Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-09-30

pinched face.
sleeping still?" That is 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 mo-
ment.
But the sound of voices might
arou the slumberer.
Her father and Tom bad gone on
! a 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.
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? Com
ing to me? Wait ~hild; / VIII go
with you, of course-I'll go to my
poor boy But the room is turn
ing round--I think l mrst be going
blind y
Alice sprang to his side. The gray
head fell upon her shoulder. Ten
derly she smoothed the silvery hair
away from the high forehead and
bathed the pale face with the cold
| water which the frightened servant
brought. The old man revived to
find her ministering 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 his long
absent, long-moul led son.
"It is my fathers voice hear his
step | shall get well, e he viii only
forgive me y id 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 soIry-forgive mel"
he said, in firmer voice, as Alice
entered, followed by the aged man.
And then Squire Seaton came fe.
bly, but swiftly into the room and
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 is re-
vivifying power in love and happi-
ness combined far beyond the skill
Of all earthly physicians or the virtue
of all earthly drugs.
So it happened that as the spring
months deepened into supmer Phil
ip Seaton, strong and wen once
more, stood beside bonnie Alice un-
der the porch one evening to Sc the
SIX O'Clock express fash by.
Sin Boston, when | was ut 9rly
reckless and utterly penniless, too,
letter from my father reached me, "
he said in low tone. 1T was so
kind, SO sad, that it seemed to turn
me from my evil course in mo-
ment. Just as l was | set off to re
turn to my father, like the prodigal
son. And God led me here"
There was a long silence the sun
sank out Of sight behind the noun
tians the first chill Of evening was
in the al.
SIN my anger swOre that l would
never enter the door Of my fathers
home,n the young man went on,
"But l may now enter, purified, re-
pentant, forgiven, if only the good
angel of my new life will 60 with
me. viii she, Alice?"
He took her hand.
"But your father ~ stammered
Alice.
II am not worthy Of your love in
any way; but my father legs you to
be his daughter, Alice. Say yes ~
And so the greatest fortune e her
life-the brightest happiness Of both
their liyes-came in that evening
train.