The Newtown bee., 1879-12-10

1.-The scoundrel g." he calculated,
after running one life, could he not
have held his peace and refrained from
blighting another? But, stay" he said,
taking up the letter again and reading;
I have fought against the longing to
see you, my daughter, but l can no
longer restrain myself. 1 promise you
that if you come to me this once it will
be the last time you shall ever hear from
your poor wretched father This looks
to me as if he must be very sick-per-
haps dying"
So Eleanor thinks, and the noble
child persists in saying that she will 60
at once to him. She declares it is her
duty. Poor, poor girl, see now that
this concealment has been very wrongm
"Do not fret, my friend, you and Your
good husband could not look into the
future. You did as you thought for the
best. So Eleanor has written about it
to Mr.. Ogdenp She is noble creature,
and if he is what he ought to be, it will
bring him on the wings of the wind"
The next day heavily-veiled, girlish
figure and an old gray-haired gentleman
were lead through a gloomy corridor,
and into prison cell. Eleanor moved
as one in a dream. She was dimly
aware of long, narrow, iron bedstead
upon which lay PROSTATE, quiet form.
Two gentlemen, doctor and a cler-
gyman, were the only other occupants
of the room The latter rose as she en-
tered and came forward.
els this Miss MooreP" he said
gravely. My child, fear you are too
late-your father has been in this un-
conscious state for hours"
Eleanor gave one long, earnest look
into the pale, drawn face with its closed
eyes. .-.=......
This then was her father. An icy
hand seemed to clutch her heart. Her
father! and dying thus!
Courage. my brave little Eleanor"
whispered Mr.. Stearns. With an effort
the girl looked up into her old friends
face, as if to gain strength from his SYM
pathy; then she went steadily forward
to the bedside
AS Eleanor gazed down at the face
which still retained many traces of the
manly beauty which had won her
mothers love, and realized that she was
indeed his daughter, all the strength
and nobility OF her soul rose to the sur
face. STOPPING she laid her soft hand
upon his cold forehead.
"Fatherm The pitying tone pronoun.
cling that word so sacred, and so wound
around the tenderest fibers Of our human
natures, forced tears into all eyes.
Father, it is Eleanor!-your daughter! !!
can you not speak to herP"
The call pierced the apathy OF death.
The dying mans eyes opened and fast
ened upon her face. A wave of con-
sciousness swept over his features.
MY childm he exclaimed, brokenly,
"then you did come. God will-biess
--youm His voice sank, while into his
eyes sprang look of entreaty as he
tried to finish, but with the words,
"My child-forgive-"h his breath failed,
and, with long, fiuttering sigh, all was
over
Tender hands led Eleanor from the sad
scene. Several days passed, and no re-
ply had as yet come from Ralph Ogden
10 the letter Eleanor had written, and in
which she had disclosed the story, the
knowledge of which had brought her
such sorrow.
In it she had told him in few but
tender words the pain it gave her to look
forward to life unshared by his pres
ence; but though in her ignorance of
the disgrace upon her name, she had
promised to be his wife, she could not,
knowing all, expect him to take to his
home a convict's child. Still another
trouble wrung the poor girls heart.
Before long the invitations to the wed
ding would have to be countermanded,
and then the broken engagement would
be the comment of all. She heard in
imagination the remarks which would
be passed, and shrank from the curious
words and looks she knew would follow
her wherever she went.
Had | not you, grandma, and my
Bible" she said, despairingly. 81 should
surely die. 1t is almost more than can
bear"
Mrs Hamilton kissed the quivering
ips; she knew caresses would help
where words might only wound.
Thursday morning arrived, and with
it Ralph Ogden. Instead of the expected
letter he had come himself. Eleanor
received his card, and read the penciled
request that she would see him, and for
moment a film came before her eyes,
and all grew dark before her; then,
white as death, but very calm, she went
down into the library, where he awaited
her.
She had always known the intense
love of family which filed the
hearts Of all the Ogden race, and
of their pride in a name which had
never been sullied by aught dishonor-
able; and till only q short time before
she had thought she bore name as
stainless as theirs. Now she knew diff
| ferently.
The library door swung back on its
hinges to give entrance to the slender
black-robed figure (which falteringly
went forward.
J 4 moment passed, and the nexa Flea