Chapter XXVII.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 4255, 6 July 1895, Page 2 (Supplement)

Chapter XXVII.

THE day after Elsie's return, Mr. Dodd called. He was much changed. The last few weeks had aged him, and he had lost his look of sleek prosperity. " Glad to see you better, Helsie, my dear," he said, kindly. " I've been very anxious about you — very; bur I'm not going to talk about troubles. It was a great disappointment to me, love." He sighed ; thinking riot of the halffinished rose-garden and pretty boudoir, but of other and far more serious griefs.

." lam very sorry, dear Mr. Dodd," said Elsie, taking his hand affectionately. " You will try to forgive me ? " " Tut, tut, my love — nothing to forgive, on my side, anyhow," responded the old man, patting her hand tenderly. " It isn't good ior us to have every thing Tie set our hearts upon. I try to hope it's all for the best ; but this isn't what I came to say. I daresay you remember, my dears, that I am your brother's godfather?" " We are not likely to forget/ leplied

Elsie, smiling. " Most godfathers consider their responsibilities end with the christening day, b;.t you are always doing Bertie some kindness." " Nonsense ! " answered Mr. Dodd, impatiently. " I have done nothing for Bertie which I would not do for the son of any old friend; I merely name the fact of his being my godson as a reason why your father should allow that I have a right to help the boy. 1 wish him to go to school after Christmas, and I want you girls to talk to your father! about it. There are reasons why 1 (-]<? not wish to speak to him myself on the* subject." " Oh ! Mr. Dodd, you are too good," cried Mavy, after a _>a.iise of bieiitlilcsg surprise. Elsie could find no words to say at all ; the tears rushed into her eyes, as she put her arms round the old mini's n^ck and kissed lum. He looked at her tenderly.

I " What, tears, my little \ efc ! No, no, I don't like to see dew in those pretty eyes. You gels think 100 much of a bit of money. God has given me plenty, as you know, and if I do not use it in a *good way He may send me some great grief to bring me to a better mind." /'You have always spent your money for the good of others," said Elsie, warmly ; "no one could be more gencr-i ous." " I don't know, my love," replied the old man, in a depressed, spiritless tone. " Justice, generosity, and duty are hard matters* for a plain man to understand. I try to do right as far as I can see." The girls glanced at each other ; they knew he was thinking of Frank Armitage, and Elsie wondered if he was beginning to suspect the truth, and if it was remorse for his hasty judgment which had so bowed and .broken his spirit. That he was thinking of him was proved by his next words. "Do you know, my dear, if your father has heard from Harinitagc lately?" He looked at Elsie, but Mary was the one to reply. "He bad a letter last week," she said; "Mr. Armitage wrote cheerfully. His mother liked her new house, and he had obtained employment from Mr. Dale."

Mr. Dodd's eyes brightened, and he straightened his stooping shoulders, as though a physical weight had been removed.

" It does my heart good to hear that, Mary. I hope, I sincerely hope he will do well. It would be hard if one false s step should spoil a man's life. I daresay you know,my dears, that your father md I have had a little difference on the subject of — of — the late troubles. The first crooked word we've had in all the iwerity-five years I've known him. ignite a grief to me, I assure you." • Tears gathered in Elsie's eyes. It" 3eemed as if her unhappy love affair had 1 ;ast a gloom over every one. She did' lot know what to say. '

"It will pass by, dear Mr. Dodd," rentured Mary, timidly; "you know, 'ather is too good to be vexed long." "Sooner he leaves off being vexed with me the better," quoth the old, nan, rising. "Don't let it prevent his, jonsenting to my plans for Berfcic.j Mind, I trust that to you girls. Ladies'! nanage such delicate matters better] ;han a rough old chap like me. Good>ye, dear children, God bless j r ou all." " What is the matter with him ?"> sried Elsie, as soon as he was gone. "I 1 aever saw him like this before : he must >c ill." ;

" I don't know," replied Mary, every jne has remarked how he has aged lately. Perhaps he is sorry for his in-] justice to Frank Ai-mitage." ' It will be observed that Mary's, jpinions had altogether changed since,. Elsie's return. Truly a rapid conver-1 sion ! but when one is anxious to be con-! nnced few arguments are needed. '

"No," replied Elsie, sadly; "yort heard what he said about 'one false step.' No, the dear old man honestly believes in his son's honour, and perhaps it is natural he should. He has done, right according to the best of his judg- ! ment; yet something weighs upon his mind. What is it?"

Mary shook her head. "If one may] judge by appearances, something weighs upon Mrs. Dodd's mind, too ; she looks' very ill and depressed "

"That is strange," returned Elsie, thoughtfully. "Although Mr. Dod(| believes Frank guilty, he is hones llyj grieved at the course he has felt obliged! to pursue; but Mrs. Dodd never was even civil to the Armitages — then — I know the old man is really distressed about my not marrying Sain ; but Mrs... Dodd is not likely to break her heart foij that cause."

Elsie smiled archly as memory re? called her many battles with the little autocrat at the hall. But Mary looked grave. " You will not laugh, Elsie, when yon have seen her ; she is much altered."

In fact, Mrs. Dodd was greatly changed. She had become melancholy and abstracted. Her keen black eye^ were no longer on the alert to detect thd failings of those around her, and the sharp scolding tongue was silent. Simple-minded Mr. Dodd was at no loss as to the cause of her depression, and as he walked home from the Vicarage, it pleased him to think she would be comforted on hearing tidings of Frank Armitage and his mother. She received the news with feverish eagerness.

" I am glad to hear it, Samuel," she said, a hectic flush dyeing her thin cheek. " After all, perhaps " She checked h/iveelf and glanced at her husband nervously.

" I know what you would say, Mar> Ann," he replied ; '• I, too, hope the pooi fellow may be able to retrieve his character. It's breaking your heart, my dear, thinking of his dear father and all we owe him How hast thou repaid the kindness P says the old lady, and • well she may ! I can't sleep for racking my brains to see how I could have acted different."

A flash of her old temper lighted up Mrs. Dodd's eyes. " What nonsense you talk, Samuel!" she said, impatiently " You always speak as though you wen in debted to old Mr. Armitage." " And so I am," returned Mr. Dodd sturdily. " Not at all. Yon were a belter man obusiness than he ; naturally, you ros< and he fell. You paid a good price foi the mills and the property, and wha< does he do but go and lose the money directly." "My dear," said Mr. Dodd, depvecatingly, "it was through no fault of his, you know ; the bank failed." [TO BB OOIfTIiJOKD] ,

— The janitor of one of the Portland! public schools, coming ioto the class-room, one day, paw on the blackboard this sea-! fcence : " Find the greatest common divisor." 1 "Hullo!" said he, "is that durned thing; lost again? "~N. E. Journal of Education:,

—"I a»n engaged, Jennie." "To; whom?" "I declare I don't know. F was introduced to him at the Dawsons' •* he was lovely j he loved me, proposed, and was accep ed, all in the same even iug. Uoiorwatety, X didfi't catcb hi« name.*^^^