Waterbury Democrat., 1901-01-28

the walls several warped ehronlos and | crudely enlarged crayon portraits of 1 Fanshaw and his wife, also photo | graphs of every member of the fam fly except Ronald, who had never cared to have his picture taken. Mrs. Tanshaw gave the visitor a turkey wing fan, and brought in some. fresh water. Mrs. Lancaster was sipping it from the edge of the big cracked tumbler when Ronald came down the narrow creaking stairs and entered the room.
 "You may not know who l am," began Mrs. Lancaster, as he stood waiting for her to resume her chair, after she had risen and given him her hand.
 | "You may rest assured, madam, that every body in this neighborhood knows you. at least by sight. The poor and needy have good cause for remember ing you ->. She started at the sound of his voice and stared at him for fully minute: her eyes were expanded in surprise, and she seemed unable to re- ply to his compliment. She put her handkerchief to her quivering lips. and when she finally spoke it was with a visible effort at self-control. 1 T hope you will pardon me-" she | faltered, but your voice, is so like 1 that of 8 dear one who was. taken rom me a long time ago-my hus- l band, who met a tragic" death dur l ing the war. Last night when 1 heard you speaking in the distance l was reminded of him, and now--oh!
 it is very silly of me, but-you can't 1 imagine how much your voice re-
 sembles his, and" (the speaker ssval- l lowed something which seemed to
 stick in her 1hroat) then your hair, i and eyes, and hands remind me of his
 so---so very much"
 Ronald had flushed red, and seemed l at loss how to proceed
 II am sorry.' he said, finally. If any
 features of mine bring up sad recol- 1 lcC1ions.
 II am a silly goose" the visitor
 said with little laugh, which was not 1 quite her own. Il hope you received
 the note I wrote you yesterday?'
 Ronald bowed. Tt was the one thing
 which sustained me-naae me work
 on to the end. almost lost hope yes
 terday afternoon. There was not a
 man on my side, even the sheriff was
 afraid to open his mouth. A dozen men
 had threatened to kill me"
 His auditor was bending towards
 him, feasting on his features with wide
 open eyes and hands tightly clasped in
 her lap.
 II was almost sorry I advised you
 to try to save him, Mir. Fanshaw, when | the climax was reached and I realized your owp peEIl: but now r.h:t- you have . ',1iun. phed I am glad l wrote you--ol i, so glad. For your work last nigh1 ' has shown me what a noble man you are, and"
 1T think,'' he said, seeing that she . was rot going to proceed, that the usual haste in such matters is not dus
 10 the evil natures of these people l but to certain inability to believe ir y the innocence of man accused as thi: g one was.'' l Ut is certainly good of you to defend : them as you do,' said the old lady, hel ;. eyes still bent eagerly, searchingly CT ,. his face. You have heard perhaps O the capture and confession of the req = criminal?"
 . He told her he had just received ths news.
 ' Then" she went on, "the boy vii ) be released, will he not?"
 "Oh, at once, of course." . Do you intend to see him before h
 leaves?" : Ronald told her he was going to rid
 to town and persuade the prisoner tt ) finish his journey by rail. t ''Ah, l am so glad, for that is wha s 1came to see you about. I have brough l him a little gift; I understand hi : mother is old and needy. hope it vii 7 not trouble you to deliver it to him. D II shall do it with 3 great deal o t pleasure,' he told her. 9 As she gave him the roll of bill 9 which she took from her purse, he: 7 eyes steadied themselves on his face. y 'There is another thing, MT. Fan = shaw" she faltered. II hope you vii forgive me if l am presuning, but sine t l have heard how hard you are strug :, gling to fit yourself for your chosel s profession l have been ashamed of my 3 self for the idle, aimless life am lead = ing. I have far more money than j. can use. even if 1 were young, and yo1 V see am getting old. If you would oni. '' allow me to instruct my banker to- e He understood what she intended t h say and the flush which had died ou
 of his handsome face returped. l, Tt is most kind of you,'' he inter $ rupted, "and under some circum ta nc 9
 I might be glad to avail myself of you B benevoience, but in my struggles hay e found out that all the toil, all the ga,
 ing, ali the Aspirations have reau t been best for me. Besides the wors u has passed. l find myself pretty sur t of admittance to the bar, and I hay
 really saved up enough to defray ID S simple expenses for a year or so unt! f l can get started"
 f Mrs. Lancaster looked erestfallen, bu n she did not press her point. O "Then I can only hope and pray tha e all success may come your way, an l. perfect happiness" (she suddenl o thought of Evelyn and sighed). e He seemed oto be reading he