The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1871-07-20


sion was over, longed daily and
hourly for the presence of his child
his darling Josie. But his stubborn
pride was not yet humbled enough
to allow blm to seek her; and SO
the weary days went by, and he
heard no tidings Of his daughter,
whose face he had not seen since on
the morning Of her wedding day.
AT. last, when golden dandelions
and delicate anemones began to write
the sweet promises of spring all over
field and wood, and infused warmer
tint into the golden sunshine, Cap
tain Wycherly could sit at his cham
Der window and look out upon famil-
| lar scenes.
what house is that p he asked of
John, the servant, pointing to an ele
CANT brown stone mansion, of palatial
dimensions. which occupied the place
formerly dedicated to a row Of cot
tages.
That, sir = said garrulous John,
why, that's the new house built by
foreign gentleman, who took fancy
to the place, strand paid good
round sum for it, too. Why, they
say there's no end to his money and
he has tile, besides-lord or duke,
something, Sir, whatever it may be.
Perhaps you've seen 'em, sir p
And John, who regarded his mas
ter as sort of travelled paragon, to
whom nothing foreign would be at
all unfamiliar, from royal duke to a
Bengal tiger, looked up for a reply.
Yes, John, I've seen 'em and |
can't say they look much different
from other people, except a trife
uglier, perhaps
'Oh, sir, not any better than other
people and she-the 'dukess' l
notwithstanding you that nice wine
while you were ill ? Yes, and the
nosegays, and
Stop, John what do you mean p
why, sir, when they first came,
the lady heard that you were ill, and
she sent over bottle of rare wine,
with her compliments and every
day since then she has sent a servant
to make inquiries about you, sir I;
and always bouquet of choice flow
ers for your sick room-not that you
ever noticed 'em, sir, said John, with
some disgust; 'and SO told the man
who brought 'em, but they came ev-
cry day just the same
and Why said his gruff' master,
touched more than he would have
chosen to confess by these attentions
from stranger-'why should this
foreign lady do all this for a rough
old man like me p
perhaps this will tell you, sir,
and John drew from his pocket a
dainty little note. 1t came this morn.
ing
Captain Wycherly opened it, and
read as follows:
DEAR SIR
81 hear that you are lonely old man
without kith or kin to cheer your solitude
Though in all this wide world there is nc
one to call me daughter, yet l remember
, when | enjoyed the fond protection of one
who was the dearest and most indulgent O.
) fathers. | have only done for you what
: i'll and lonely like yourself | hope you
will allow me to call sometime to cheer anC
amuse you.
Your NEIGHBoR."
3 Heaven bless her!' said the old
man, with tears in his eyes /; the rug
: ged lines in his face sottening as he
r raad-'heaven bless her for her kiad
| ness to lonely old man. john
7 But John had disappeared. A mo
ment after he opened the door, and
I called out in stage whisper,
'Oh master, she's coming-in q
8 silk fit for an empress, and with jew
els shining in her hair. Oh, mas
a But this rhapsody was cut shor
t by the entrance of the lady herself
e who, with her silken robes trailing
a on the floor, crossed the room, anc
s stood 10y the captains chair.
: Madam he began, but stopped
in confusion.
= Was it dream, or was it JOSH,
t who stood beside him, her arms
around his neck, her check pressed
e to his, and, amid sobs and broker
a EXPLANATIONS, told him again ant
q again her JOY at this meeting? l
d was too much. The captains resent
l. ment melted away, dissolved in thu
tears which fell upon the face of hi
q darling as be pressed her in clos,
y, ~ embrace.
IL sBut what does this mean p he sait
at last, when he had made her 81
p opposite, where he could gladden. hi
II eyes with the sight of her fresh swee
Ct lace. where did these come from
It Josie p And he touched the glitter
. ing Jewels that shone amid her sum.
braids.
.. Why, don't you know, father ? 1
~ q ltpossible you have not heard ? Whel
u you gave your Josie the Wycherl,
"a homestead, you gave the richest 0
u your Possessions, though none of u
d knew itthen. Yes she continued
II not noticing her fathers questionin,
II, LOOK the black and sluggish STREAM
oi that watered the Wycherly farm de
~ velopea asource of wealth richie
.. tnan a., The gold placers of Califor
u MA. our Petroleum oil wells hav
:, enricned US beyond our wildes
= ~ dreams and to-day Duke and
~ count our Wealth by hundreds Q
;. tnousanos. But we do not forget
Q. she added, With mischievous smil,
az .na' we owe 1t all to you, dear faith
a elaaPs no protestations, oouche