The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-07-02

faculties, and dulled the little intelligence
she had by neglect and harshness; so she
had got into the way of doing what she
was told when it was unpleasant, now she
would do what she was told when it seemed
very, very pleasant indeed. Who among
her family could reproach her? Who of
them deserved that she should still sacrifice
herself to them?
1t took her very little time to make her
few preparations. 1t was quarter to
eleven as she stood on the landing ready.
The door into the boys bedroom stood
open, the gas was still full on; mechani-
cally she entered to turn it down. The
youngest boy was in his crib; she passed
by him almost carelessly. Paul lay asleep
with one hand grasping a crumpled paper.
There was certain beauty in his stolid,
chubby face after all. His mouth, too,
looked actually pretty when it was shut.
Chow | would have loved my children
if they had cared about it, she murmur-
ed, standing over Pauls bed, and half
ashamed of offering unsought tenderness,
she stopped and kissed him.
Mother, he started awake suddenly,
rubbing his eyes with his left hand. "Yes,
it's mother, and he held out the crumpled
paper towards her.
"What is this, Paul ?" and unfolding
it she saw two crushed macaroons in the
last state of heat and sickness.
"They're from the party. You didn't
20, and thought you'd like some"
''Paul, did you think of me at the
party ?"
''Yes, lots. I've been thinking long
time. I've been thinking"
"What have you been thinking?"
you're always doing things for us, and
nobody is good to you but Dennis, and he's
going away, and there won't be anybody;
so | am going to be always like Dennis to
you"
Young as he was, he was thoroughly
English, and looked more ashamed of his
good impulse than if he had been caught
stealing Jam. His mother was looking at
him in eager wonder. He went on,
mumbling his words, scarlet-faced; and
rubbing his eyes with both hands now both
were free.
Fathers always scolding you, and we
bother you, and Tommy Brents mother
isn't half as nice as you; but they are all
good to her, and we're horrid; but | won't
be any more"
"M son, my son !" she cried, 'do you
understand what you say? You will not
forget tomorrow? You are so young,
you cannot understand"
She flung herself on her knees by the
bed, gazing with piteOus eagerness into his
half-awakened face, and, as she looked,
"The soul of the child stood up in his eyes,
and she knew it was no childish whim, but
the beginning of great JOY for her.
He put his warm arms around her neck,
and fell asleep there.
Ten minutes to eleven. She would soon
be with him, and everything was ready.
Dennis paced up and down his room in a
fever of impotence, more miserable than
ever he had been in his life. He had
triumphed- is, he had succeeded in
making the woman he loved other than
she might have been. She was worse, not
better, for knowing him. He had per-
suaded her to do wrong in ti.e..; hat
together, they might find happiness; and
his misery had begun already. Lisa, the
patient, gentle saint, he had worshipped.
He had made her no longer a saint. He,
who had meant to be her best friend, was
now her worst enemy. He had loved her
for her purity, her sweet patience and en-
durance. What if he ceased to love her
now he himself had destroyed those quail
ties 1t would not astOnish him Moth
ing would astonish him that he found him
self doing now He had thought himself
honorable and upright, and he was neither.
He had thought himself true friend to
Lisa, and he was none Now, when he
thought himself faithful lover, how could
he tell that he was not mistaken? Hefelt
himself so false and contemplate that no
further discovery of baseness in himself
would have surprised him. 1t grieved him
to think that Lisa had trusted herself to
one so contemplate. He remembered how
he had always seen and known that GER
tainly such actions as his ended in wretch
edness. He quite believed that now. How
could he trust his good intentions to Lisa
when those other good intentions had broken
down? How could he be sure of his love
when his friendship was such a miserable
failure?
The clock struck eleven. He started.
She must be here in a minute, and there
would be no going back. The thing was
done already.
Just then he heard the door open. He
groaned and hid his face He had realized
his own fall already; now he knew that she,
too, was in the mire with him.
Telegram, sir.
1t was the landlady who entered Den
mis- took the envelope, and read the con-
tents
''Do not wait for me. l cannot come.
Paul loves me. You have taught him to
love me- Goodbye"
: ''Thank God !" he cried. "She is safe,
! and my spotless saint is spOtless still.
Donald Railton is getting on in the world
, He is in fair way to become Attorney
General, and is more satisfied with himself
than ever; he never knew what an escape
he had had that December evening, which
was as well, for he was incapable of under
standing the story had he heard it, He
: noticed that his wife grew daily brighter
and stronger, and probably thought that
, she was growing wiser as she grew older.
The other children noticed that Paul never
/ contradicted mother now; and moreover,
that he punched Wills head for so doing,
and when his mother rebuked him for it,
) listened quietly, and said he would not do
it again.
! All this rouse3 their astonishment at
first and then their respect They grew
to understand that mother had champion
: now, and that the clever one OF the family.
They grew to see how eagerly their mother
waited for Paul when he was out, and what
pleasure it was to Paul to tell all his news
to her at the end of every day, until at last
they, too, began to change their manners,
and to see all the beauty and lovableness
of their mothers character. Kate, indeed,
viii always be her fathers daughter, and
none of them will ever be to Lisa what
Paul is he is her strength and joy, some
thing daily to thank God for Satisfied
with his love, her husbands bitter words
grieve her no longer.
Now that she has defence against
them he has naturally ceased to speak them,