Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1859-02-19


evening, when q message came which sum
moned her to him.
When Hertha come before her father,
her glance was less cold, and her demeanor
less rigid than usual She had carried him
like n child in her arms aud on her breast.
through fire and flame. The memory of
that had wonderfully notified her heart
Yet that heart ihrObbed violently as she
entered her fathers room and advanced
softly TO the chair in which he sat. lie
looked up hastily, and moiiOned with bis
hand TO chair which stood near his, and
said: Sit down; wish TO speak TO yOn'
Heriha saw that the hand trembled; it
affected her.
After a moments silence the old man be-
gan, with voice which he endeavored to
make firm.
You have done me great service; you
have saved my life. wish to show you
my gratitude. Tell me whut you wish me
to do for yonI'
Give me my liberty. father said Her
tha, with mild but firm voice-and the
property that | inherit from my mother. ]
am twenty-seven years old, and wish to he
declared as having attained my majority
1t slmll be done replied her father, If
/ can only get time to take the necessary
steps. ] am prepared to render an account
Of the property inherited from Your moth
er; have been just steward according
to the best Of my ability; the last misfor.
tune does not touch it-that-that you
can well understand
Hertha bowed her head in silent acquies.
cenre; her father continued:
THE intere Of your mothers property,
together with your proportion Of your late
sisters share, amounts to n SUN sufficient
10 enalle yOu to live independently where
ever you would like. You have a right to
do so. You are Of the class of strong wo.
mrn who are able TO be their own support.
aud even to support others l have hiih-
erto not believed in the existence of such; /;
| nave, perilups, been unjust in this respect
at all events as regards you, as / saw at
the time Of the fire, and even since then
BE therefore free, my daughter; see and do
that which pleaseS you, aud, in the mean-
time. take his sum of muney'-and with a
trembling hand he laid in that of his dangh-
ter roll of bills to the value of about a
thousand rix-dOllars banko-'they are some
Of my savings you can do with them What
you like; use them for journey or what.
ever else you have a wish for
Money, as rewarded for an act of love,
Which saved him from horrible death! A
yet Herihn received it with gratitude, be-
cause money is a means of much good, aud
Of hnppiness to many; besides, she well un-
derstOod her fathers really good intentions.
Tears filed her eyes as she thanked him
He assumed harsher tone:
4 know that you do not love me. and
perhaps it is not altogether yOur own fault,
because you have not understood my affec-
ton for YOU; nevertheless; know that
save Wished for and desired the future ad.
vantage of my children. Here he sudden
Iy broke off aud fixed his eyes npou the
siound.
Hertha was silent; the Old man wiped a.
way the sweat-drOpS from his brow. His
whole frame trembled. After q moment
ne resumed
II l have made q mistake, then ! am,
perllaps. severely enough punished. In the
meantime, may You be free and happy. far
rom father and home which you do not
love. The interest Of your mothers pro-
perty can he paid TO you at any place
wherever you may he. Aud / desire moth
ing more from you than that you should
tell me where YOU would like TO be-
Here! said llertha, as she rose up and
chair, here, with you, my father, If you
will allow it, Oh! you have little under
stood me and the liberty which have COW
eted. Aud you shall understand me better
If you will promise me. what now ask of
yon, and which know that deserve.
And what is that p asked the Director,
as he looked up to his daughter with an
excited glance
Your confidence, father = said Hertha,
mildly and gravely. Believe that desire
what is right aud good, and let me remain
with you to prove this 10 you. Have con-
iidence in me, and--be kind TO me aud my
sisters, SO that We may love you, and en-
deavor to make you happy. AIN no long
er child my father | will he a moth
er To my younger sisters, aud manage your
fouSe to my best ability. know that this
is my duty it will also be my pleasure, il.
father, yOu will Only give me freedom aud
your confidence, aud he kind to me for
Aimd's sake p
Now it it was spoken ont that re-
proaehful bitter word, which had so long
brooded In Hertha's breast, but a loving
angel had auOiuted the arrows point with
a healing balsam. 1t pierced the heart
deeply, penetraIingIy, but a. the same time
solIrningIy, ss with ehaStizing look of love.
The old man said nothing he bowed
his head, aud large heavy tears rolled down
the deeply fGrrOwed cheeks.
Then another head hent down softly to
his, and young fresh cheek, wet with tears
was laid close to his A beautiful sorrow
ing memory united father ald daughter ia
one common bitter pain. YeS-LleSsed are
they who can thus weep together
Gentle feeling produce profoundly bene-
iral effects upon stern natures. IL is the
Spring rain which melts the recovering Of
the earth, causes it TO open to the beams
of heaven.
Old Mr. Falk felt it to be so, and he
raised his head, as he said in the gentlest
voice which his daughter had ever heard
Il ON her father
Lei IL be as VOu haVa said We will