Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-04-16

] HCCho dso, iiaiAA INV bCCll dSSOulNCI lOl
and-there were errors, too. in his ac-
| counts
L heard TO more. Insensibility
snatched me for while from The agony
of Toms ruin and my own disgrace.
For must not his sister share his dis
honor? L felt that bitterly at first i
| who had been so proud of HIM. Blu;
y-and-by, Indignation, shame, anger,
all gave place to love and loves anx-
| iety. Tom was missing.
What mattered it 10 me that he la
| Sinned? He was still my brother, and
I loved him.
My thoughts flew back TO his despair
| that night his tears, his self-reproaCh,
| his pray er for my forgiveness l remem-
berei how weak he WAS, how easily led,
and who could tell how greatly tempt
ed; and from my soul l forgave him.
had not waited for that, however.
before taking steps to shield him from
the consequences of his crime.
Mr.. Hatton was merci ul. He had
no wish to bring public disgrace upon
the family of his old frien.ls-upon the
| girl whom his own son was engaged to
marry.
| was permitted to make up the de-
| hclt IN the bank s accounts. In order
to do so, and for another reason, L in
| structed my lawyer to dispose of my
property. And that other reason was
a letter from Tom, received just e
week from his departure.
y pitiful letter-the outcry OF a
| penitent and almost broken heart. lie
had not appropriated the six humid ed
! pounds. thank God! but he had been
out and drinking, with the money in
| his possession, and had been robbed of
| il.
Oh, how grateful / was! Every
| other misfortune i'll the world might be
borne with patience now, since Tom
was not dishonest.
| He confessed to me thousand in
discretious, follies, sins; told Inc of
many and serious debts that he had left
behind him. Most startling CT !, lie
told Inc he was married, and implored
me to seek out and protect his wife an
child.
Toms wife and childl Who was
she? After the first surprise was over,
| found myself longing to see my Lew
sister and the little one.
L went TO The address Ten had S mt
me went with a carriage, prepared
to bring my new relations home. Dis
appointment met me. Mrs. Sedrle and
| her child had gone.
They were behind with their rent, ,
said the laudlady, 'and the husband
went away, so l couldn't help her. She
| left to-day
| returned home discouraged |
! didn't want to see OF speak 10 any one
! just then, so 1t was peculiarly annoying
| to find that young wOman. whom |
had employed 10 do sewing more than a
| year ago, had called and was waiting TO
SEE me.
| went down to her. She arose to
meet me as l entered the parlor. Little
| Eva RobInsonI / Temrm cred the girl
well-a pretty, genteel, timid creature.
| started when l saw that she had an
/ infant IN her arms.
| Why, what's thiS!' | cried.
My baby she said timidy. I'm
married since | saw you last, miss
l sat down. and bade her do the
saIGe, and then asked her what | could
! 90 10 serve her.
For an answer she burst into pas
sion of tears, and, rising suddenly, came
and laid the infant in my lap.
Have mercy on met she cried, fall
| ing on her knees. This is your broth
| er's child and mine, and IL am his
wifel'
l was proud girl, and this blow was
heavy one. My brother, so handsome,
such a favOrite, so unfit for wife and
| cIiid-he might have married so ad-
vantage usly, L thought, and here
WIS called upon to welcome as a sister
! my own sewiug-glrl.
But | did. | may have shrunk from
! her for an instant, perhaps, in the tirst
! surprise; but next minute the thought
/ Of that other disgrace, which Tom had
not brought on himself aid me, re-
/ turned to me, and in my gratitude at
escaping that 1 could not murmur.
She was Gear little thing, too, after
ali; and the baby charming. All,
| had reason 10 be thankful for the cOEI-
| fort of their presence soon. For the
/ Very next day, meeting an acquaintance
III The street, said she:
And so bear that your marriage is
| postponed, my dear
My heart sank down like lead.
Who Informed you?' asked quietly.
Your intended bridegroom, Mr.
| Harry Hatton, himself. Is 1t not true?
Perfectly true l answered.
And postponed until whenI'
'Indefnitely.'
l wrote the same day to Harry:
You desire your freedom; take it.
Iou will never be called upon to fulfil
| your engagement Win me.
And he took me at my word.
He called, Certainly, aud made a
pretence of explanation and regret.
The almost entire loss of my foItune
had influenced his father, not himself;
but my brother's conduct
l stopped him there.
Tom was innocent l said; 't1d
what he lost l have restored. You
have acknowledged that there WAS
nothing wrong IN his accounts. You
need seek no excuse IN his conduct, slT.
lie lost his temper.
do you excuse his destruction OF an
innocent girl, and abandonment of her
aud her child?' he said.
With one quick movement l threw
open the folding-doors, and showed him
Eva and her son.
ALLOW me to introduce you to my
brothers W fe and child, whom he left
IN my protection
But his words had made me uneasy.
That evening, seated with the baby Oh
my lar, / asked Eva where she had
been married.
.Alasl' she cried, If 1 only knew.
Tom took me to church in a carriage.
1t was in this very city, but don't
know where. 1t was because l had nc
certificate of my marriage that | dared
not go to my brother-my dear noble
brother who has struggled so hard
and made himself, unaided, an honor.
able position and name l know thai
a cruel SANDER concerning me has beeI
carried to him that must almost have
broken his heart.
1 took her hands away from her face
and kissed her.
Wen find the church, l sail
There must be no SANDER about my
dear brothers wife,