Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-11

you, poor and iowly as he was, are there
TOUR or five, or even two or three of your
friends who would believe in you, stand up
for you, and trust in YOU in spite of all
as we did for Joe?
mad gone up to my sitting room, after
telling Mary to light the fire in poor joe s
room and let 1t look warm and cozy, for ]
had some sort of presentiment that should
see the poor boy again very soon-how, ]
knew not, but l have all my life been sub
Ject to spiritual influences, and have sell
dom been mistaken in them.
we were all thinking of going early to
rest, Tor since the robbery, none Of us had
mad any real sleep. Suddenly the from.
door bell rang timidly, as If the visitor
We're not quite sure of it's being right to pull
the handle.
Perhaps that's Joe" said my sister.
But l knew Joe would not ring that bell.
we heard Mary open the door and a
mans voice ask If Mr.. Aylmer lived there.
yes said Mary, but he Is abroad, but
you can see Mrs Aylmer."
Then came low murmuring Of voices,
and Mary came in, saying:
ON, ma am, it's Dick, Joe's brother; and
he says may he see you?"
Send him In here at once" I replied
ANA In a moment Dick stood before me;
DICK. Joe's beau ideal Of all that was good,
noble and to be admired. 1 must say the
MIND picture | had formed of Dick was to-
tally unlike the reality. l had expected to
see sunburnt big fellow, with broad
shoulders and expressive features.
The real Dick was thin. delicate-looking
young man, with al pale face and black
stralght hair. He stood With his hat in his
hand, looking down as If afraid to speak.
oh. pray come in IScried, going for
ward to meet him, Il know who you are
On, have You brought me, any news of poor
Joe! We are all his, friends here, his true
friends, and you must let US be yours too
in this trouble. Have you seen him?"
At my words the bowed head was lifted
up, and then l saw Dicks face as 1t was.
ever truth. honor and, generosity looked
OUT from the windows Of a soul, they looked
so exactly like joe in expression that the
black lashes instead of the fair ones seemed
wrong somehow
GOD bless You. lady, flor them words"
ne had knelt at my feet, caught my hand
broke from him.
Forgive me-" he said, rising to his feet.
ana leaning With one hand on the back OF
chair. his whole frame shaking with
emotion Forgive me for givin' way like
This; put I've seen them papers about our
Joe. and l know what's being thought of
MINI ana I've come here ashamed to see
you. thinkin' you believed as the rest do.
tnat Joe robbed you after all your good
ness to him. Why, lady, tell you rather
tnan Ia believe that Of my little lad, as
thrashed till my heart almost broke to hear
MIN sob. for the only lie as he ever told in
all his life; IL could believe 1t, I'd take
fathers old gun and end my life, for I'd be
beast, not At to live any longer. And
thought you doubted him too; but now I
hear you say you're his friend. and believes
In him. and don't think he robbed you, I
know now there's good folks in the world.
and there's mercy and Justice. and It amt
all wrong. as I'd come Almost to think as
1t was. when first know'd about this ere. ;"
Sit down. Dick" / said, land recover
yourself. and let us see what can be done.
VIII tell You all that has happened. ana
then perhaps you can throw some light on