Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-09-29

the pale thin face, the fast closed eyes
the hollow temples under the waving brown
hair
81 wish his father or mother would come !"
she said, aloud.
The heavy lids opened. Two deep blue
eyes looked at her imploringly.
"My fatherl" whispered the sick man.
Bring him-tel him-I was coming -Seaton
--Seaton-"
The faint voice died away-the eyes again
were closed.
Alice stood an instant like one struck
dumb. She had never noticed the resemblance
before but now she could trace the firm
lines of the old squires countonanco in that
pale, pinched face.
Sleeping still ? That is a good sign, ="
said her mother coming in, ready to resume
her place for the night
Alice hesitated a moment. Never before
had she acted by or for herself in any matter
of moment
But the sound of voices might arouse the
sumberer. 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 across the
valley to Squire Seaton's house.
Even the well-trained servant wore an as
tonished face as he ushered this mysterious
visitor into his masters study.
Squire Seaton looked up from his book,
and his usual pallor increased to a ghastly
hue as he listened to the breathless girl
''My sonny boy-my Philip at your faith
ers house And dying you fear? Asking for
mey Coming to me Wait child I'll go with
you, Of course-Tll go to my poor boy But
the room is turning round-I think l must
be going blind.
Alice sprang to his side. The gray head
fell on her shoulder. Tenderly she smoothed
the slvery hair away from the high forehead
and bathed the pale face with the cold water
and fragrant essences which the frightened
servant brought.
The old man revived, to find her minister
ing to him thus And it 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 his long absent long-mourned son.
at is my fathers voice hear his step
shall get well if he will only forgive me ~
said the invalid, greatly to Mrs. Derwent's
surprise, rs the house door softly opened to
a strangers touch
He struggled up from his pillows, resisting
her attempt to soothe him.
Father, l am sorry-forgive me !" he
said, in firmer voice, as Alice entered, fol-
lowed by the aged man.
And then Squire Seaton came feebly but
swiftly into the room, and he held his son to
his heart sobbing aloud with gratitude and
Joy, while Alice drew her bewildered mother
into the kitchen and told her of her expedition
to the house of the lonely millionaire.
Joy seldom kills and there isa revivifying
power in love and happiness combined far be-
yond the skill of all earthly physicians or the
virtue of all earthly drugs
So it happened that as the spring months
deepened into summer, Philip Seaton, strong
and well once more, stood beside bonny Alice
in the porch one evening to see the O'Clock
express flash by.
''At Leadville, when I was utterly reck-
less, and utterly penniless too letter from
my father reached me, he said in a low tone
1T was so kind, 80 sad that it seemed to turn
me from my evil courses on the moment
just as l was-in the rough garments of a
miner-I set out to return to my father like
the prodigal son. And God led me mere !"
There was a long silence the sun sank out
of sight behind the circling mountains; the
first chill of the evening was in the air.
'In my anger 1 swore that 1 would never
enter the door of my fathers house." the
young man went on. but it was not this
home! Here l may enter, purified, repentant,
forgiven, if only the good angel of my new
life will go with me. Will she, Alice p
He took her hand.
But your father" stammered Alice. II
am only farmers daughter And you"
Il am not worthy of your love in any way.
But my father begs you to be his daughter,
Alice. Say yes!"
She did say it. Aud so the greatest fortune
of her life-the brightest happiness of both
their lives-came on that evening train.