Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-08-06

mel' cried the widow. Il have no
friends TO press my claim, ana l have
applied every where in vain. II the
Senator will not help me, | must see
my clll,lren starve. 1 hear everywhere
how kind YOU are; do speak to him for
me. l entreat you, for the love OF GOdl'
Size lifted her eyes, full of beseech-
ing anguish, to the lady's face. But
there was no relenting on that brow, no
compassion in the cold glance, at once
averted from her, and lifted elsewhere,
as il the sight of any other object were
preferable. Well for the widow that
1t was sol For at that moment of tie
when her future lay in the balance, and
the lips of Its arbItress trembled with
Scathing word from the past, which
would have sounded in her ears like a
death knell, the lady's upturned eyes
fell upon an old painting, that adorned
the opposite wall. a stray sunbeam,
glancing out OF the steely gloom of the
January heavens, touched il. as she
looked, and brought forth from the
dark canvas, in vivid momentary clear
ness, the face of our divine Lord, bent
under the cruel crown OF thorns, and
convulsed with the agony OF more than
mortal sorrow.
plant saw, without comprehending, a
great wave of emotion sweep across the
face of the Senator's wife. With
tremulous hand, she signalled TO the
widow to rise.
You may leave your papers, she
said, In lone of one struggling with
herself for mastery. Il Will speak to
my husband about your case. That is
all l can promise, at present. Good
morning.
Hardly knowing, between this glimpse
of encouragement. and the strange,
abrupt dismissal that accompanied 1t,
whether to yield her heart TO hope or
despair, the widow, In a whirl OF emo
ton, went out of the warm mansion
into the bitter street, and hurried home
ward to the melancholy room, where
her two pale, young daughters sat
trying to sew, in the midst of the
shabby furniture that had once been
fine. There was wonder and specula-
ton over her report of the interview;
the two girls refused TO see any .sst
hopeful auguries in the words OF the
great lady.
People say she is so good said the
eldest. The other day, when / went
TO get this bundle of work, Mrs. Wells
pointed her out to me, sitting in her
carriage; and l know, just from her
face, that she is ready TO help anybody
Il cannot tell, said the mother drsar-
lily.
And she would, of course, see that
you were lady, mother she went Oh
confidently. 4 know she will feel for
u.s.
They say she was once a poor gir,
herself said the younger daughter.
'Yes-she has quite a romantic
story said the other. Most people
think she is a foreigner, because Sena-
tor R married her abroad, but Mrs.
Wells told me she knew her, years ago,
in New York, and that she taught elo-
cutlon in a school. Her name was
Helen Westleigh--'
'Motherl' 5hrieked the younger
daughter, springIng to a chair into
which the widow had fallen, pale as
death; for the nams had made clear to
her all that had seemed inexplicable In
the conduct of the Senator's wife, and
she had tainted.
Yes, Mrs. LennoX-fOr the widow
was Mrs. Lennox-had again come face
to face with Celia'5 sister, and commit
ted unwittingly her last hope of better
fortune for her children and herself,
into her hands that had, long ago,
been raised to heaven against her, with
a threat and promise of vengeance.
She recovered consciousness directly,
but she felt that for her all was over.
The Seuator's wife would doubtless
keep her promise; but the presentation
Of the widows appeal would 60 hand
in hand with the story of Celia West
leigh's WRONGS and sorrows. The hour
had come which Helen's outraged
heart had forseen and predicted; the
hour in which her enemy was to stand
Defore her humbled in the dust. to re-
ceive the same measure which, in pride
and hardness of heart, she had meted
out TO others. The cup or her punish
ment was full to oyeTfiowing.
From that moment Mrs. LennOx
gave up claims as hopeless, and fell into
a state of listless, brooding despair.
The long, slow days went by with no
comfort or hope i'll their passing; the
long, watchful nights brought her the
white, pleading face of Celia West
leigh, as she had last beheld it; the
sound of Helen's passionate voice rang
in her ears, with terrible words of accu-
sation and ominous warning. Deeply
avenged was the poor young governess,
forgotten so many years in her humble
gravel Keen were the stings of re.
morse, In Mrs. Iennox's once harJ
heart.
Comfortless and silent, she was sIi e
ting with her daughters, in their little
room. one day, when knock at the
door announced visitor. How shall
we describe the hutter OF excitement,
the fear, the hope, that stirred the
hearts of the girls, or the agony OF sus-
pense that held their mother breathless,
who opened the door admitting Senator
R
Il have taken the liberty of calling,
Mrs. Lennox,' he said, generously, to
bring you myself the good news, that
your application, on account of your
late husbands services, has just been
granted. Finding your claims entirely
Just, | made an effort in your behalf,
which has happily proved successful
How shall We ever thank you?' Sob
bed the girls, while their mother sat
like statue, unable to speak
You owe me no thanks said the
Senator, with a smile. 1T is seldom
that i have either time or inclination
to undertake such matters. But my
wife was so much interested in your
case, that l could not refuse, at least,
to examine it, and having done so, it
seemed duty to go farther. Mrs.
R has met You formerly if 1 mis-
take not, Mrs. Lennox. Yes; thought
she mentioned it. Allow me to con-
gratulate you on your good fortune. L
am very glad to have had the pleasure
of doing some little service to an old
friend of hers.
And the Senator bowed himself out,
and went his DuSy way utferly IIucon-
scious that certain words of his had
fallen upon the widows head in Goals
Of fire.
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