The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1907-09-05
e WOULD
RATHER NOT
foriginal.l

ing neither mother nor brothers n0g
sisters. All Charlotte knew of hex
mother was what she had been givvl
to understand-that she had died dC..
ing Charotte's infancy. Charlotte Lad
often tried to induce her father to talk
about her mother without success.
She naturally inferred that his lo9s
was too great to dwell upon. sShe had
also asked for picture of her mother,
but was told that none was in posses
sion of the family.
Colonel Sears was wealthy and not
only gave his daughter every thing sac
needed or desired, but made her tie
medium for what he bestowed III cha
ity Strangely enough, she took a 1.,-l-
CIV to establish a home for erring WORN
en-a small affair in which temporary
shelter and encouragement were given
to a few who had been unfortunate.
but who had not yet started on lie
consequent upon their misfortune. Her
father was away when she conceived
this design, and when he returned he
tried in vain to dissuade her from it. But
she had strong will and was ioath
to yield Besides, she had gone so far
that in case she abandoned her home
all that had been invested would ne
a dead loss. Her father consented, but
Charlotte could never persuade him to
enter the place. Indeed, it seemed to
have some strong repulsion for him.
One day a carriage stopped at the
door of the Sears residence. A lady en-
tered the house and asked to see the
colonel He was not at home. and the
maid took the message to Charlotte.
Charlotte went down into the room
where the lady was waiting. She
found woman with a sad face, from
which great beauty was fading. She
was richly dressed and in appearance
and manner a lady.
'Father is not at home," said Char
lotte. "Can do anything for your
81 told the maid to announce me only
to your father. She did wrong to go to
you No, you can't be of service to
me-"
Charlotte wondered what business
the lady might have with her father.
but was too well bred to ask. The
lady made no move to depart, but sat
looking at the girl, who stood before
her waiting. 1t seemed to Charlotte
that she had very kindly face.
Il fear you are disappointed in not
finding my father. If you will give
me your name, 1 will tell him as soon
as he comes in that you have been
here, and he will call upon you"
"How are you getting on with your
home?" asked the lady without MOTTO
ing the offer.
MY home? You mean the home for
girls who have been unfortunate? 1t
isn't mine; / only manage it. Father
has given all the money for il"
You mean, / suppose, by unfor-
tunates, girls who have sinned without
suspecting that they were SHINING, pure
in mind and impure under the law.
Would you take in one who had trans
crossed the law knowingly?'
81 would rather not"
The lady WINGED.
'Are you very happy?" she asked
presently.
Il have nothing to make me unhap-
py."
"Your father is very good to you.
He is a good man."
Every one agrees with you in that
"And your mother-waS she good
woman too?"
Charlotte's happy expression at hear
ing her fathers praises left her. Il
know nothing of my mother she said.
Nobody seems sufficiently Informed of
her to satisfy my craving for knowl-
edge of. her But I'm sure she must
have been good woman"
WHY
"WelI, father seems to feel her loss
so keenly. He hasn't the heart to speak
of her.
The lady was silent for time. Her
eyes were wandering, lighting occa-
sionally on Charlotte with an express
sion that Charlotte could not fathom.
Presently she said:
''Your mother was a good woman"
''You knew her?''
"Wen.''
This was the last word the visitor
spoke. She arose. Charlotte begged
her to tell her more but a resolute ex-
preston came over the visitors face,
and she went out without looking back.
"Who shall l say called?" asked
Charlotte. But there was no response.
The lady got into her carriage, and
as Charlotte listened to the sound of
retreating wheels she felt that her
longing for more information on the
subject nearest her heart would never
be gratified.
Later Colonel Sears called at the
home of the woman who had visited
him.
"You were at the house yesterday"
he said.
'Yes. I had an important announce
ment which I intended to make to your
daughter, explaining all to her, but /
could not do it"
"What announcements
1.-THE man the law called my nus
band has died in the asylum, where
he had existed for a. quarter of cen
tury | went to YOU to claim you