
ture lett which were not actually ipdispen-
| sable.
She remembered only too well the girls
last stay gt home; how her very soul rose
up lR rebellion against John Harmon's
course, and the bitter words and suornful
looks which made 1t relief when she went
! away, for he was not a man to bear inter.
/ ference, and lsabels fierce disapproval only
drove him into more dogged persistence in
wrong doing.
She almost repented sending for her. as
she thought it all over, and then a longing
desire to see her, to lean upon her strong
young arm for support, would possess her
and she could hardly await patiently the