Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1859-07-08
DELAWARE, OHIO, JULY 8, 1858

store him. The young stranger threw q CRATE
ful look upon her as she stood speaking in the
door way, and then carefully bore his father
over the threshold.
A clear mild day succeeded that of the storm
But the coast for miles around bore witness of
the terrific conflict of the elements Milly was
seated in her fathers library, when there came
a knock at the door. She crushed the fatal let
ter in her hand at the sound, and waited for
the appearance of her visitor 1t was the gray
haired old man, whom she had restored to life
l came TO bid you goodbye my child-but
before I go let me ask you if I can be of any
service to you, though l cannot repay you for
all the service you have been to me. You seem
desolate here"
Il am desolate," said A[illy, with cry of
anguish.
Then call upon me for any service, as you
would upon father. My name is Frederick
Vale, and
"What did you say =" cried Milly, interrupt
ting hin, whist every trace of color had left
! her face.
& said my name was Frederick Vale
Then this is for you" said Milly, handing
to him the letter, and crouching timidly back
in corner.
He read it over once or twice. then threw it
down upon the table and walked across the
room in an ungovernable rage, muttering to
himself:
"Justice at last-but it comes too late to
bring back what is lost. But at least l may
remove myself from the suspicion under viii ch
[ have always lived-and my son, too shall be
no more pointed out as a murderer's child
| Perhaps the coward thought [ should spare
him when he was in the grave, but 1 viii not
i am not too old for revenge
The old man had forgotten that he was not
alone. In his hurried walk across the room he
/ stumbled over Milly
"How dare you remain here? ?" said he
fereely.
1" I have right here until he is buried
Then l will go off and endeayor to earn my
living-that is, if any one will give work to ID
murderer's child! All this property belongs
to you-I will not touch a cent Of it."
Child, who did you say was not buried?"
| said the old man, in whisper.
Come and see,' and AIilly led the way into
the presence of the dead
The gray-haired man gazed long and earnest
y on the face of his early friend, and then 81
lently sank down on the floor.
Cdild,' said he, after a long pause, :. I was
not myself just now. For the sake of love l
once gore him, l can do him no harm now
his memory is sacred to me. What matters it
if the world believes me guilty, as long as 1
am not guilty at heart? Therefore [ viii des-
troy the fatal letter, and the world shall be no
wiser. And you, if you will, shall he my daugh-
ter, and l will endeavor to supply as far as
can his place to you Shall it be so, my
child ?"
"Yes, my second father" and Milly also
knelt down by the dead. In the doorway was
shodow, and Milly looking up, saw standing
reverentlyon the threshold the stranger whom
she had seen the dsy before.
|
| A year afterwards in the same season of the
year, there was Il bridal-the daughter of
Alexander Mason had married the son of Fred
erick Vale. There was happy family circle
to celebrate the wedding, and foremost amid
the group was white-haired man, who blessed
God for having given him in his declining
years such children.