The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1898-09-09


ion. There was nothir G so dear as a |
mother. She reached up and pulled the |
hard hands down to her lips. "There's |
nothing so good and true as your love
after all, mother. It never tails mel |
always feel as IL | had something back |
Of me. [ wish could see you oftener.
I'm afraid I'm growing hard and sell
fish,
It was 8 o'clock when Miss Ham1in
came down from the Banner office. She
had been detained longer than she had
expected. A fine mist was falling: the
streets were wet and slippery and the
elm leaves dripped and glistened In the
electric glare. It was not often she had
to be in the Office after night and when
it was necessary Howard Sherman had
always of late contrived to be on hand
to see her home. He was missing to-
night. The fact was significant and
Miss Ramlin smiled bitterly.
''If he is SO easily frightened away as
| that perhaps it's just as well he should
be,'' she said to herself. Nevertheless,
she felt something suspicioosly like
heartache.
It was only few steps from the Ban
ner office home. Miss Hamlin stepped
noiselessly into the hall, flooded with
dim rosy light, and paused to remove
her wet wrap and rubbers. She felt
tired and dispirited. Out through the
half opened door Of the drawing room
foated Nellie Strings voice.
'Did you ever in your lives see any
thing SO funny as old Mother Bunch at
dinner? [ thought I would have taken
fit to have seen her eating with her
knife and saying, mo, thank-ye, ma'am,'
to the maid. It was all as gt Cd as
play. | think can hear her comparing
the respective merits of Plymouth Rock
and Brahma rooster YETI
II fancy our beloved Marg'ret Ann
won't hold her head quite SO high after
this,' laughed Mrs Austin. ''Yet she
actually seemed proud of the old lady !!
Some people have face enough for any
thing II had been she I'd have SNUG.
gled her down by the back stairs and
sent her where she belonged"
Miss Hamlin could hear no more, and
fed with tingling cheeks. Was Howard
Sherman listening to that! And where
was her mother?
She pushed open the library door.
Her mother was sitting in the corner OF
the palms with Howard Sherman beside
her. Mr. Sherman rose.
II was sorry I could not go up to
bring you home this evening" he said,
''bur I've been tryir e to entertain your
mother. She was rather lonesome in
your absence. We have had a long
chat"
"Yes, and I've enjoyed it, Marg'ret
Ann" said Mrs Hamlin rising. "Mr
Sherman's been real good and I'm awful
much obliged to him.
Miss Hamlin got herself and her mother
out OF the library and upstairs, feeling
little GREATNESS.
"Thab's a real nice young man.
Marg'ret Ann" said Mrs Hamlin conf
dentially. IL like him real well. T
wasn't having much of time In the
parlor before he come-the others seem
ed kinder sassy and qaeer-like, but he
Just acted like perfect gentleman to the
finest lady in the land. Is he your beau.
| Marg'ret Ann?'
Dear me, no, mother-at least, don't
| know
Mrs Hamlin smiled mysterfouslv,
"Mebbe you don't, but I've my guesses.
child.'
Miss Hamlin had to keep early hours
| at Office work, SO that she generally ate
her breakfast IN solitary state. The next
morning she had her mother, and How
ard Sherman also made his appearance.
tive got up early for once in NV life."
ne laughed. II thought I'd walk down
to the train with you and your mother.
and make myself useful il / could.''
Mrs Hamlin was going home on the
early train. When 1t had rumbled ont,
| Howard Sherman and Madge walked
/ away from the station and do n the
/ cool, damp street. threaded with amber
shafts of morning sunshine atr,wart the
mist.
Under the elms Mr. Sherman asked his
companion certain question, But it
was not until long afterward that he told
her how he came to.
do You remember that dav when
your mother came TO Hillside Hall? /
neard what the others said aG the door.
as passed up the hall, and then I heard
Mrs DeHaven tell you 1t was your moth
1 er. wanted 60 see what you would do.
When you brought her down so proudly
and lovingly, you don't know how glad i
was knew then that you were LOYAL
ard true at heart
was not SO good AZ ron think, How.
i ard. y m0rmured his wife. 81 was q IiG-s
| tie ashamed Of mother at fret. And
what II had failed you?,'
Then N afraid would never