The Iron Rule

rs, and the bad reputation of the son of the former, the intercourse between Andrew and Emily was more and more restricted. Still their friendship for each other remained, to a certain

is name coupled with words of censure without feeling pain. One half that was said of him she

with the termination of this, was removed the last restraint that held the lad in bounds of external propriety. The cause of this termination we will relate: As Andrew grew older, he grew more and more self-willed, and strayed farther and farther from the right way. Social in his feelings, he sought the companionship of boys of his own age, and by the time he was seventeen, had formed associations of a very dangerous character. Though positively forbidden by his father to be out after night, he disregarded the injunction, and went from home almost every evening. At home there was nothing to attract him; nothing to give him pleasure. A shadow was ever on the brow of his father, and this threw a gloom over

nd emphasis that indicated a higher degree of earnestness than usual, "if you are out again until after

and son the

er, he half repented the utterance of a law, that, if broken, could not, he feared, but result in injury to the disobedient boy. At last the clock struck ten. He paused and stood listening for over a minute; then he resumed his walk again, and continued his measured paces for over ten m

returned at all before morning. But in this his hope was not realized. The fact of Andrew's having staid out so late

" said Mr. Howland to his wife, seeing

sit up for Andre

e in, to-night,"

instantly; her face flushing

til after ten o'clock, there would be no admission for

other, in a low, choking voice. "Would you turn an erring

e act is his, not mine," r

ke, the b

claimed the mother, st

d, looking sternly in her face, added, "Haven't I ju

a few minutes after ten,"

nd that settles the matte

ll he go?" as

r place. To-morrow he will most probably have

ed this sentence, t

anguish, and she made a movement to pass her husband. But a stro

r, Esther! As the father of that waywa

m from his home; no

doing," said Mr. Howland, impatiently. "W

ing, in her distress of mind, beyond the ordinary sp

the latter, "and knowing my duty t

n at this moment, and

Mrs. Howland clasped her hands imploringly, and lifted

ly. "Have I not said this over and over again. Why will

servant who had retired came down from her room and was moving alo

are you

the bell," repl

to your room. You n

et," said the serv

your room?" returned Mr.

d twice more the knocking was re

ho was sitting on a sofa, with her face buried

er did n

did you

in a pillow. Mr. Howland was soon by her side. Both lay without moving for nearly half an hour, and then the heavy respiration of the husband told that he was asleep. The moment this was apparent, Mrs. Howland, who had lain as still as if locked in dee

ill there. But, as she looked anxiously forth

she stepped from the door, and threw he

lized. Then she passed on to the next house, and the next, with the same purpose and the same result. She was near the corner of the street, when the sound of a closing door fell upon her ear, and the thought that the wind might have shut her o

ere that not the case, no one would come down, unless her husband should awaken, and discover that she was not by his side. Again a

heard approaching along the street. Soon the form of a man came in view, and in a little while he was i

the matt

led so, that she c

lifted one foot upon the stone steps leading

u live

ied in a low, f

perceived, by his dress, that he was one of the ni

s by which she was surrounded, and turning to the man as she spoke, "ha

, in a respectful voice. Then he added, "I saw

o you know wher

e passed on o

ence. A few moments she stood silent, and then placed

asked the watchman,

, and it has become fast

he mother's head, and the night air penetrating her thin garments. A shiver ran through her frame

f your being out?"

n the house," rep

ately that his wife was absent from her place by his side, and thinking that his son had renewed his efforts to gain admission, the latter did not make a motion to rise. In a few moments, however, the repeated strokes of the mace,

's t

the door," was answe

d beginning by this time to get a little clear fro

ce that threw all int

n!" exclaimed Mr. Howland, al

out Mrs. Howland, in a tone of di

t him, and ran up stairs. The watchman retired without speaking to the confused and astonished husb

f all this?" asked Mr. Howland

re was

" said he, in a

r further encroachments in the direction from which they were now coming. Suddenly she raised herself up from whence she had f

rity do you sp

d in me as your husband

eak, the simple, and the erring! Have you anything to say

g finger upward, while she fixed an eye upon her h

me did Mr. Howland lift his eyes to those of his wife, and each time did they fall, after a few moments, under the

o me, E

n response to this, yet without

and, "and, as a wife, are under a sacred obligation to

Mrs. Howland, "that I was on God's err

covert sneer in the tone with which th

obedient thereto, to seek the straying child you had so harshly and erringly turned from your door: t

as an unsteadiness in the voice of Mr. Howland, that marked the

er," was her firm reply. "Too long, already, have you place

Howland was not prepared. He was, in fact, utterly confounded. Had there been the smallest sign of irresolution on the part of his wife-the nearest appearance of weakness in the will so sudde

out the room, while his wife continu

ts tone when he last spoke. "You had better retire. It is useless to remain t

then Mrs. Howland looked again from the window. "Where-where can he have

satisfying intelligence to offer, nor any word

the floor of the room, his mind given up to troubled and rebuking thoughts. In his hardness and self-will he had justified himself up to this in his course of conduc