Year: 1874

flush instantly overspread lis face


Il will he tied there no longer,
he rutprned, I will seek other com
pany in the future


I was frightened at the result Of
my words. Still I made no re.
sponse. Ny son putting on. his
coat and hat, went out. It was the
first time in his life he had ever left
me without informing me where he
was going.


In good time the party came off.
It was a gay affair, and none were
gayer than Willie He was sort
of an extremist, and took no me
dunn stand. After that his books
and work we're neglected, and his
days, as we'll as evenings, were
spent abroad. Fast young men be-
came his constant companions. I
was left alone to mourn over the
change I had wrought. At first he
made it rule to be in at night at
ten o'clock, but after a time he be-
gan to stay out later; and daybreak
sometimes found linn from home. I
tried to expostulate, tried to win
him back to his old habits, but my
efforts were unavailing. He had
got a taste of new life and it
held him by a charm. Well do I
remember the first night he came
home in a state of intoxication.-
It was his seventeeth birthday,
just a year from the time I
gave the party. l had seen him
under the influence of wine once or
twice before, but on this night he
drank SO deeply that some OF his
companions had to help him home.


The hours of that night were
dreadful hours Of self reproach and
agony. I was so glad when morn
ing came to dispel the gloom-so
glad when reason returned to my er-
ring child. He was very much
ashamed. He said again and again
lie would do better; but his resolves
were worthless. Two nights later
he was again brought home intoxi-
Gated. After that it was a common
occurrence. He fell lower and
lower, squandered al my ready mon
ey, and when I refused to mortgage
my property that he might have
more, he left me with an oath.


That night a large firm was rob-
bed and it was discovered that vii
lie was one Of the perpetrators of
the deed. The next morning the
town was alive with the excitement,
and T almost crazed with anxiety,
for my boy had fed. The news
passed from mouth to mouth my
house was searched, and my son
called william; but I had no power
to prevent either. No one gave me
a word of sympathy.


You have only yourselfto blame,
said q blunt old woman, who called
during the day.


The boy was happy at home,
but you drove him into bad com
pany."


That night at the hour of twelve,
as I sat alone, a window was opened
softly, and Willie stepped into the
room. With a glad cry [ sprang
toward him, but he pushed me
rudely away.


::Can vou hide me ANYWHERE he
said. The bloodhounds are after
me. Had you given me the money
Yesterday this would not have been.


"Oh, Willie, I cried.


eyes MOTHER he said sternly,
YOU have made me a criminal. Iwant
to tell you I have secretly married
Kate Hastings. God knows what
will become Of her


Kate was pretty little creature:
only Is years old, innocent as the
7iolets which grew around her
home. My bleeding heart gave q
quick, painful throb as he continued:


The world will not believe we
are married. She will be scolned
by all. Hark! they are coming
Mother, T am too young, too wick
ed to die, but I must die. Fare
WE'LL"


I saw bis purpose now, for his
hand clutched revolver, and
springing to my feet 1 threw my
arms about him to shield him from
himself. But he shook me off. The
next moment the loud report Of his
pistol echoed through the house
One glance showed me his lfeless
form, stretched on the floor. Then
existence was blank to me.


:When I awoke to consciousness
the morning sun was shining and
the house was filed with people
But even justice was satisfied, and
T was left alone with the dead. Ali
day, fearless and motionless, l sat
beside the mangled corpse. Some