Evening star., 1901-12-21
CHAPTER TX.
For ttnnPmenf.

seemed always on the point of asking, !
''Who' are you? Why do you do it? What
debts have to be paid?'
These were the whispers of an unquiet
conscience The girl knew nothing about |
the debt that had to be paid; nor had she
been taught to connect her fathers trouble |
with the name of Mrs. Weyland.
The stately house frightened the girl at
first: the Iackeys in their livery; the glass
coach with The coachman in his handsome
cloth and the fine horses; the presence at
the dinner table of the brother-in-law, who
grew daily more proud as he grew poorer,
until by the end of the month Lucifer HIM
self was humble by his side; the walk In
the park among the heaux an1 the fine
ladies; the life without anxiety for the
nUTToW's food; her own large and we'll
furnished room; the dresses whlch her
patron gave her; the unfailing Kindness
with which she was treated; the absence or
her father with his half-drunken mornings
and his wholly drunken evenings, all these
things together made her like unto one
who moves in a dream Shakespeare rep
reSeuts the drunken tinker changed into
gentleman suddenly. in his sleep; l could
wish that he had carried that transforma-
tion through the entire play. making him
the principal actor and the hero OF the
piece. not mere spectator Alice was
transformed into the companion of a gen.
tlewoman. not in dream, but while broad
awake. The witch of St. James Square
aDpCared upon the scene, like the fairy in
the story of Cinderella; her rags dropped
frCm her. she emerged habited like
young genlawoTan; her mothers squalid
lodging became an abode fit for
reputable citIzen's wife; starvation van
ished: she herself driven away, still
Cinderella in a coach and four to that
part of the town where there Is 10 penHry,
no starvation. no awful dread of the NOR
row. but, in their place, constant cheer
fulnsss Interrupted only by the minor emo
tGns such as toothache, heartache, other
aches and a run Of bad luck. Why should
It last? Why had It begun? What did it
mean2
Child" said Isabel when will you for
get the past? I the memory in your
eyes, things will not vanish; the days of
misery are gone: you shall have no more
sUffering-you and your mother-if l can
hinder What does your mother say? She
Is reconciled to your stay with me?"
She cannot believe her own happiness.
On madam. she Will live. She is already
strong Good food and no more anxiety
have made her we'll
And your father?'
Except fer father" said Alice.
But why except him? Does he ill-treat
herr
Not unless you call drunkenness III
treatment. Since We have been more COM
Portable he is more drunken than ever.
Mother gives him something every morn
ing, and he goes about among his old
friends Just the same. To z rid of his
Importantly. they give him drink"
Does your father ask where the money
comes from?'
No 1t drops from heaven he thinks
as, indeed, madam, it does. He makes no
inquiries
Does he not ask after your"
Madam. if he were to hear that 1 was
dead and buried he would make in
oUiries. Drink has destroyed his natural
affections. So long he can get drink he
cares not how he gets it who pays for
it, or what becomes of his wife ard daugh-
MY dear" said Isabel. ''it is terrible
thing for you that your father has become
such as ne is. Honor thy father-how
can You honor him.
Madam. I have been taught how to keep
that commandment by my mother. So long
as can remember father has been drink
ing. My mother says that L must honor
him as he ought to be-nOt as he is
'-As he ought to be? Yes. But how do
you know what he ought to be?'
Mother Is pious and well skilled in Holy
Writ She was the daughter of q country
clergyman She says that the Lord has
given to every man his own mind as well
as his own face. He may ruin his face by
an evil life, and will also disfigure and
6istOrt his mind in the same way.
True. child Go on"
''She remembers him as he was young
man, spriGhtly and cOrnely, eager for work
and fun of hope; a young man who intend
ed to become common councilman, and
thought that with good health and hard
work he might become an alderman of his
ward and even lord mayor of London. This
Is the man she loved and loves still. not the
man whose face is covered with red spots,
poor man who falls on the stairs and reels
about the room and drinks small ale in the
morning before he can even speak. /
20 think Of him mother first knew nim
and then. she says, I can pray for his
restoration. and thank God for giving me
father with so many great gifts and quail
files"
Your mother, Alice, is a wise woman
Truly the law mist mean something of that
sort. because We cannot honor a criminal,
drunkard. Tell me. does he ever speak
n of Of hon
ruptcyT'
He never speaks to me at ALL.
Does he never speak to your mother
about it?''
Alas madam. it was the tavern that de-
gtroyed him. Always the tavern. What
need TO speak of what my mother knows
too well-and of what has pulled him down
and kept him DOWN."
Then. by thousand arts Isabel sought
20 win the girls confidence and affection,
well as her gratitude-the latter of less
Importance. She found that Alice was fond
OF reading and gave her books; and of
playing the harpsichord-She had light
and delicate touch-lsabei gave her music:
and of singtng-she had a voice clear and
fun and of great compass; Isabel bought
songs for her-the songs and music of Arne
and Purcell and others; she invited Oliver
TO come and sing with her, as their voices
went well together; she invited her
friends to the house and gave them singing
instead of cards. She took the girl to the
play; to Vauxhall and Marylebone; she took
her, with Oliver, up the river In the warm
evenings of August; while the moon Law
upon the broad river, and the boat quietly
foated down the stream, which lapped the
bows. the young voices of the two rose
and fell together; she found out things that
the girl liked and gave them to her; in q
word, she did her best to make her love
the world and rejoice in her youth and
beauty and forget the dreadful past. She
watched the expansion of the blossom
closed up by frosts. In the warm. soft airs
Of affection; she saw how the taste for
dress and the love of finery-woman's In
stinctive gifts-were born In the girls mind
and quickly grew: how she cane to be de-
lighted by a ribbon and rapt by a touch
Of color; how the benumbing influence of
her penury dropped from her like the rag
geo cloak OF a mendicant and was forgot
ten All women born Tor hs'"'-c~s