The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-06-20
/ III


Maudie doubtfully. "She never would
part. with anything that belonged to
paps.'
like his fathers, Quiyered slightly. ''But
she'll have TO like it child. There's no
help for it l won't seeyou turned out of
doors. Pm going, Maudie. I'll take the
box down to Doffratields, and see what I
can do. Don't breath aword to mamma,
until Icome back"
Meantime, sMrs. Delafield, in the other
room, was YEARLY getting her few effects
together, IN order for their sudden re-
moval. Agreat many empty caskets
passed through her hands. One box had
held.lacee another jewels, another rare
linensj an were empty. The contents
had gone for daily bread, as Tom had
said. She was looking with sort of
vague hope, if there was anything left TO
sell.
At the very bottom of one trunk, she
came upon II coat, which had belonged to
her husband; worn and familiar in look,
q handkerchief in one pocket, letter in
another. She put it back with a cry of
pain. ~ ~
"Oh! l can't, l can't! Heaven help
,,she cried. and zburying her face in
her hands, burst into tears.
Her husband had been Surgeon John
Delaticld, of the United States service;
and for the first two years after their mar
riage, she had gone with him over seas,
and into many foreign land. Such
happy years they we're! But after that,
Maudie was so fragile that she was COM
nj k~ 4
went alone; and from one voyage he new
er returned. There had been success
sion Of great gales at sea; and his vessel
had never been heard from. Ten dreary,
endless years! Yet how green his mem
DRY lived in her true heart still. She put
back the coat, as something too sacred to
be touched, and closed the trunk.
Meantime, Tom made his way to Doff-
rafeld's, sort of marine institution,
near the harbor, whose proprietor made
his living by buying up odds and ends
from INDECENT seamen.
Here he offered the box of surgical in
struments for sale, and received paltry
offer for them. ''.i
"Only that! Why, they're worth five
times as much" cried Tom, Indignantly.
Twenty times as much would better
express it, put in a stranger who stood
looking on. "Boy, what are you selling
| those instruments for? How did you
come by them?"
Tom faced about like lion, his hand
some eyes flashing fire.
II came by them honestly, sir, though
/ don't admit your right to question me.
They belonged to my father
The stranger smiled admiringly.
"It was impertinent to ask; but I
might buy them, if could feel sure you
are right in selling them.''
Il am right, sir. They belonged to my
father, and-and- You see, sir, we're
hard up, and they've got to CO."
The confession cost the boy struggle,
head.
"Who was your father, my fine fel-
lowe"
my father. sir. was Surgeon John
Delafield. He is dead
"What! What do you say?' cried the
stranger. "Gracious heavens! Why,
Tom, Tom, don't you know mel I'm
your tather!''
Tom wheeled around, and looked at the
bronzed face The tender, handsome
eyes were not to be mistaken. He had
seen them too often in the little locke:
his mother always wore upon her heart
He made a step forward, and tried to
speak; but the words failed; he fell to
the floor in a heap. Poor, brave, self-con-
fdent Tom had tainted like girl.
| But the keen air soon restored him.
Come, father Oh! do come father
he cried, Juggling at his fathers arm.
Only think OF 'em at home! In such
awful trouble, too! Oh, think of mamma
and Maudie! Father, do come on fast!
They hurried on through the increas-
ing storm.
"There's the house, father. You see
that light yonder? We couldn't afford to
live in New York any longer, and had to
come to this cheap place But even here
we're starving. Oh, my precious, little
mother, won't this be the jolllest night
of her life? To think of the trouble she's
in! Ordered to leave the cottage to-mor-.
row, too. That's why wanted to sell
your instruments, you see, father"
The cottage was now at hand. At their
knock, Mrs. Delatield opened the door.
her to his heart.
ut is I, dear! Don't you know me?
Not dead, but saved by miracles, after all
these long years"
"Hurrah! it's father" cried Tom,
whirling his cap in the air.
She did not faint, as Tom had expected.
Her great sorrow had never been bolster
Gus, neither was her great Joy.
Maudie looked up at the sun-browned
face, when she, too, had heard the Won