The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1876-03-30

heard of these years and years. There
he's coming to; what : sigh! Stand
aside Mr.. Policeman, please. and give him
some air. Poor man but he's nobody
to blame but himself, after all. don't
uphold disobeidence in children,of course,
but dearer, swsster girl than Margaret
Ascot never Wa. u Many and many's the
time I've carried her in my arms when
she was : baby and her mother was alive.
How are you feeling now, sir!
This last sentence was addressed to her
master, who, with deep drawn sigh,
opened his eyes. ",s
"What-what 10 the matter - he said,
looking vacantly from one to the other.
Eyes. I remember" putting his hand to
his brow, "Margaret-"
His eyes wandering about fell on the
boy who. during this episode, had entirely
recovered consciousness and was now look.
ing with strange sort Of wonder at Mr..
Ascot. :''.t =. Il j d. =;
"Please, sir" said the lad, seeing he
had attracted the old mans eye, ''can
you tell me where Mr.. Ascot lives I
was to 60 to him-only lost my way
mothers very sick and she's had moth.
ing to eat today
With these words he broke down
with great sob, the tears streaming
along his thin, wan cheeks.
"Whsre's the note! Order the car
riage. said Mr.. Ascot, incohcrently. rising
to his feet. us it from Margaret! Did
somebody say she was starving1" His
poor, weak, shaking hands vainly tried
again to unfold the paper which the po-
liceman had handed him. "I-I am not
strong IS used to be; T think I am get
ting old aui he looked piteously at Mrs.
Somers and sank again on the sofa.
s'Drink this said the housekeeper,
handing him restorative.
He drank it and rallied.
"Ah it is her-hcr writing" speak
ing to himself. "Sho is widow, and
her only child is named--aftcr--after--
me-"
He stopped reading and turned to look
at the boy.
care you grandfather 2 said the lat.
ter, timidly. II think you must be, for
mother has . picture she looks at and
cries over, and it's like you.'
The letter fell again to the floor. But
this time it was because he opened his
arms and the boy, catching the meaning,
came to him.
"You won't let her die, will you! p
said the boy, looking piteously into his
face.
die, die!'' cried tho old man, rising
up; and his voice and air were that of
youth. 'She shall not die. Where is
the carriage! will 60 at once and she
shall come home to.nig ht. The carriage,
l say" he cried, almost angrily, and he
turned toward the door, where the foot
man now appeared.
"The carriage waits, sir, said the SER
want. obsequiously.
"Get your cloak and bonnet, Mrs. Som.
crs, few Blankets bit of food there's
not minute to lose. Good God! Mar
garet dying, and we wasting our time
here! No, my brave little fellow, your
mother shall not die
In q few minutes, during which the
thoughtful Mrs. Somers had provided a
biscuit and some hot tea for the boy, the
little party set forth. While the car
riage is rolling over the snow. its dcsti-
nation being one of the most obscure
| streets Of the great metropolis, let US say
few words about the daughter.
Margaret Ascot had been one of those
sweer.tempered, sympathetic natures
that every body loved. Beautiful, accom-
plished, wealthy and vel! born, she had
:, owds of suitors, but at nineteen she
turned from them oil, and gave her heart
to penniless lover. This was not be.
cause she WAS foolishly romantic, like so
many others, but because her sutton was
worthy of her in every way except
riches. HI WAS only poor music teacher,
an italian exile-for this was in days now
fortunately long $50, before Italy was
free, and to be an Italian patriot meant
Punishment or lifelong imprisonment, or
even death.
Andrea Fillippo had, when hardly moro
than boy, joined in the instruction OF
'48, and had been compelled after its
faiiure to fiy tho country. He.had come
to America and icing penniless, had been
compelled to. take, up the first pursuit
that offered itself. In his own land near
" everybody had some knowledge of mu-
sic: but Andrea was an amateur Of more
than ordinary merit, and he naturally
became teacher Of singing. Margaret
Ascot was his favorite pupil. He saw in
her everything that youthful manhood
in its highest type admires; she saw in
him = hero and : martyr. Compared
with the prosaic young men Of business
or the. cold, calculating lawyers, or the
idle men Of fashion, who constituted the
bulk Of her admirers, he was = prince in
disguise, = young god.
Il - a. Iva 11ox