The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-05-24

olive complexion His face was bronzed
and weatherbeaten. yet he was what might
be termed handsome man. His eyes were
dark blue keen and bright vet about hi:
\ l.ps was the indication Of a habItual smile,
\ syrIcal, almost cnntemptuous.
y He rivited his gaze upon Mr.. Vincent l
face, and then his eyes wandered to the
I features of his frail companion Ii was q
/ look under which the malden's eyes fell,
and which called quick, deep, color to
her cheeks and brow, so bold, admiring,
and penetrating was the glance Then he
bowed low, extended his hand to Mr.
/ Vincent and said
You are Mr. Vincent 3"
The old man bowed
nl | am Sidney Vivian"
Mr.. Vincent grasped the young man $
hand N his own-the hand Of the man
who had been So great a friend to Cecil
Dare, and to the house Then, with the
turturlng anxiety he felt for his adopted
son, he asked, breathlessly
And Cecil He is not with you, you
have left him ~
The young mans face fell, and his fea
lures grew grave and sober. He dropped
his eyes and removing has hat, replied not
a word
Bella, whose quick eye had discerned
the band of Grape surrounding the hat,
started forward
Tell Us, she said. ia an agony Of sus-
pense. here is Cecil g.
The young man lifted his hand to his
eyes and shaded his face from the eager,
ag"nized gaze which VAS bent upon him.
NJ poor friend, he murmured, tear
fully, -" cannot tell You
Old Mr. Vincent, with face grown pale
with fear, and agony, caught him by the
arm
Then Cecil
~ Is dead Drowned. at sea. the third
day out. had prayed that the message
might be conveyed to you by other lips
What, ho there Help help.
II caught the quiverlng form Of Reuben
Vincent IN hls arms, as the old man, with
heartrendng groan Of horror and unut-
ter.tble agony fell forward. pale and mani
mate And then, as assistance came, IN
.he shape of the station agent and the
baggage boy, the young man bade them to
carry the inanlmate form to the carriage,
from which the coachman was Just dis
mounting.
stood transtiXed. mute, with an unutter-
able misery in her eyes, and the ashy pallor
uf death ia her face. Mechanically, she
allowed him to lead her t. the carriage.
and then, as they lifted her grandfather IN,
She seemed to dimly realize the truth
Dead deadl' she murmured, " No,
no, it cannot be-
The young man spoke not word. as the
vehicle moved from the station He held
the inanmate head Of Mr. Vincent on his
arm, startled at the sudden change which
had come over his features Then, he
turned to Miss Rodney
You are Miss Rodney, presume,
he saId. for have heard Cecil speak of
you, often and you answer his description
DO not give way, now, for your grand
father is very Ill the blow has been too
much for him Bear up. until he IS taken
home. for he vii need careful attention,
and You require all the cooness you can
command.
Bella Rodney turned her pale face upon
him
You hid me bear up, she said pitt
fully Do you know what he was To-
me Z"
-N' 'lt btltti lUdh l. Was Illt reply
Vet, think what he was to this poor old
man, whose every impulse and thought
Wrre conferred ia lis lost boy. BE brave,
at lr,st for a time for his sake
Bella turned toward the window and
buried her face IN her hands
When they reached the hall, the serv
ants, awe-struck, removed their master
from the carriage The intelligence Of Mr.
Nncents sudden sickness and the cause
thereof, WaS conveyed tn Mr. Rodney
Bella father. who Was al the time, en-
gagged IN study IA the library Even he
was aroused from his wanted composure
and hastened to his relatives chamber
The I'D man lay upnn the white com
terpane, motionless. inanimate as Ia death
while Bella, pale and sgitated. sat mutelv
wondering If this sudden SORROW which had
come upon them, and had distressed and
broken their bright dream of felicity. were
not some horrible chimera created by
fancy while the stranger who gravely
greeted Mr. Rodney. and briefly explained
the cause Of the sudden inanimation Of
Mr. Vincent, and III every way that he
could contributed towards the old man ;
comfort, by unloosening his mock cloth
ana chatting his cold hands.
Gradually they restored Mr. Vincent to
consciousness But he did not recognize
his surroundings and as DR. Rodney pre-
vailed upon Bella to retire to her own
room, he gravely informed the stranger
who had introduced himself as Sidney
Vivian, that the excitement had been too
much for Mr. Vincent, and that it was ev-
ldent that brain fever was setting in
At ten o'clock that evening, Mr. Vivian
was conducted to a room in the house, and
gloom and silence hung over Vincent Hall
Young Ton Gray, who silently escorted
Mr. Vivian to his apartment, was some
what startled, as, on passing through the
hall the lamphght fell upon portrait Of
Cecil Dare hanging there Mr. Vivian
started, gave utterance to an expression Of
alarm As if suddenly confronted by some
unwished for sight, and then, observing
his servants curious gaze, he averted his
face, and followed the servant to the
apartments assigned to him
~ b. continued