The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-12-14

rousing himself from his long silence. In
the pause after his words you could hear
how the wind shook the house, groaning
among the trees, and sighed along the gar.
den walk.
"Yes, terrible night" his wife answered
with a shudder. "God grant no poor soul
may be out in it sbelterless."
"Amen; l would take in my worst enemy
on such night as this"
His worst enemy; but would he have to-
ken in his own child; the daughter with his
blood in her veins, fed once at his board;
warmed at his hearth II this question
crossed the wife's mind, she gave no utter
ance.
"Shall light the candle, Rufus !" she
asked meekly.
"Yes, it is almost bed.time. had forgot
ten how long we were sitting in the dark
will read now, and then we shall be better
in bed"
He drew toward him the Bible, which lay
between the candles she had lighted-it had
been his habit, for years, to read chapter
in it nightly. Somehow, tonight, the pa
ges opened to the beautiful, ever new story
OF the prodieal son. Judge Howard read it
through calmly, bu, his hand trembled as he
shut the book.
"Hannsh," he began, and then paused es
il his pride were still too strong to permit
him to con fess himself in the wrong. But
soon he proceeded. "Hannah, do suppose
that wos written Os an example to those "hc
should seek to be numbered with the chill
dren OF God. H. is our father and his arms
are ever open to the wanderer. My heart
nisgives me sorely about Caroline. She
would not have disobpyed me, but-do ever
disobey Gud. aud where should be il He
measured out to me such measure as have
measured to her. Oh, Hannsh, never ielt
before how much needed to be forgiven"
The mothers tears we're falling still and
fast-she could not answer. There was ST.
Ience for moment, and then again the
Judge sad TeslIe ssly-"Hannah !" and she
looked up into his white moved face. "Han
nah, C. ud we find her! Do you think she
still llves-Uur own child =
! God knows, my husband. Sometimes |
think that she is dead. | see her face on
dark nilhts, aud il wears a look OF heavenly
peace. In the winds | hear voice th't
sounds like hers, and she seems trying to
tell me she has found rest. But no, 10 !"
her lace kindIed-' she is not dead. ] feel
1t in my soul. God will let US see her once
more. am her muther. | shall not die
! ill my kisses hive rested on her cheek, my
| hand touched her h4ir. | believe / have d
promise, Ruus"
God grsnt it, Hannah" after these words
they bota sat silently again listening.
They had heard the outer deor open, but
now o step sounded in the hull, and the door
of the room where they sat was softly un-
closed. They both started up-perhaps they
half expected to see Caroline; but it was
only their next Deighbor, holding by the
hand " child. She spoke eagerly, in half
confused way, which she did notice.
"This little one came to my house. Judge,
but hsdn't room to keep her 50 brought
her over here. Will you take her IN!
"Surely, surely. Come here, poor child"
Who had ever heard Judge Howsrd's
voice so gentle! The little girl seemed
some what assured by it. She crept to his
knee, and lifted up her face. The Judge
bent over her; whose were those deep blue
ewes? Where had he seen that peculiar
shade OF hair, like the she'll Of ripe ches-
not Did he not know those small, sweet
featus ed, the wistful mouth, the delicate skin! -!
His haDds shook.
Whose-whose child ore you? What
- what is your name?''
"Grace," and the little GIRL trembled Wis.
IDLY.
"Grace Huntley," said the neigubot's
voice. growing somewhat quivering now
"Grace Huntley. You can not help know
ing that face, Judge. 1t is a copy Of one
which belonged once to the brightest and
prettiest girl in all Ashdale."
The old man-he looked very old now
shaken by the tempest in his strong heart os
the wind shook the leaves outsde-drew the
chi into his bosom with an euger, hungry
look. His arms closed around her as il they
would hold her there forever.
"My child, my child" burst like a sot
from his lips, and then he bent over silently
At first his vile had stood by in mute amaze
ment, her face almost as white as the caE
border that trembled around it. Now I
thought pierced her, quick and keen as thu
thrust Of sword. She drew near end look
ed plteously into the neighbor's eyes.
"Is she an orphan! Where is her mo
! ther I"
/ The Judge heard her and lifted up hi
head.
eyes," he cried, "where is Caroline =
, Have pity and tell me where is Caroline +
n Before the woman could answer, an eoge
voice called-"Here, father, mother, here,
and from the hall where she had been lin
gering half in fear, Judge Howard's owl
, child came in. 1t was to the mother's breas
, to which she first clung; the mothers arm
which clasped her with passionate clinging
then she to,tered forward, and threw hersel