New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-07-16

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wet road.
} ~ see, see," my master whispered, h
thin form heaving with az almost .erri6
emotion, Chefs cOme.''
II can not see." said. only because l
dreaded a disappointment for him now.
| "Not see9" he questioned, turning to m
with gentle. perplexed smile. go. He
ter, and make sure that the fire is buruin
brightly in his room, and have RolIo III
make the faithful old dog young again ,
see the master he loves. Let the whol
house be ready to welcome him. Let b
rooms look just as they used to ioox. The
can not he roo bright tonight. Make mast,
because he comes so quickly
1t was we'll that those hungry clouds ha
hidden the moon again, for could not kee
the tears away; and in the midst of hi
eager joy, my master would have been hur
to see them.
HE comes on horseback, Hester. Hav
his horse we'll cared tor. 1t will need res
after having come 30 fast-yOu saw hoy
fast he few, didn't you9" Ny master wa
walking with me toward the door as b
hurried through these loving orders, an,
the packet was tightly grasped in his hand
You will burn il now, sir You wi!
destroy it before l bring up my youn:
MASTER
''Nc," he said, shadow falling over hi
eager white face, as he ntrvousIy changed
the will from hand to hand, II must s-a hi
face aud hear his voice; then it shall fam,
to ashes. Harkn'
The quick, bright word, and my master.
| sudden pause with Outstretched hands an,
uplitted head, stopped me on my way, an(
80 l was still standing beside him, in q
| CLEAN of brightest moonlight, when Mr.
| Will came il; and that cry from his fathers
! aHo mn " Z
! | saw that my young master had CONS
straight and hurriedly there, for the raiu
was thick upon his hair and Dress and the
! hand he gave ne, when his father released
it, was wet and cold. Seeing this was
| Fastening to his room that he night find a
| bright ire there Though there was little
| fear, for had had the room ready all tina,
| day., when my master called NE back.
"Stay. Hester he said, in a new, bright
| tone, ''you deserve to see this burned. Il is
al over now. See
He dropped the sealed packet into the
very heart Of the hot, wide fire. and now sat
watching it crTmble into ashes, while his
face had smile upon it which was almost
radiant in its ease and happiness. Mr.. Will
stood watching, too, but very gravely, and
| when presently every trace Of the paper
had disappeared, be dropped upon his knees,
besides his fathers chair, and with his face
hidden, sobbed just three words as pray
l may never hear man sob again:
Father, forgive me,'
The words we're stopped upon his lips by
the old man 8 loving fingers. 1T is |, Will,
it is l who need forgiveness. Blu. this is
forgiveness. God will pardon Is both and
no one again can separate us"
had softly closed the door upon them
then. and for long while fingered in Mr..
Willis rooms. giving them all the homli-
ness could. Then / went down with or
ders for the young masters supper. II
hardly surprised me to find that the ser
wants in the house did not know that he
had arrived, for l knew that if they had
seen him they would have taken his wet
coat. There was quite shout of joy when
l told them my news, and some of them
followed me to the masters door that they
might be the first to greet MIR. Will. They
stood back quietly for me to 20 in alone,
but-ah Ms, Ny cry soon brought them.
There sat our master beside the glowing
fire with Still that smile of full content Oh
his pale lips; but the lips were motioniess
forevermore, and he was all alone. Neither
the glow of the fire, nor the moonlight shin
ing in now Unhindered, showing US any
figure save that solitary sleeping one of our
old master.
More to tell very little; and how nervous
it makes one IN this ttful moonlight and
the rush of rain and wind, and with those
weird Tying shadows which the freight
throws upon the pictures. Surely YOU know
the end as we'll as l do.
Not one of the servants even the oldest
among them, ever jested with Inc about my
account OF the young masters return in the
dying Of the old year; but heard them
whispering together afterward, when tell
i'll, that that strange dream of mine had
warned them of an illness. Dream
tor days aud weeks, and even months.
Captain Warder carried on the truitIess
search tor MIR. CapletOn's will, firmly con-
WINGED that the Squire himself must have
removed ibis private bureau had let
tered lock which none but himself under
stood, and this was untouched at his death
only to place it in another hiding place. But
the search was in vain, and Of course had
no tale to tell him.
But the search for Mr.. Will was long
ana more wearisOme still, and the Squire
bad been two months dead, and Captain
Warder was beginning to feel secure in the
mastership at Wesmede, when the Exeter
lawyers sent us word they had traced Mr.
Capieton's heir. That very night they ar
rived at Wesmede in a postchaise, and
brought my masters heir. lying asleep IN
his mothers arms. In a moment recog-
nizsd Miss Agnes, when she came into the
hall shyly and sadly, in her heavy mourn
ng, just as she had first come to US, and no |
voice was needed to tell any of US for whom |
:he wore that widows cap around her |
small. sad face.
All, what sad home coming it was. Miss |
Agnes-it seemed SO natural to have her !
back that could not for a time get out of |
Using the old name--tried very hard, as we |
,Ould see, to shake off her weight of grief. |
)ut did not wonder that for so long it was |
impossible to her.
During that wreck, on New Years eve.
" the sailing vessel in which she and her |
husband ana baby we're coming from Aus
raiia to plead Ia person for their fathers
pardon, she had been rescued with the
'ther women and childran eorely against
Ter will, as she wished to stay beside her
husband. But with tears and prayers he |
lad urged her, assuring her there was
nance tor all, but only if she left him then
20 ne mad seen her safe into the boat, and |
hen had labored to save others. until he
nd the captain were alone upon the decks
t the sinking ship in which they had been
Omeward bound. One sailor, who was
aved, had told her, how he had seen Mr..
Viii at the last moment kneeling or the
vet deck, himself wet through, his head
pom his folded arms: and how he had
card him sob three wOrds-which might
7ell have been the cry from every heart
hat night-"Father, forgive me-" and then
one down en- the broken ship.
And when Miss Agnes had told me this.
nth stiff white lips and fearless eyes,
'hich were almost proud in their great
we, found that could tell her how nv
laster had died on that New Years eve,
18th his hand upon his sons head, answer.
lg that very prayer with his own appeal
n pardon. remember how the light
roke upon her pale face-ust that
eady. trustful light of old-when she
card how they were together at the very
st; and though che said no word to me.
now to whom she did breathe grateful |
ords.
Yes, that's her portrait; and if there's
,other lady in all the land better beloved