Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1870-03-25

BY REBBccA HARDING DAVIS.


VI EAA2AelY anu AAAOWS III 4Ad4AAC - NANAlelEl
and not Dan. that cant tell about the
boy" He saw no way of escape. "Ii
to call himself my friend was ruin to
the lad, what viii become of him as my
son p And to-day, Jacks fate stood in
the balance, as McMurray had said,
Again and again the Major reasoned
round the dTeary circle.
, 'On one side the charge of a great
church, wealth. and the woman he loves
on the other-me. There was nothing
beyond that. Tonight must end it one
way or the other. The drumming of his
fingers grew slower on his knees, till he
sat like block staring in the fire. The
gnawing hunger tearing at his flesh made
his brain clearer. Was he to be hung
on his boy like a milestone to drag him
down, till one or other of them died
What if he were dead now ? Great gain
would follow and as for los
The Major rose mechanically, the eyes
under his grizzly brows growing strange
ly keen and glittering. 81 don't know
that I'm of much account-if one took
stock of me" He passed his hand with
a queer ehuekle over his big hungry,
rheumatic body; then glanced hastily
toward the pile Of MSS. on which no
publisher had drawn for months, proud
y (0AAS-ASN4o AOA q Vi AAAC t1EAA4S
which had been his birthright. II never
made my mark, though, he muttered.
He repeated that once or twice.
The stock was taken.
He stood quiet moment, and then
sopped his face with his ragged white
handkerchief. 1t was strangely com
posed and grave. He went to a closet
and took down from the orderly shelves
a bottle full of a dark-brown liquid, from
which he halfhred goblet, which he
placed ready on the mantle-shelf; then,
as though doubling its efficacy, he took
out tiny vial full of white powder, and
hid it in his pocket. Unlocking a desk,
he took out an old leather-covered Bible,
yellow with age, and began turning over
the leaves, to find the Family Record.
Born, Jan. 3Ist, John, only child of
Richard and Mary Standish." $50
He read it over. as he had done every
day since he gave the boy up. He
fancied God came as near to him in
those words as he could in any others in
that Book. 1t was the only page which
he ever read. She had written them
there.
''She knows whether I've loved her
and you, Jack, STOPPING to kiss the
faded writing. Your old father shall
never be weight on you, boy He
! opened knife and cut the leaf. 1t was
loose now; he held it in his hand and
stopped over the fire irresolute. After
all, his real hold on life for a good many
years had been through that page; as It
began to crisp, he glanced up quickly at
| the goblet, and then out of the square
dormer window. Lights were beginning
to CLEAN in the houses beyond the
I Schuylkill, the sky warmed red as GIN
nabar on the frosty sunset, while wisps
of feathery smoke from some passing
steamer wavered across it. The world
gave him friendly look-for tie last.
He threw the paper in the fire, put out
his hand for the goblet-when there was
a sudden soft furry behind him, and two
nervous little hands were clapped over
his eyes. The next thing was a hearty
kiss right on his mouth.
why, Madeline child is it you ?"
"Of course it is not me there are so
many pretty girls stealing in to kiss you
without leave Oh dear, I'm quite
frozen, Uncle Dan p iea1
She looked as if she were; her chub-
by, dimpled face was blue, and the nmy
drops stood in her eyes. She perched
herself up on the Majors chair, beating
her hands IN their woolen gloves togeth-
I e. II you OILY GOlAl ul1dGE DOOL5E
! My feet haven't had bit of feeling for
an hour. Five miles did they tramp.
/ didn't want to break the note for car
fare. It's the halfyearly payday, you
know. Just look at it, fumbling in her
bosom under her sacque and bringing
out warm and crisp bright new note.
/ 81 couldn't sleep until we'd both seen it
and-gone halves 81 winking with both
eyes and laughing all over in the most
ridiculous lovable way. The Major had
taken off her shoes, and stood with them
in his hands looking down at her. She
was so alive with beauty, warm-blooded
and happy! She seemed to come to
him like sudden youth or summer in this
last desperate hour. There hung about
! her even the faint scent of roses. It
/ seemed SO easy to come back to sit down
beside his little daughter, who loved him
with all her honest heart, and be happy
/ and jolly and alive as always.
But he knew what he had to do.
How long are you going to stay,
/ Maddy p
"Until to-monow-unless you would
rather l would go tonight, - quickly.
! Yes, ] would rather. l have some
/ business-there will be some men here
after while-it wouldn't be best for you
1 to stay"
''Very well, - Maddy nodded, turning
her stockinged feet about before the fire,
She never asked questions, but she gen
orally found out all that she wanted to
know without them. "How long can
stay, Uncle Dan p taking off her hat.
4 s'In two hours will be time enough.
Let me have you as long as I can 3
q Isn't that a lovely hat r posing it
on her little fat fist, and looking over it
4 steadily into his gaunt, changeless face.
/ 'fThe brown plume is just the shade of
my hair. Been hard at work on the
Camera lately, dear p
They've needed nothing for two
weeks =
Obi She was quiet a minute. "Just
put that hat carefully away in my room,
won't you and bring me my slippers.
They're in the lower drawer. You have
the keys. She sat motionless until the
door closed behind him, and then like a
fash she was in the pantry cupboard,
which was empty, as we know, and back
again by the fire. She took up the COB
let and smelled it. The Major, coming
back, glanced at it jealousy, but it stood
where he left it, and Maddy was leaning
lazily back in her own low chair. She
was pale, and the water stood in her
eyes.
You're not well, child?' r
"No. Sit down by me, Uncle Dan.
I'm tired and I'm hungry, that's all.
ordered a miraculous little supper as /
came along. 1t viii be here presently -
She took his big hand as he sat by her,
lingering it over, holding itnow and then
to her cheek. Something else than hum
ger had been at work with him. They
were both too old soldiers to be BEATEN,
as he was to-day, by little wholesome
fasting. But what was the sore She
did not know where to thrust her probe,
They've raised my salary, Uncle
Dan. Did you notice p 81
''No, did not I'm glad of it, my
darling. You can go through the world
alone pretty well now, Maddy 2"
She made grimace. ''If one only
cares for. hard work and money-yes
J But I'm tired of being alone. mean tc
either come home, or YOU must come tC