The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-09-28
SAVED BY LOVE.

farmers pretty, dark eyed daughter,
stood under the vine shaded porch, look
ing after it with an unconscious sigh.
$50 many come by you, so many go by
you, out into the great, wide, beautiful
WOrld," she thought, as she gaZed over
the fertile valley farm and out through
the break in the blue mountains, from
whence a trail of white smoke came
floating back. 81 wonder if you will
ever bring me anything, or carry me
away OrAmust live my life out to the
end shut in by these quiet hillsp :,
Supper ready, mOtherP" called out
the hearty looking farmer, halting in
the glow Of the bright freight on the
open hearth, as he came in from fodder
ing the stock, followed by his son
Thomas, who was the living, breathing
image of his sire"
''To be sure it is" replied his bustling
little wife, who had just such eyes and
hair as bonny Alice, and just the same
sweet smile. Isn't it always ready,
father, when the train goes byp Come
Alicer'
"Alice is out there looking for her
fortune, mother" said Tom. 1T is
coming by that train. l know allabOut
It."
Alice smiled and shook her head at
her saucy brother, as she took her seat at
her fathers side.
Little did any of them think how
many a true word is spoken in jest, or
that the fortune which the evening ex-
press was to bring the daughter of the
house was even then nearing their hos
pitable door.
"I've worked hard all day long Mar
tina, and Tom has kept pace with me,
and we both said as we came home that
we were too tired to eat. But this is
s0mfOrtl 1t would be hard to see any
y.In Tor hon n h nN
kitchen, and lust as hard to find any of
their French cooks that can beat you
and Alice, my DEAR" said Elihu Derwent,
glancing thankfully at the blazing fire,
the table laid so neatly, the tempting
meal of batter cakes and wheaton bread
and golden butter and large dish of
cold beef and vegetables that was placed
before the two hungry men.
Mrs. Derwent poured out the tea
strong. hot and fragrant.
"Old SeatOn, up in the big house
yOnder, don't often get such tea as this,
with all his servants" said Tom, look |
ing across the valley to the brick and
stone palace of the one millionaire of
the village.
"POOr manp sighed Mrs. Derwent. 81
do pity himl His wife and daughter |
dead, and his only son so wild and will |
full and a WandereT all over the world. |
Only last week he told me, with tears in
his eyes, that he had heard of his boy.
and that he had been seen in London
lately intoxicated and poorly dressed.
Yet when he wrote there to him-and
wrote kindly-he had disappeared. If
it was our Tom, Elihu, should just
break my heart. Tom, if you ever do
grow unsteady and run away, like Philip
SeatOn, you will give your mother her
tieath-blOw. Remember thatP
"Thank God, it isn't Tom, Martha! I'm
sorry, too, for the man and for the boy.
Mr.. SeatOn owns that he turned him out
of his house IL London in a tit of anger,
and that the boy swOre that he would
never enter his doors again. Bad temper
on both sides, you see, and som- Why
Martha, what on earth Is thatT
Farmer Derwent might well ask the |
question and rush from the tea-table to |
the door, followed by his wondering |
wife and children.
A procession of four of his neighbOrs |
was coming up from his garden gate.
At the gate stood horse and light |
Wagon, and from the wagon the four |
men had lifted an inanimate body, and |
were bearing it towards the house.
"The o'clock train has run off the
line, a mile or two up the valley" said
Farmer Jones, as he and his two sons
and his bTOther-in-law reached the porch
with their senseless burden. Ever so
many people hurt, but able to go on as
soon as they got righted. But this poor
EellOw is so nearly dead that we thought
we had better bring him here, as it was
the nearest house, and send for the doc
tor. We knew that your wife could
nurse him if anyone could, Mr.. Der
went"
you're right there. Bring him right
in," said the farmer.
His wife led the way to her best bed
room, next the parlOr.
Tom sprang on the back of his swift
Borrel colt and set off for the doctor.
Half an hour later the supper table
was cleared, and supper dishes were
washed and put away and Alice Derwent
sat pensively by the kitchen fire, while
her mother and father were busy with
the doctor in the spare room, and Tom,
huTrying to and fro on their erTands,
stopped once or twice to inform her that
the stranger was young and handsome,
but dressed like labOrer and that the
doctor said ''it was near chance whether
he lived or died."
Two weeks passed on.
The doctor came and went each day,
the neighbOrs far and near volunteered
their services except Squire SeatOn,
who lived his usual secluded life in his
great mansion, buried in his books, and
knew nothing of the stranger who lay
dB uthbH > uOOIs
Poor bOyI Alice, wish you would
go in and sit beside him awhile" said
Mrs. DerWent, on the first evening of the
third week of his illness. "He is asleep
now. If he awakes you can call me. II
we only knew his people l would send !
for them. fear he will not last long"
Alice cTept in, and took her place in
the nurses chair. ..
Teas of pity dimned her eyes as she
looked at the wasted figure in the bed ]
the pale, thin face, the fast closed eyes, {
the hollow temples under the waving
brown hair. ii
wish his father or mother would
cOmer' she said aloud.
The heavy lids opened.
Two deep-blue eyes looked at her i'm
plOringly. -.r...
My father!" whispered the sick man.
Bring him-tell him-I was coming
The faint voice died away-the eyes
again were closed.
Alice stood an instant like one struck
dumb.
She had never noticed the resambl-
ance before; but now she could trace !
IbnG Gp,,, - ho oil O. %, |