"That Shabby Little Party."

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4436, 24 March 1883, Page 1

"That Shabby Little Party."

♦ By Atr«T Pbacticax. . '.' . r : :

CHAPTER. IT. ■•',, 1,! FOUND FAITHFUL ,> /. ,r "iThus ever think of me! Kindly and gently, but as of one For whom it is well to be fled and gone So let it be." -Mm HnfANs. Fire years have hate passed finoe then, and Hubert has found pis life work, and. is striving faithfully, manfully, to accom* plish it. Mabel too has found rest for ~ her tried heart, and* happiness in the contemplation of her brother's welfare and usefulness. And by his side there lingers a gentle presence, a true, loving help* meet,—for just one year ago he ventured . to ask for the peerless gem that, all un«. , known to him, had been his so long; and Lucy Whittard had accepted her life work and become the wife of the oneeunstable, careless youth rwho was new "" the pride and delight of his devoted sister s life. These two had become very .dear to each other, "and, Ions; before Hubert's marriage, Mabel bad loved the gentle Lucy with a sister's tender affection. Old Mr Whittard had long since finished his work, and given up hit stewardship to the Great Master, and the firm was now known as Wilfred Whittard and Co., Herbert having accepted the junior partnership. As for Ralph, .he'had entered upon his ministry, and was labor? . ing faithfully in a country parish,' where his .work was not. without recompense. And before he went away he had sought Mabel Clifford, and with all. the tender pathos of his nature, had offered her the first and only love of his manhood, but Mabel, > with deep sorrow for him, had gently told him the truth, that she could never forget her early love, and would remain unwedded, faithful to this tender memory of the past. 80, with ft sigh for his blighted hopes, fialph had left her, tenderly expressing his earnest hopes for her future happiness, and., expressing himself as " her true friend for ever.", ■ ' ' ' ■" r * Mildred had married a wealthy merchant, and whenever she noticed a plain little figure flittiog about life's pathway*

.^j^^.ttbughtis^pjild^ whenallunairare-of-the noble-heart that beat beneath the homely garment, she had spoken so lightly of " that shabby :f Ijut nerery neyer moie had the temptation :-'-'of cro^sed^. the % tiweSH6latof Hubert's' honied forsalways j :^fet;,>yfefd3, the sight, of the aparkling Winrcup^ recall the memory of that;terrible time, when to his own heart haa^^n^eirecf the^'tferribleft^harge prp^bx.Glaribers sadw untimely; fate.