The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-04-15
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.
CHAPTER VI.-THE ACCIDENT.

CHAPTER VI.-THE ACCIDENT.
When Mr.. Gordon returned that night,
the children were both in bed. hut his wife
was waiting for him. He had hardly en-.
tered the house, when he noticed how
flushed her chpeks seemed to be.
"What is the matter, loye?" he asked.
"Please don't ask me, Wallace, I'd
rather not tell you," she answered.
''But want to know, must" he said,
dreadful forebodings entering his mind.
So his wife told him briefly, all that had
occurred, since lis departure that morning,
trying SO put as little blame on Helen, as
possible, but Mr.. Gordon could not be de-
ceived
"This is horrible ~ he exclaimed -
shall have that child sent SO hDsrdidg school
at once. o. how can | ever forgive myself
for This -
- 1oa't send her away" his wife
be ed Try her once more"
cater this? Never" Her husband an
sweral
'frr my sake? Won't you do it to please
me- ?" His wife pleaded.
tf:er a great deal Of persuasion, Mr.
Gou.au consented.
The next morning Helen dreaded meet
Ing her father. When she entered the
br-aI tnst-room, her father seemed much in
tFr al in the morning. paper and did not
SPEAK 10 her during the entire meaI. When
they BID finished he said ''uelen 20 to
your own room, | will see yon there, in
few minutes" aud turned TO his paper
again,
Helen went to her own apartment, where
she wa. presently followed by her father.
IL secured the door, and silently pacei
the lD3I for several minutes, At last he
said severely, "Helen, | scarce know wha5
to sav 70 you, you have grieyed me more
than tongue eau tell. To think that you
could do such cruel thing to your mother
my beautiful bride, when I promised to
make her happy and gay, always. And if
she had not pleaded for you, you would
have been marching off to boarding school,
this minute, miss 1t is to her sweet for
of living in your own fathers house. |
hope you'll remember that. And if you
do not write her an apology right away, |
shall send you there still"
Helen had a perfect horror of boarding
schools. Although she hated to be over
ruled, she knew she had done wrong, and
decided that she would apologize rather
than 60 away, so she seated herself at her
wIting-desk, and after few minutes Of
silence handed her father what she had
written. He read -
"MRs. GoRDEN:
l am very sorry for my be-
haviour of yesterday. 1t was in moment
of passion, that the crime was committed,
and felt sorry for it the minute afterward.
am very sure that the offense will never
be repeated, and hope you will forgive me.
HELEN"
Mr.. Gordon handed the note back to
Helen, and said, "It will do very we'll,
with the exception of these words"
"What are they 2" she asked.
"Mrs. Gorden, and crime, say mamma,
and offense," her father answered, land
remember, if you do not do just as l say,
you know what the punishment will be-"
he added.
Helen Immediately fixed the latter, but
sat debating long time as to the former.
On the one hand, she saw her stepmother,
reading the note, and smile at the heading,
and think she had conquered her.
On the other hand, the large boarding
school, cross teachers, poor fare, inquisitive
girls, and hard beds. At last she rubbed