The aegis & intelligencer., 1895-05-03

, RllC-
tered with frozen brightness over the
hills, and the old lady was often Sc
cretly sad at heart as she sat all alone
in the crimson parlor, by the big fire.
place, where the logs blaZed in the
twilight.
And as the New Year passed, and the
bitter cold ON January took possession
of the frozen world, a vague appre-
hension crept into her heart.
Something is going to happen"
she said Il am not superstitious,
but there are times when the shadow
of coming events stretches darkly
across the heart. Something is going
to happenn'
And one afternoon, as the amber
sunset blazed behind the leafless trees,
turning the snowy fields into masses
of molten pearl, she put on her fur lin
ed hood and cloak.
Il will go and take a walk" said
she, Il shall certainly become a
hypochondriac if | sit all the time by
the fire and nurse my morbid fancies
like this"
She took long, brisk walk down
! by the ruins of the old mill, through
the cedar woods, across the frozen
swamp, and then she paused.
Il will come back by the Black
Pool" she thought. ''It is wild and
picturesque spot in winter, with icicles
hanging to the tree boughs, and
weird ice-etfects over the face of the
old gray rock.n
1t was u dark and gloomy place,
funerally shaded by the hemlocks,
which grew there to a giant size; and
when Mrs. Mildmay got beneath their
boughs, she started back.
Was it the Elusive glimmering of
the darkening twilight? or was it
really a man who stood close to the
edge of the Black Pool?
Rufus oh, Rufus, my son ~
She was barely in time to catch him
in her arms and drag him back from
the awful death to which he was hurl-
ing himself.
When they reached the cedar wains-
coated parlor, where the blazing logs
cast a ruddy reflection on the red
Moreen curtains, Mrs. Mildmay looked
into her stepson's face with loving
eyes.
| And now, Rufus" said she, tell
me all about it. The Lord has been
very good to you in saving you from a
| terrible crime.'
h"Mother, why did you stop me ~ he
| said recklessly. II am ruined man.
| shall be dishonored in the sight of the
world Death would be preferable,
thousand times, to disgrace -
Rufus" said the old lady, tender
| ly, do you remember when you used
| to get into boyish Scrapes at school
Do you remember how you used to
contide your troubles to me? Let US
| forget all the years that have passed.
Let us be child and mother once
| again"
So he told her all-of the reckless
expenditure on Rosamond's part-his
| own, also, he confessed-which had
woven itself like fatal web about his
| feet-of the unpaid bills the clamor-
ing tradesfolk, the threats of public
exposure, which had driven him at
last to the forgery of his employers
signature, in order to free himself
from one or two of the most pressing
of these demands.
| "And if my investment in Erie.
bonds had proven success he said
| eagerly, Il could have taken up every
one of the notes before they came due.
But there was change in the market,
| and now-now the bills will be pre-
sented next week, and my villaiDy
will be patent to all the world Oh,
| mother, mother! why did you not let
me fling myself into the Black Pool -
| Rufus, said his stepmother, what
| is the amount of these-these forged
| bills ?''
Ten thousand dollars ~ he an
swered, staring gloomily into the fire.
| Exactly the amount of the Govern
ment bonds which your father leftme,"
said Mrs. Mildmay. They would
have been yours at my death. They
are yours now, Rufus ~
| Mother, you don't mean
| Take them,n said Mrs. Mildmay,
| tenderly pressing her lips to his fore
head. go to New York the first
thing tomorrow morning and wipe
this stain from your life as you would
wipe q few blurred figures from a slate
| And then begin the record of existence
anew
And up in the little room which he
had occupied as child, Rufus Mild
may slept the first peaceful slumbers
which had descended upon his weary
eyelids for many and many night.
In the midnight train from New
York came Eosamond Mildmay to The
Hemlocks, with pale, terrified face
and haggard eyes.
ooh, mother, mother - she sobbed;
where is he-my husband? He has
left me, and the letter ON the dressing
table declared that he would never re-
turn alive Oh, mother, it is my
fault! | have ruined him Help me,
comfort me, tell me what | shall do !"
Mrs Mildmay took her daughter-in-
laws hand, and led her softly to the
little room where her husband lay
sweetly sleeping.
Rosamond drew a long, sobbing
sigh of relief, and clasped her hands
together as if in mute prayer at the
sight.
Hush :" said the old lady; do not
wake him. He is worn out, both in
mind and body. Only be thankful
that God has given him back to you,
almost from the grave"
And as the two women sat together
by the blazing logs in the crimson
parlor, Mrs. Mildmay told Rosamond
the whole story of the meeting at the
Black Pool.
Mother" said Rosamond, with a
quivering lip, lit is my doing. You
warned me of this long ago. Oh, why
did | give no heed to your words l
deserve it all ~
You will do better for the future,
my DEAR said the old lady, kindly.
Only be brave and steadfast."
90 Tile young peOpie WeHG utCh W
New York and commenced the world
anew, withdrawing from the mael-
strom of society" and living within
themselves. Mrs. Mildmay, senior,
came with them. and Rosamond is
learning the art of housekeeping un-
der her direction.
Mamma is an angel - says the
young wife, enthusiastically. "And
if | could only be just like her, l
should have no higher ambition
SATURDAY Night.
FAITH md DISTRUST.
As everybody knows, bennett, the
restaurant man, is very religious.
There have been strikes in his bean
cry by mattresses who objected to
attending chapel in the basement,
and hanging on the glazed walls are
neatly framed scriptural injunctions.
The other day Tim Campbell sat
down at a table in the shadow of a
motto which read:
Blessed is the Man That Trusteth in the
Lord and Whose Hope the Lord is
Suspended almost directly under
this was a pasteboard placard bear
ing the legend:
Watch Your Hat and Coat.
The Congressman sent for the sup
erntendent.
Mr.. Superintendent" said Tim,
gravely, do you see that sign?" and
he pointed to the one of faith.
Certainly, SIR said the superin-