The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-10-28

night and next week wen go up to Bos
ton and see what answer no makes u.s."
And then Lucy. blushing like swee
pea ran TO got the pen and paper. amidl!
trusting In the efficacy Of her plan.
For his father can't be 50 very hard
hearted she thought, ''and they are st
very rich that surely they will bo willing
To walt for this five hundred dollars unit
we can pay It,
The elegantly furnished little Office or
Leeds street did not often have sucf
"outTe" equipagcs drawn mp before It a!
Paul Parkers mud-be.splashed box wag
on and shaggy old pony. and the elegant.
ly attired young lawyer. who sat Mt the
desk examining some papers, glanced NJ
In surprise rs the blooming girl and the
bent old man entered together, like May
and December.
I.ncyr
.Ninian! Thought your Gsther-I did
not know that"
MY father Is detained at his country
seat, and am acting member Of the firm,
Lucy. He took me into partnership last
week. and this is"
He turned inquiringly, md with some.
thing of a start, to tho brown-faced old
man, who stood modestly In tho back
ground. I.ucy introduced her father, and
stated their business. with profusion ol
very becoming bushes. She had not ex.
pecied to find her gallant young cavalier
Of tho past fall In the Office of St. John
Martin.
We arc In very Strengthened circum.
stances. Mr.. Martini concluded Lucy,
and my father cannot ut present hope to
discharge the debt, but am soon to have
a very good situation In Madame Elvaine's
school as music teacher, and we can get
along and pay part mt n time II your
father would be SO kind rs to wait a
little"
Lucy stopped short; her voice was get.
ting unsteady, and she was far too proud
to yield to the fast coming tears in Ninian
Martins presence.
Tho young man had listened In silence,
but now he took tin box from It's shell
in the safe and unlocking 1t, disclosed sun
dry packages Of labelled notes, receipts,
etc. ...
Let me sec.' he said. running his eye
over them, 1T was note for FIVE hundred
dollars, believe
Yes. SIR answered the old man. for
five hundred dollars
Is this your noteP
Yes, SIR
Ninian Martin tore Il In two, and laid
the fragments on the fire. Paul Parker
and Lucy gazed In nstonishment rs the
young lawyer lifted his dark eyes calmly
toward them.
'Mr-Parker. you will please consider
that you have this day received payment
for very old debt We have balanced
accounts
Sir, / don't understand you,' said the
bewildercd old man. Il don't remen,-
bcr-. 10,
sButI do. It il rather more than ten
years. Mr.. Parker. since you put that
money ut interest F.
'Sir?
i will be more plain with you.' said the
young man. smiling. Perhaps Miss
Parker Is not aware that am only the
adopted son of my more than father. My
real name Is NinO Berlani. am an Ial-
ian by birth. Just ten years ago was
begging n.tho streets of Lsndhill, starved
and penniless. A kind hand-you know
whose. Mr.. Parker-extended itself to me
In the hour Of need
The old mans face lighted up.
Il do remember now. 1t was fifty
cent piece; and I told you to come back
Just week from that time and
And did not come. No. but I tried
my very best to come, but was prevented
by the brutality of the man whose slave
and drudge I was. Well. / begged my
way to Boston. having run away from my
tyrant. st. John Martin found me one
night in the streets. perishing from cold
and starvation. He had just lost his only
child. n boy Of about my own age, and
not unlike me In personal appearance,
and somehow I seemed to take the sore,
vacant place In his heart. ] resolved that
II It ever lay In my power l would return
the gift thousand fold. But / never
dreamed that Lucy's father was my bene-
factor
He turned TO her with bright congrnt-
ulatory smile, as no concluded. while the
brown face of old Paul Parker worked
with emotions he could not conceal.
Il thought you wouldn't ha' cheated me,
hoy; thought your face was good and
truo one! But l ha'nt no right to your
generosity. Your father H -.
My father and / are one, sir. In thought,
decd and wish ..r ..H
4 don't know how to thank you, young
man.
Then do not attempt It. Perhaps one
Of these days I may ask you for yet more
favors.' ''
Old Paul Parker went homo to his wife
sedately triumphant. :.
wife you've said, Il told you so.' all
your life; now it's my turn ,i..
What on airth do you meanH gruinbled
his ascetic helpmatc. Il do believe you're
gcttin' In, your dotAge.' r' H.H.is
May be / am; In that case though i
wish I'd got into It long ago. z3
And he told his adventures, while Lucy
sat by, smiling like a morning In May.
Didn't invest that fifty to pretty good
advantager he asked.
well, nevcrr was her ultimatum.
He wants new favors some day from
mo. What do You say, mother? Can we
slaro our little girl here?' .l-s,
Don't f,therr cried Lucy, hiding her
face; butshe didn't look very angry after
all. r-.-r. ....t, 90 ,..
HLl-