Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-05-25

Dut, INV, oiu hiah, gou ~ SoOh ue VI
and among EN-" he concluded. with a
cheerful laugh.
"No." said the old fellow, with the
same weary smile, ''but-but | thank
you"
"Oh, nonsense--that's all right--you re
only leetle shook up, You know-its
material after being as fur down as you've
been. You'll soon be all right-cheer up,
and don't let your sand run out; besides,
I've got letter for you"
"Letter-for me:' and the old man S
face lighted up with an eagerness that
sent tremor through Georgia's honest
heart, lest the missive, after all, should
not be for him. He got it, however, and
gave it into the trembling hands.
"Yes, yes" said the old fellow, "Ifs
her writing, know-like her mother S
oh, how long it has been coming-but
now" and his poor, weak. shaking
hands vainly strove to open it.
"Let me" said Georgia, kindly.
The old man let him take the letter,
and then said suddenly, but in low,
even tone: "Hold on, Georgia"
Georgia paused.
Georgia" said the old fellow, looking
him steadily in the eye, you've been
kind to me-very kind-and I've got
nothing to show for it-nothing but con-
fdence. I'm going to tell you something,
Georgia, and then--then you can read
that letter and you'll understand all the
good news it contains"
He paused moment and closed his
eyes. Then he continued:
Georgia, was likely sort of a
young chap years ago-not such a good
for r-nothing galoot as | am now, and |
married the best girl in old Pennsylvania.
| was mighty happy-too happy, partner
that's what made it so hard when she
died We had one child-a girl-and
we called her Alice my wife's name.
She was wee little thing when her moth
er died, and so very, very pretty. TWAS
lines on me, Georgia, and somehow got
to drinking. know it did me no good
and know it wasn't right. but man
doesn't reason when he's desperate like,
and so | drank and drank. | sold out
everything and put my little girl-my lit
tie Alice-with my wife's brother. He
had family of his own, and what could
lonely, broken hearted man like me do
for dear little girl' Georgia, if they'd
coined 10 me and talked good and gentle
they could have made man out Of me,
but they didn't. They wouldn't let me
come to their house, and they said that | d
killed my wife by drinking. Georgia it
was lie-a damnable lie. never drank
a drop till she died, and | wouldn't have
done it then if Id had any to sympathize
with ME. But | hadn't; was alone in
the world-alone with my great grief, and
-" and the old mans voice broke, and
his poor thin hands went nervously over
the blanket, while two tears stole from
his hot eyes, and trickled down the pale,
pinched cheeks. lost themselves in the
gray hair of his beard.
well, Georgia" he said presently,
"they got an order from the court giving
the guardianship of my childvmy Alice,
to her uncle, because they said | was un-
fit to take care Of her. Georgia, il but
one kind word had been said-only one
Il wouldn't have been the fool was.
Well, | left and came west. stopped
drinking. have never touched drop
since Alice was taken from me. Yon be-
lieve me, Georgia -
"Yes," said Georgia.
after while wrote to her uncle,
and / told him of my new life, and asked
him if couldn't at least write to my lit
tie girl. That was in 81. and she was
ten years old. He took no notice Of my
letter.
"He's "a" broke in Georgia, but sud-
denly checked himself before concluding.
"Then | though, perhaps he hadn't got
it, SO | got my money together and went
East. But he had Georgia; he had. II
was no use, though. He wouldn't let me
see my little girl. He said she wouldn''
never know but what he was her father
at least until she was Of age. tried
the courts, but Ispent all my money with
out changing the decree. Then | gave it
up and came back West again. l gained
one thing, though. The judge said thai
when Alice was twenty-one, she should
be offered the choice of coming to me, hel
father, or remaining with her guardian
| had to rest satisfied. and | worked and
worked to get money for my little girl
scrimped some, Georgia, but there