Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1890-06-06

chose q young sister of her own TO 60 with
the child rs its companion and nurse My
friend paid the woman twenty pounds and
an additional five pounds to furnish decent
clothing for the children. 1t was agreed
that we should come in the morning for
them, as my friend was just ready to re-
turn to America.
ain the morning we went with the car
rage to take the children to the railroad
station. But, although the children were
dressed in the new garments the money
had bought, the poor mother could not
part with her darling She gave my friend
back his twenty pounds and what was left
Of The five after paying for the clothes, and
was milling them OF IA fast rs she could
when we left the room. When we reached
the carriage my friend turned back and
handed the poor woman the money she
had paid him, saying:
"'Take it, and may it do you some good
"The poor woman could not speak, but
tears ran down her cheeks like rain. My
friend was silent for time, then he said
81 cannot blame the poor woman but
may the curse of heaven follow those who
cause this terrible sufferingp
81 could not help saying amen, though
am counted rs one of the number. The
mothers love was stronger than the love
of money"
YES" said Sir Wren, "that is the rea-
son they will divide their small holdings
with married son or daughter rather
than let them go away. l do not blame
them. If Annie ever finds a new home, 1
feel as though l should have to go with
her. 1t is hard to part with ones own
flesh and bloodr'
"Well, well,' / said, looking at my
watch, II really must go But l will
think of your theory, and try putting it in
practice on my own estate"
CHAPTER vII.-FRoM SUNSHINE TO SHADOW.
When riding home from Sir Wren's, l
thought had seen new way Of solving
the vexing problem. urged my horse,
anxious TO tell Stella and hear her opinion.
had learned to place great confidence in
her judgment 1t was late when reached
Waverland. Giving my horse to serv-
ant, / entered the house. / went to the
drawing-room expecting to find the family
there but did not Then l went to the
dining-room, but that was empty. The
table was spread for dinner, noticed as l
passed through.
sought my mothers room, going up the
long fight of stairs two steps at time in
my hurry to tell the news But there was
no one there either. Next l visited the
school room. There in large chair sat
my mother with Myrtle's head resting on
her knee, fast asleep.
"Why, mother, what has happened"
asked, for l saw she had been weeping.
Stella is gone" she answered in a
trembling voice.
"Stella gonel what where has she
gomez" asked in establishment.
Il do not know where she has gone, she
left this morning"
But do you know why she left!'
asked, looking at my mother with ques-
tioning glance, full of fear.
eyes my son. do know why she left. p"
well, tell me all, quick, mother!' l
said, looking at her as though l would tear
the meaning from her, ere her lips could
utter the words.
after you left this morning, l went to
her and said, Il fear you are making sor-
row for yourself, Stella, by encouraging
my son to spend so much of his time with
you"
My mother paused as though choosing
her words.
"Go on, quick, mother, what elses' 1
asked nervously.
II told her that no heir Of Waverland
would ever think of marrying beneath his
own rank or station in life. And that it
had long been settled that Annie Wren
was TO be your wife"
"How could you mother'" gasped. 81
have never thought of such a thingl You
do not know me, mother"
'I did it for her good. l loved her very
dearly and could not bear to think of her
as suffering have watched her closely
and know she valued your society more
than anything else"
"What next, mothery" asked, as she
paused a moment
when / told her Of Annie, her cheek
flushed painfully, and her lip quivered.
After a moments silence she said, You
are right Lady Waverland. / will leave
here at once She left the room, and
about an hour after she came TO me and
thanked me for my kindness and said she
would never forget the happy hours she
had passed here. Then she took Myrtle in
her arms and wept like n child. / urged
her to stay here until she could find an
other place, or else to let me know where
she was going. But she remained firm
and said she would find home some
where"
While my mother had been speaking,
tears were streaming down her cheeks.
could not blame her. But could l let my
darling go thusl L alone knew how dear
she was to me. When my mother had fin.
ished, i said:
"You do not know me. mother. Stella
or no one will be my wife,
80, do not say that, my son." said my
mother, in a pleading tone.
~ mean what say, my dear mother,
and blame myself for not having spoken