The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1877-11-22

"Why do you look at me in thai
way Z he demanded, harshly.
because am sorry for You, she
said, swsstly. "You arc old, aud
sad, and all alone. Where are your
children =
II have none,' he answered, and
wondered at tho same time Why he
did 90.
"None ! Have You no little girl TO
sit on your knee, aud call you papa I
I'm sure I pity you vary mnchl'
"iiumph I
"But | do Indeed I do It
must be dreadful not 10 love any,
body. Did you ever hava anybody
10 love you p
A spasm Of pain shot athwart the
rigid face Of Richard Steele, and his
tall frame quivered, it might be with
agony or anger, one could not de.
eide from bis words. Hs pushed
the child AWAY.
mot another word I will not
listen Good heavens ! that lips like
those should ask mo that question J.
"Psrtlon mel did not mean to
hurt your feelings. You loved
somebody, and heaven took her a.
way. Was IL you sister Z
Alb, yea | aud memory few back
TO that gentle, fair-haired child who
had clung with soft arms to his neck,
and kissed with warm lips his cheek.
Ills little sister May! How well he
remembered her, as she looked the
last time he saw her face, lying cold
and calm. like marble, in the shadow
OF q coffin. Yes, he remembered
May, and his eyes grew moist with
something like o tear, but it was O
strange visitant, and he dashed it
away. Yet that tear was not given
to May she had been for years safe
in Heaven; IL was given to another,
whose bright eyes seemed to be
looking at him out OF the orbs OF the
little girl before him. He bent down
over her, aud scanned her features
closely. Then asked, my child,
what 10 your name ,"
"Violst Gray"
Tho man smothored q cry OF s1r-
prise, and his face grew strangely
palo, even in the ruddy light Of sun
set. IL must have been o strange
emotion, indeed, which conld thus
stir the heart OF Richard Steele.
Presently he said
@And what WAS your mothers
name before she marriedi'
"Violet Dale"
"And she 10 dead 7"
He spoke the words in deep
whisper, as though fearing to utter
them.
"Sho is with the angels
A silence fell upon tho group,
broken only by the suppressed sobs
of the girl and tho heavy breathing
Of the man.
Whsn ne again addressed her his
voice had taken softness which
none in Milford hal ever heard in
its measured cadence.
"And this boy is yonr brother p
"Yes, my brother Richard
"Richard For whom was he
named thus 7"
Mr.. Steele asked the question
breathlessly, with an earnestness
very strange aud foreign to his
stony nature.
"For schoolmate Of my moth
ers-"
'And this schoolmate's name-do
you remember it I"
at was Richard Steele, SIR"
How the cold face lighted up, aud
the stern mouth grew almost tender
a. this proof OF the powerof the old
love was given him.
"Did Violet-did your mother ev.
er mention this Richard Steele to
you =
The boy came forward and repli.
ed: "His name was the last on her
lips when she died aud, two days
before she left us, she gave me q
letter which was to put into his
own hand and we are searching
for him, my sister and l. and, when
we have found him, we are going to
1--we with cousin OF my father's IN
portsmouth.
"fou need look no further for
Richard Steele. my boys he is before
you! Come into the house, and
give mo the letter.