Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1864-06-24
NO. 13.

nc dead; but l was resolved not to come bacl
10 them until 1 could atone for the boyis
faults, the thoughtless extravaganza of m,
youth. Now I am richer than ever dreamed
or aspired TO be, and-alone. I wish you
good afternoon, sir p
1t was raining, as people say, deluge-
yet tbs softest gales of ARABIA might have beer
breathing spice across his brow for all the
notice Theodore Merlin took of the storm
Yet. as he passed druggists gaudiy decorated
esta blishment, the glimmer of its cOlored jars
through the rain seemed to suggest some new
iiea
"It is useless" be muttered to HIMSELF "and
yet"
He turned abruptly, entered, and asked for
he directory.
"Certainly, sir just back OF that door, said
the man politely-tben resumed his interrupt
ed chat with The her clerk.
Every cent Of III"
"Well !" exclaimed the other, Il had given
that up as bad debt. So Jack has gone
round 10 old Merlin's after all y
The directory fell from the strangers hand
upon the floor. The clue was found al last
found by the merest chance in tie world.
Through the driving rain the carriage was
swiftly urged onward, its two occupants Theo-
dore Merlin and the druggists clerk.
"Iiow slow the horses are !" calculated the
former, biting his lip with feverish imraIience.
Shall we never be there?"
1--WE are making pretty good time" said
the clerk, respectfully; "but the streets are
bad"
81 could walk faster" said Merlin irritably.
SIS it far from here?"
mot very, but"
He hesitated, aud cleared his throat.
"But you must bear 10 mind, sir, that the
old gentleman was very ILL.,"
'LH ! have been ill myself That is moth
ing-all the drugs and doctors on this side of
the Atlantic shall be called in to his aid.
am rich man now, and money can do won
ders''
The clerk shook his head:
sit cannot save him, sir, although it may
prolong days to months"
II will not listen to you" said Merlin, with
flushed, angry brow. How dare you speak
in that way to me? Do you know what have
endured in prospect of this hour? Do you
know the miles | have Travelled, the days
tulIed? Aud now
He stopped short, with a choking sensation
in his throat:
''We are here, sir, said the clerk, springing
out to open the door, as the horses were check
ed close to the curbstone.
Yes; but death had been beforehand with
them.
And so it happened, that Theodore Merlins
faltering footsteps sounded on the threshold
only to find a dead corpse--only TO see Kitty
Eswick kneelng on the floor, with the child s
head on her laps the sweet angel of mercy,
whose fair face, full of plying gentleness,
seemed bright With a supernatural light!
One hour too late. Oh, time, whose feet
stand never 10 their remorseless PROGRESS,
just one hour too late
How very unfortunate!" said Mrs. Sinclair,
"lf had once imagined that Theodore Mer-
lin was coming back rich man, it would have
altered the aspect of things very materially
A widower, too. Josey it would have been u
splendid match for your
Josepha groaned in spirit:
cts no use talking, mamma. He's gone
down to the Eswick'S country place; and they
say he's going to buy parsonage and furnish
it splendidIy for that young minister, and live
there with him and Kitty, and that boy of his.
If We could ohly have forseen how matters
were going to happen!''
Aud the June honeysHckles are swinging
their coral cbalices around the low caves of the
pretty country parsonage where little Charlie
Merlin is playing in the sunshine; and Kitty
giides around, the prettiest matrOn one could
imagine. No wonder that the young clergy
man looks up from his haIf-fnished sermon,
and SMILES as his wtes fresh face peeps arcbly
in at the study window. While Theodore
Merlin watches the shadows creep across the
velvet lawn, and tries to believe that merci-
full Heaven is ever ALL"