Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-10-09


stranger who lay at Deaths door.
'sPoor boy! Alice 1 wish you
would go and sit beside him awhile"
said Mrs. Derwent on the first even
ing of the third week of his illness
"He is asleep now. If he wakes
you can call me. If we only knew
his people | would send for them. l
fear he will not last long
Alice crept in and took her seat in
the nurses chair. Teas of pity
dimmed her eyes as she looked at
the wasted figure in bed-the pale,
thin face, the fast-closed eyes, the
hollow temples under the waving
brown hair.
II wish his father or mother would
come !" she said aloud.
The heavy lids opened. Two deep
blue eyes looked at her so implor-
ingly.
"My father!'' whispered the sick
man. ''Bring him-tell 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 squire's countenance 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 fpr her.
self in any matter of moment.
But the sound Of voices might
arouse the slumberer. Her father
and Tom had gone on household
errand to the village; there was no
one else to consult.
Finally, she threw on her water
proof, drew its hood over her head,
and sped across the valley to Squire
Seaton's house.
Even the we'll trained servant wore
an astonished face as he ushered
this mysterious visitor into his mas
ter's study.
Squire Seaton looked up from his
book, and his usual pallor increased
to a CHASTITY hue as he listened to the
breathless girl.
"My sonny boy-my Philip at
your fathers house? And dying,
you fear? Asking for me? Wait,
child ! I'll go with you, of course
I'll go to my poor boyl But-the
room is going round-I think l must
De gong blind y
Alice sprand to his side. The
gray head fell upon her shoulder
Tenderly she smoothed the silvery
hair away from the high forehead
and bathed the pale face with cold
water and fragrant essences which
the frightened servant brought to
her.
The old man revived to find he1
ministering 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.
''It is my fathers voice. L hear
his step! shall get we'll if he will
only forgive me - said the invalid,
| greatly to Mrs. Derwent's surprise
as 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-forfive me !''
he said, in firmer voice, as Alice
entered, followed by the aged man.
And then Squire Seaton came fee
bly, 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 hel
expedition to the house of the lonely
millionaire.
Joy seldom kills; and there is 6
reviving power in love and happi.
ness combined far beyond the skill
of all earthly physicians or the viz.
, tue of all earthly drugs.
! So it happened that as the spring
months deepened into summer, Phil
ip Seaton, strong and well once
more, stood beside bonny Alice il
| the porch one evening to see the {
O'Clock express flash by.
cat Leadville, when / was utterl,
reckless, and utterly penniless, too
a letter from my father reached me,
he said in low tone. sit was S,
kind, so sad, that it seemed to turl
me from my evil course on the mo
u ment. Just as | was-in the rougl
: garments of a miner-I set off TO re
turn to my father, like the prodiga
son. And God led me here p
There was a long silence the SUI
sank out of sight behind the circlin,
> mountains; the first chill of th
!. evening was in the air.
it sIn my anger swore that l woul
n never again enter my father home,
: the young man went on. ''But
was not this home! Here l ma
enter, purified, repentant, forgiven
! if only the angel of my new life wi
e 90 with me. Will she, Alice?'
e He took her hand.
n s'But your fatherp' stammere