Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-04-14

| " How AOttie new 70 ner
own heaven, the arms Of her mother
ana there wept the first tears her
burning eyes had shed. Shocked. and
for some time incredulous, Mrs.
Ward, with infinite patience and ten
dorness, sustained her child during
those hours in which her anguish was
almost more than she could bear.
Never again would Lottie accuse this
dear friend and comforter Of being
wanting. in sympathy. Who else
would have borne SO kindly with her
Wild bursts of impatient sorrow--her
restless pacings to and fro-her pas
sionate complainings? Who else so
skillfully taken advantage of her bet
ter feelings to bring her to her knees
and teach her to bow her head to the
Divine will?
How good you are to me, darling
mother" she sobbed. when Mrs,
Ward had prevailed upon her to lie
Town, and was bathing her aching
head; land indeed don't deserve it.
| have been so selfish, SO ungrateful
that If you knew all my hard and
bitter thoughts you would surely
cease 20 love me at ALL"
Mrs. Wards only reply was to
stoop and kiss her; and that kiss up-
rooted the last fiber of selfishness in
her child's heart. Never again did
Lottle let vanity stand in the place OF
duty; and in the midst of her trouble
she could be humbly thankful that
this dear mother was still all her
own.
All that night she wept and be-
walled herself, but when morning
dawned and she saw how weary and
exhausted Mrs. Ward was looking.
Lottie put her good intentions in
practice and restrained her grief.
While her mother rested. she moved
quietly about dressing the little ones,
whom her altered looks and swollen
eyes awed into unwonted soberness;
nor was 1t till every task had been
accomplished that could spare Mrs.
Ward fatigue that she seated herself
at her mothers feet and wept her.
self into the sleep of exhaustion.
But stronger arms We're sustaining
her when, with a start, she awoke,
1t was not the mud face OF her
mother that bent over her and smiled
at her, 1t was Charlie Morrison him
self, and for moment she believed
herself to be in a happy dream.
Can it be you!' she asked wistful-
", speak to me, Tor know not what
to think nor what to believe"
You may believe that Charlie Nor |
lson has committed no act that dis
graces him." said her rejoicing moth
er, who stood by. Need we tell Won
more?"
Lottie pressed her hands to her
head. and looked from one to the
other, till the tender smile on
Charities lips confirmed the tidings.
i seem too much bewildered to be
as glad as ! should be- she exclaimed
Am ! really awake?-has there been
no robbery after all? That dreadful
newspaper! Why did | believe the
paragraph | heard Mr.. Dayton read
from it,"
sit down here, you poor, pale
child" said Charlie, "nnd let me helm
you out of your myslifcation. RI
think IT began the night before last,
when ! sought you at Mr.. Dayton's
to say goodbye before ! went ON n
hurried journey, and to tell you the
two-fold object of II. J
u had heard dear, that the man
who was the cause of all your fathers
lnlsIort'nes was at Birmingham; and
Messrs. smithson freely gave me per-
mission to go there, and see whether
my circumstances, and. If those fail /
ed, my threats to expose his nefariols
proceedings, would induce him to do
justice to your fathers widow and
orphans"
And you succeeded"
beyond my expectations | have
just had the pleas ire of putting into
your mothers hands u sum that will
enable her to educate her children
with comfort"
lottie was obliged to interrupt him
that she might throw her arms
around Mrs. Wards neck, and CON
graduate her rapturousIy, Then
charlie himself had to be thanked in
owing, fearful whispers; and then SO
many little plans were discussed for
The Widows future that some time
elapsed efore they required to the
explanation.
when had completed my own
business, Messrs. Smithson desired
ne to go to Sheffield and make some
inquiries there for them. The drift
If these ! scarcely understood when
started, but | soon discovered that
hey had reference TO certain suspic-
ons they were entertaining"
But not of you. Charlie!"
mo, love; they have never had any
'eason to doubt my integrity, and
hey have just proved their confidence
n 1t, by promising me an increase of
alary. But another of their clerks,
ed into temptation by a love of
,niety-"
u see II all now" sighed Lottie.
Poor Austin!'
Charlie resumed: "My father, for
whom, as an old friend, Messrs.
sent to assist them in
reaking the news to his parents, can
carcely speak Of the scenes he wit
essed. Mrs. Crawley is very i'll. Lot