Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1890-12-04

with howers-roses of every tint, fra
grant blossoms OF various kinds, buried
IN soft moss and tender green Ieayes.-
Upon the top lay card.
"Harry.' Hester said, hot tears fall.
Ing upon the blooming gift that lighted
up even that dull room. "Oh he
should not do so Think what that
has cost, and he works SO hard" ~
"He will never learn economy Mrs.
Wright said, gently; "and he loves you
so we'll, Hetty.'
"Our one friend" the girl replied.
"Say rather, your true lover!" said
her mother.
"Though he has good cause to hate
me
And kissing her mother tcnderIy
Hester went out down the narrow, bare
staircase, into the street, where Il sharp
October wind brought dreary promise
Of winters coming. A tail, handsome
girl, whose mean attire could not render
vu] gar, she bore herself, eyen IN her
heart-sick misery, like queen, carry
ing her shapely head with unconscious
hauteur, that lcssened materially her
chance of obtaining work She had
not learned yet to humble herself IN
manner, even though her heart burned
with bitter humillation-the humility
Of shame.
Shame, because two years before, her
father, who had reigned us II million
aire, had been detected in fraudulent
dealings that leu on and on through
the mire of dishonesty, forgery, misrep-
resentation and breach Of trust, till, in
prison cell, he committed suicide.
In his ruin was involved that of 9th
ers, and the greatest sufferer had been
his ward, Henry Ashworth, son Of an
old friend who had left d large estate in
the hands Of Marcus Wright, in trust
for his only child. For years, Harry
| Ashworth had been one Of Mr. Wrights
family, leaving his home only for school
or college, and returning to it,natnrtlIy,
after graduating in the law, school, to
assume Il man ) duties.
Utterly unSusp>ctlng, trusting his
ilther's friend implicitly, Harry had
never thought Of investigating his own
affairs, cvcn after he came of age, and
Mr.. Wright made show Of setting
them.
He had loved Hester from the time
she was q child, and their eug cement
caused no surprise in their social circle,
though two people more unlike could
nog we'll be found.
Hester, tall dark, stately, yet lmpnl,
sive, was quick tempered, liable to look
on the gloomy side Of life, quick to
resent injustice; loving, yet JEALOUS and
exaCtng.
Harry, a blonde of the English type,
was frank joyous in disposition, seeking
the brightness Of all things, coniidins
and tender--a lover, once Won, who
could not be inconsttnt
When the crash came, and lie knew
his entire fortune Was swept away by
the dishonesty of his guardian, it was
Harry Ashworth who stood between
Hest er and her mother and the world;
who guarded them, as far as possible,
from the Indignation Of friends turned
to enemies, of those who, wronged by
the dead man, came to pour out tn"
walls Of wrath upon the innocent widow
and cDill. 1t WAS Harry who saved A
tnue from the wreck, BY claiming Mrs
Wright 5 jewels, presents from her rea-
tives on her marriage. It was Harry,
who, yielding in all else, would not give
up his right to protect Hester, but
claimed her promise to be his wife,
steadily and unmoved by her passionate,
scoruful denuncEtions Of herself, lis her
fathers child,
More fortunate than his betrothed he
had obtained employment as clerk In
lawyers office, and had a salary at
his command, about equal in amount to
his tailor's bills of previous years.
Friends, who turned from IIester's ap-
peals for employment, pitied the "vic-
tim" of her fathers frauds, and extend
ed helping hand to Harry. Yet, with
all his love, all his generosity, he could
not arrest that downward, struggling fall
that had carried his betrothea and her
mother to The very verge Of despera
ton.
Hester had not been gone more than
ten minutes and Mrs. Wright was still
burying her misery, for the time, in the
delight the flowers brought her, when
she heard rapid steps coming W the |
narrow staircase and the door was open