The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-02-10

But" he continued, 81 feel perfectly safe
In leaving Der with you, Mrs. Raymond.
You will please never allow her to go out
unattended, will you? And I'll soon re-
turn for her" But he never did.
III.
How fond 1 grew of my protege as day
by day the strength and beauty OF her
character were unfolded. Deeply inter
ested in the topics of the day, independ-
ent in her opinions, yet liberal toward
those of other people; of wide intelli-
gence and an observant traveller, she GER
tainly made most profitable and enter
tanning companion for Miss Lawrence,
who was almost daily with US, and myself.
Mrs. Hammerton was usually cheerful,
yet there were times when she looked
very sad, but an expression of peaceful
victory always followed these brief spells
of depression. How many delightful
hours we three spent in our dear old
lady's room. Miss Lawrence and 1 en-
gagged with our needle-wOrk, while Mrs.
Hammerton read aloud to US. And she
read with an expression so full of interest
and sympathy that the full flavor of the
humorous and quaint conceits of the
author were always fully brought out"
When the weather was favorable we
frequently went out driving. but always
avoided passing the art gallery, and felt
elated over the progress my invalid was
making.
One cloudy. dreary afternoon Miss
Lawrence not having joined US, Mrs. Ham
merton and l were alone. l was a little
surprised TO see my companion lay down
her book after reading aloud but few
minutes and look dreamily out OF the win
dow, but evidently unmindful of all that
was transporting there. l had frequently
observed of late an expression of hesitansv
and perpleXity in her cOuntenance. She
would seem 70 be just ready to tell me
something important, and, suddenly
changing her manner, would remark on
some commonplace topic. Letters came
frequently from her son, so knew she
was not anxious about him.
Finally. with manner that indicated
she was summing to her aid all the cour-
age and strength OF her nature, she said
gently: My dear, you are a new-made
friend, but l have found you very dear
and unselfsh one. l have studied your
character. and feel assured that YOU are
worthy of the confidence 1 have decided
to place in you. 1t is purely a selfish
motive that prompts me to make YOU ac-
quainted with some very sad experiences
of my early lite, and costs me an effort to
reveal to any one. that which has so long,
or part of it, at least. been hidden
in my own BOSOM. A part has
but lately returned to nv own memory.
And the fact that these incidents have
intruded themselves upon nv recollection,
of hax~fno, Ill
ated for so many years, has led me to con-
tide in you that l might call on you for
some assistance. So you see, dear, my
motive, as l told you, is a selfish one.
Much that l shall tell you is not even
known to my own son."
/ laid aside my needle-work, and draw
ing my chair nearer hers asked if she felt
strong enough TO talk on subject which
must necessarily greatly agitate her. l
thanked her for the honor l felt she was
comforting upon me in thus confding to
me matters so personal, and hoped that
might prove myself worthy of her high
regard and be able to render the aid she
needed
But my dear old lady was evidently I'M
aware that had spoken so enwrapt was
she in the memories of other scenes, and
with tvemor in her voice began:
Il was married at the age of twenty to
young man few years older than myself,
and we We're greatly in love with each
other. Neither OF US was wealthy, but my
young husband had a good position on a
railroad and was considered a rising young
man in the business world. Indeed he
was thought remarkably bright and capa-
bic and, being of u genial, companionable
nature, made many friends and was rap
Il tn1 81 l.. 4 \
In both his ability and honesty that sew
eral positions OF public trust and honor
were given him in the small city where
wa first lived after our marriage. We
were very happy in our domestic life, and
as the years went by prosperity and finan-
cial success seemed to follow my hus-
bands efforts in marked waV
A darling little infant came
to us, giving Joy and
brightness to our home-iife it had not
known before. But it left US, after tarry-
ing but little while, with aching hearts
and empty arms Then another came. but
1t too tarried but few months. So when
a third child came. noble boy, you can
imagine with what jealous care we tended
him. How he filled our hearts and lives,
and as the months merged into wears, and
we saw the promise of his life unfolding,
NOW oltSn We ulsCuSSeu Ills future, MS
education and his profession.
"But my husband had reached the top
round OF the ladder in his profession in
the city where we lived, and was pro-
NOTED TO position which called him to
another and larger place, to which we soon
removed.
"Horace, for that was my husbands
name, had given me many beautiful and
expensive presents at different times. |
used to wonder sometimes that he could
afford them, and thought 1 never saw any
one who could make money 90 as far as
Horace. But then my admiration for his
business ability was only thus increased.
After we had been living several months
in our new home | decided to give Hors CO
a present that would compare with some
at least of those he had given me. and
after bordering over the matter a great
deal, decided upon a large portrait of
Edgar-for he was our little boy, as l sup
pose you have before inferred and myself
painted in oil. And this was TO be birth
day gift. Oh, l remember j. all now. Yes
it is painfully clear and vivid. But do
you know dear, that the recollection of
the whole matter had been entirely OBJ
liberated from my memory, as well as
other occurrences of the same period of
my life, until / so suddenly came upon
the portrait in the art gallery that after
noon l became SO i'll? But you will not
think strange that such was the case.
when you have heard all.