The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1859-12-22

rest. Dut, no, no -neT lace hlhuieu
-s'she is not dead. feel it once more
| am her mother. / shall not die until
my kisses have rested on her cheek,
my hand touched her hair believe /
have promise, Rufus"
"God grant it, Hannah" and after
those words they both sat silently again
listening ng-listening-listening.
They had not heard the outer door
open, bnt now step sounded in the
hall, and the door of the room where
they sat, was softly unclosed. They
both started up-perhaps they had ex-
pected to see Caroline, but it was only
their next neighbor, holding by the
hand child. She spoke eagerly, in a
half confused way, which they did not
notice.
"This little one came to my house,
Judge, but l hadn't room to keep her
so brought her over here. Will you
take her in %
"Surely, surely. Come here, poor
child"
Who had ever heard Judge Howard's
voice so gentle? The little girl seemed
somewhat reassured by it. She crept
to his knee and lifted up her face. The
Judge bent over her. Whose were
those deep blue eyes? Where had he
seen that peculiar shade of hair like
the shell of ripe chestnut? Did he
not know those small, sweet features,
the wistful mouth, the delicate chin ?
His hands shook.
Whose, whose child are you
What is your name %
Grace" and the little girl trembled
violently.
"Grace Huntly," said the neighbor's
voice, grown somewhat quivering now.
"Grace Huntly. You cannot help
knowing that face, Judge. 1t is copy
of one which belonged once to the
brightest and prettiest face in Ash
dale"
The old man, he looked very old
now, shaken by the tempest in his
strong heart as the wind shook the trees
without-drew the child into his bosom
with an eager, hungry look. His arms
closed around her as if he would hold
her forever.
"My child! my child!" burst like
sob from his lips, then he beut over
her, silently. At first his wife had
stood by in mute astonishment, her
face almost as white as the cap border
which trembled around it. Now a
thought pierced her quick and keen as
thrust of sword. She drew near
and looked piteously into the neighbor's
eyes.
"Is she an orphan? Where is her
mother %
The Judge heard her and lifted up his
head.
eyes," he cried, "where is Caroline ?
Have pity and tell me where is Caro-
line ?"
Before the woman could answer, an
eager voice called-"Her father, moth
er here" and from the hall where she
had been lingering half in fear, Jadge
Howard's only child came in. 1t was
mothers breast to which she tottered
forward and threw herself down at her
mothers feet.
"Forgive me, father" she tried to
say, but the Judge would not hear.
The angel at length troubled the deep
waters of his heart. He saw now, in
its true light the self-will and unforgiv-
ing spirit which had been the the sin of
his life.
He sank upon his knees, his arm un-
folding his daughter and her child, and
his wife crept to his side and knelt be-
side him, while from his lips Mrs. Marsh
heard, as she closed the door and left
the now united family to themselves,
this prayer:
'.Father, forgive us our tresspasses as
we forgive those who tresspass against
u.s."
Judge Howard had not uttered it be-
fore for ten years.
After that nj ght the Judges mansion
was not only the stateliest but the happi-
est home in Ashdale. Caroline Huntly
had borne as she could the burden of
her fathers unforgiving anger, and the
weight on her heart had become too
heavy to be endured, she had started
with her child home. The stage had
set her down that stormy night in her
native village, and the forgiveness for
which she had scarcely dared to hope,
had expanded into welcome.
The old people could not again spare
their daughter, and they summoned
Richard Huntly home. A son he
proved of whom any father might be
proud, and in the after years no shadow
brooded over the peaceful dwelling,
where once more children's feet danced
II ~