Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-10-12

was to wait here quietly until he came
back. Very quietly, he told me, and he
should soon be back"
Would you not ike to have your supper
at once" said Laura. Your papa is ta-
king longer walk than he intended, and
he will be very sorry that you should be so
hungry. Shall not ask the gentleman, 8"
pointing to Che landlord. woo had come up
to the table, ''to bring you something to
eat at once ?"
mo, thank you, l must wait for my
papa"
EDtreaties and coa1ings were all in vain,
and Laura, fearful of distressing him still
more, left him alone, and resumed her seat
by me.
Nearly another hour passed away. Laura
insisted on remaining in the room. and we
listlessly studied the LIRE des EtrdRgers.
By-and-by the silence of the dark corner
was broken. The courage of the gallant
little mite had given way; he was sobbing
as if his heart would break. Laura had
him in her arms in a moment
"Oh, papa papa" he cried, in his bit
ter agony. "Oh, papa papa! how could
you leave me so long alone? Oh, papa
come backbone back !"
Above his low, sad wall l heard the
sound of persons entering the hotel, and
then there was busy hum of voices, and
a minute or two afterward the landlord,
with strange expression in his face, looked
in at the door and beckoned to me. | has
of the hotel, found the walters and other
people gathered. Three peasants had just
come in, bringing with them something
they had found-something which lay in a
disfgured heap upon the ground.
They had found the body of man, l
was quickly told, at the bottom of low
cliff about a quarter of a mile from the
hotel. Then they uncovered the face, and
/ at once recognized the man Laura and |
had passed on the ascent. Then, as a cold
shiver came over me, heard a cry within
the room had left.
My papa has come back-I know he
has - and before any one could interfere the
door of the sdlIe,a m0nger was thrown open
AMI the paid, weeping child tottered out,
followed hastily by Laura
Where is papa? | know he is here ~
And, checking his violent sobs, he looked
eagerly at the solemn faces around him.
Why won't you tell me where papa is?
''Oh what's that upon the floor ?''
Then. before any one could stop him. he
cast himself down and laid his cheek By the
cold white lips that nevermOre could kiss
him or breathe wor6 Of love into his ear.
Gentle hands raised him softly, and bore
him away TO the room the dead man had
prepared, and laid him down upon the bed.
He seemed to know his own utter desoia-
ton, and the paroxysm of grief was strange
ly stilled. Laura remained with him al
night and when the first red lights of the
rising sun bathed with deep splender the
silent glaciers and the snowy peaks, the
young heart had broken beneath its burden
and the weary spirit fed away.
Shortly afterward-at Milan, [ think 1t
was-I saw copy of the Times, and in the
second column saw an advertisement for
man with a red mark under his eye; and
when | returned to England | learned the
whole story.
This man, who had ever borne the high
est character, had got into deep distress,
owing principally to the shameful conduct
of friend for whom he had become surety,
and in an evil moment he had fallen, and
had forged check for a considerable
amount, intending-as such unhappy men
always do intend to replace the money.
He failed in doing this. and, conscious that
his fraud must iEfallibly be discovered, he
had fed from England, taking with him
his motherless child. Whether, in fit of
dispair. he had thrown himself from the
cliff, or whether he had simply missed his
footing, it is impossible to say. Father and
son rest in one grave in a churchyard on
that mountain height; and on every ami
versary of the awful tragedy the good peas
ants place wreaths of immortelles upon the
simple white cross that marks the nameless
tomb