Smyrna times., 1882-10-25

man. Bring him - tell him i was
coming-SeatOn-Seaton-."
The faint voice died away-the eyes
again were closed.
Alice stood for an instant like one
struck dumb.
She had never noticed the resem-
blance before; but now she could trace
the firm lines of the old Squire's coun-
tenance in that pale, pinched face.
"Sleeping still! That is good sign"
said her mother, coming in, ready to
resume her place for the night.
Alice hesitated moment.
Never before had she acted by or for
herself in any matter of moment.
But the sound ofvOices might arouse
the slumberer.
Her father and Tom had gone on a
household errand to the village; there
was no one else to consult.
Finally she threw on her waterproof,
drew its hood over her head, and sped
acr,ss the valley to Squire SeatOn's
house.
Squire ,ipAtOn looked up from his
book, and usual pallor increased to a
gastly hue as he listened to the breath
less girl.
My son - my boy - my Philip at
your fathers house? And dying, you
fear? Asking for me? Coming to
me? Wait, child; Ill go with you, of
course -I'll go to my poor boy But
the room is turning round-l think |
must be going blind !!
Alice sprang to his side. The gray
head fell on her shoulder. Tenderly
she smOothed the silvery hair away
from ttll'e high forehead and bathed the
pale face with the cold water which
the frightened servant brought. The
old man revived to find her minlsic"-
to him thus.
1t was almost like father and
daughter that they took their way
across the valley together, he leaning
; on her arm and listening greedily
? to all that she could tell him OF hi:
long-abscnt, long moumcd son.
+ at is my fathers voice! | hear hi
: ste,. / shall Get we'll, if he will onl,
! forgive me y said the invalid, greatl!
to Mrs. Derwent's surprise, as tn
t house door softly opened to a stranger
t touch.
He struggled up from his pillows, re
V sisting her attempt to sooth him.
r "Fathcr | am sorry - forgive me !!
: he said. in iirmer voice, as Alice en-
c tered, followed by the aged man.
r and then Squire SeatOn came feebl
but swiftly into the room and held hi
, son to his heart, sobbing aloud wit
Il gratitude and Joy, while Alice drew he
o bewildered mother into the kitche
Is and told her Of her expedition to tn
20 house Of the lonely millionaire.
is JOY seldom kills, and there is a /,
If vivifying power in love and happinc.
n combined far beyond the skill of a
r earthly physicians or the virtue of a
T. earthly drugs.
10 So it happened that as the sprir
ID months deepened into summer, Phil
ID Seaton, strong and well once NOR
ps stood beside bonny Alice under Il
~ porch one evening to see the 6 o'cloC
: express flash by.
- ain Boston, when | was utterly rec
less, and utterly penniless, too, a lett
20 from my father reached me- he sa
- in n low tone. SIT was so kind, so 50
IT, that it seemed to turn me FROM my e'
N course in a moment. Just as | was
| of set off to return to my father, like t
oi prodigal son. And God led me here
- There was a long silence; the s.
"a sank out of sight behind the mou
=" .a tains: the first chill Of evening was
al the air.
ital ha SIN my anger l swore that wor
ho never enter the door of my tathe
,nd M home" the young man went on. l
Iod ' / may now enter, purified, rcpenta
'bo bo forgiven, if only the angle of my II
lIv M life will go with me. Will she, Alice
rS l;y He took her hand.
y~ n,1, "But your father" stammered Ali
my my 81 am not worthy of your love 4
'on m way but my father begs you to be
b"r daughter, Alice. Say yes!
And so the greatest fortune of
life - the brightest happiness of b'
ef their lives-came in that evening tr;