When the soft light was in his eye
it meant approval, and delivered a benediction; when he came with a
frown he lowered the temperature ten degrees. He was a well-beloved
man in the house of his friends, but sometimes a dreaded one.
He had a deep affection for the Lester household and its several
members returned this feeling with interest. They mourned over
his kind of Christianity, and he frankly scoffed at theirs;
but both parties went on loving each other just the same.
He was approaching the house--out of the distance; the aunts
and the culprit were moving toward the sick-chamber.
CHAPTER III
The three last named stood by the bed; the aunts austere,
the transgressor softly sobbing. The mother turned her head
on the pillow; her tired eyes flamed up instantly with sympathy
and passionate mother-love when they fell upon her child,
and she opened the refuge and shelter of her arms.
"Wait!" said Aunt Hannah, and put out her hand and stayed the girl
from leaping into them.
"Helen," said the other aunt, impressively, "tell your mother all.
Purge your soul; leave nothing unconfessed."
Standing stricken and forlorn before her judges, the young girl
mourned her sorrowful tale through the end, then in a passion
of appeal cried out:
"Oh, mother, can't you forgive me? won't you forgive me?--I am
so desolate!"
"Forgive you, my darling? Oh, come to my arms!--there, lay your head
upon my breast, and be at peace.
Pages:
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75