The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-06-11

rooms, trying In vain to satisfy tb
capricious whims of the childish ok
man, who, now that his fit of passion
was over, longed daily and hourly TO
the presence of his child-his darlins
Josie. But his stubborn pride was no
yet humbled to seek her; and SO tn,
weary days went by, and he heard nt
tidings of his daughter, whose face b,
had not seen since the morning of he
wedding day.
At last, when golden dandelions anC
delicate anemones began to write the
sweet promises OF spring all over fielG
and wood, infnsing warmer tint into
the golden sunshine, Captain Wycherly
could sit at his chamber window and
look out or familiar scenes.
What house is that? ?" he asked OF
John, the servant, pointing to an elegant
brown stone mansion, of palatial dimen.
sions, which occupied the place formerly
! dedicated to row of cottages.
"That, sir ?" said garrulous John
"why, that's the new house built by a
| foreign gentleman, who took a 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 title
besides-lord or duke something, sir,
whatever it maybe. Perhaps you've
seen 'em, sir ?"
And John, who regarded his master
as sort of Travelled paragon, to whom
nothing foreign would be at all un-
familiar, from the royal duke to Ben
gal tiger, looked up for reply.
Eyes, John, I've seen 'em and l
can't say they look much different from
other people, except trifle uglier, per
haps."
"Oh. sir, not any better than other
people, and she-the duchess" I
notwithstanding you all that rice wine
when you were i'll? Yes, and the nose
gays, and"
Stop, John what do you mean ?"
Why, sir, when they first came, the
lady heard that you were i'll, 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 and always bouquet
of choice flowers for your sick-room-
not that you ever noticed 'em, sir,
more than if they had been chips, sir, i"
said John, with some disgust; land so
I told the man that brought 'em. but
they came every day just the same"
"And why" said his gruff master,
touched more than he would have
chosen to confess by these attentions
from a stranger -" "why should this
foreign lady do all this for a rough old
man like me-"
perhaps this will tell you, sir,
And John drew from his pocket dainty
little note. :.'It came this morning."
Captain Wycherly opened it, and read
as follows:
DEAR SIR hear that you are lonely old
man, without hth or kin to cheer your soil
tude Though in all this wild world there is
no one to call me daughter, yet 1 remember
when 1 enjoyed the fond protection of one
who was the dearest and most indulgent of
fathers. l have only done for you what l
would wish another to do for him, il he was
i'll and lonely like yourself. hope that you
will allow me to call some time to cheer aud
amuse you. Your NEIGHBoR
Heaven bless her - said the old
man, with tears in his stern eyes the
rugged lines in his face softening as he
read" Heaven bless her for her kind
ness to lonely old man. John"
But John had disappeared. A moment
after he opened the door, and called out
i'll stage whisper "Oh, master, she's
coming-in silk fit for an empress, and
with Jewels shining in her hair. Oh,
MASTER"
But this rhapsody was cut short by
the entrance of the lady herself, who,
with her silken robes trailing on the
floor, crossed the room, and stood by
the captains chair.
" Madame" he began, but stopped
in confusion.
Was it dream, or was it Josie who
LoFo~o Liz, Iar around his
neck, her cheek pressed to his, and amid
sobs and broken ordinations, telling
him again and again her Joy at this
meeting? Itwas too much. The captains
resentment melted away, dissolved IN
the tears which fell upon the face of his
darling as he pressed her in close en-
brace.
"But what does this mean p' he said
at,last, when he made her sit opposite,
where he could gladden. his eyes with
the sight of her fresh, sweet face.
"Where did these come from, Josie ?"
And he touched the glittering Jewels
that shone amid her sunny braids.
"Why, don't you know, father? Is 1t
possible you have not neard ? When
you gave your Josie the Wycherly
homestead, you gave the richest of
your possess 'ons, though you, nor none
of us, knew it then. Yes," she contin-
ned, not noticing her fathers question
ing look, "the black and sluggish
stream that watered the Wycherly
farm developed source of wealth
richer than all the gold placers of Cali
fornia. Our petroleum oil-wells have
enriched us beyond our widest dreams;
and to-day, Duke and I count our
wealth by hundreds of thousands. But
we do not forget" she added, with a
miscbievous smile, "that we owe 1t all
to you, dear father"
Perhaps no protestation, couched
in the most eloquent terms, would have
shown the change in Captain Wycherly
as did the simple sentence he uttered
in reply.
81 confess myself beaten" he said;
" and thank Heaven for it. Hence
forth one roof shall shelter US, and we
will never be parted again until the old
man launches his craft for the last great
VOYAGE"