Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-12-20

Tcftdleuf u UdlItJ, uellcdte creature Oh
some eight years old; her golden curls
dropping softly round her face, with its
large blue eyes and its cherry lips. The
servant who admitted them, not know
ing what to make of this, called Mr..
Golding's housekeeper, old Mrs. Os-
good. The latter went into tremor as
as she came forward and looked at the
face,
"It's Miss Amy's childl'' she ex-
claimed TO the man, nervously. II
couldn't mistake the likeness
Miss Amy's that Was" he answered
Mrs. Harry Church she has been this
many year.
Il know. It's as much as my place
is worth to admit any child Of hers. >
'You are Mrs. .Osgood," exclaimed
the little girl. Mamma eaid should
be sure to see ypii.
Hear the blessed lamb! And so she
remembers me"
"She talks of you often; she says you
were always kind to her, nobody but
you loved her"
"Well, | did love her. The old house
has never been the same since she
went out of it. What's your name, my
pretty one?"
Amy
"Amyw repeated the housekeeper,
lifting up her hands, as if there were
some wonder in it.
"And mamma said YOU would let me
60 up alone TO grandpapa.'
"And so you sLali,' decided Mrs. Os-
good, after a Minutes hesitation. Il
won't stand in the way of it, let mas
ter be as angry with me as he will. He
is mp in the drawing-room, all by him.
SELF
The man sat down to wait. And the
child went up alone.
|. Opening the 6oor, she went softly in,
not speaking; perhaps the stern-look-
ing old man, sitting there with bent
head, awed her to silence. Joseph
Golding, waking up from his deep rev.
erie, saw letter held out to him. He
took it mechanically, surprising its mes
was one of his servants. With singu-
lar quickening of pulse, he recognized
his daughters handwriting
She had waited all these silent years,
she told him, because she was deter
mined never to write to him again until
they were rich enough for him 10 know
that she did not write from any need
of his help. They had passed ten years
in the West, and Heaven had pros
pered them. Her husband was rich
man now, and she wanted from her
father only his love-wanted only, that
death should not come between them.
and either of them 90 to her mothers
side without having been reconciled to
the other.
''How did this come here?-who
brought itp" demanded Mr.. Golding IN
his usual imperious manner.
II did, grandpapa."
He sprang up at the soft, timid voice,
as if some fright took him, and stared
at the lovely vision, standing there like
spirit on his hearthstone, with her
white face and her cleaning golden
hair Was it real? Where was he?
Who could this child be? But, as he
looked, the likeness flashed upon him
and he grew hungry to clasp her to
him. 1t was the little Amy of the old
days grown into beauty-for Amy had
never been so wondrously fair as this.
Come here, my child; don't be
afraid. Tell me what your name il"
"Amy, grandpapa. F"
Another Amy! Grandpapal He felt
the sobs rising up in his heart with a
great flood of emotion; but he choked
Mem back.
what have they told you about me?"
he rejoined, after long pause. Have
they bid you hate me?"
They always told me that you were
far away toward where the sun rose;
and if were good they would bring me
to see you some day. Every night
say in my prayers, God bless papa and
mamma, and God bless grandpapa."
'Why didn't they bring you? What
made them let you come alonepn
"Mamma sent me with John to give
you the letter." was the simple answer
1.-THE carriage is at the gate, waiting
for me-
''Who is John?"
"Papa's servant"
And where are they staying?'
''At the hotel We only got here this
morning"
Mrs. Osgood, lowering in the hall,
looked on in wonder. Her master was
coming down stairs, calling for his
hat and coat, and leading the child
He got into the carriage with her
and it drove away. Mr.. Golding was
wondering vaguely whether it were real.
They arrived at last, and the child led
him in, opening the door at the end of a
long corridor. She spoke cheeringly.
Mamma, here's grandpapa. He
said he would come back with me-"
Mr.. Golding's head went off in swim.
Advancing weakness tells upon people
in such moments as these. He sat down
and there were Amy's arms-his own
Amy 's-about his neck. Which of the
two sobbed the most, could not be told.
Why had he never known what he lost
through all those vanished years?
Father, are we reconciled at last ?"
II don't know, my daughter; until
you tell me if you forgive me-
There should be no talk about for
giveness, -" she said You went accord
ing to your own opinion of what was
right. And, perhaps, | was to blame,
too. Father, it is enough that God has
brought us together again in peace.
thought that no one could resist my lit
tie Amy, least of all her grandpapa.
He looked up. The child stood by,
silently; the freight glitterlng on her
golden hair, her face shining strangely
sweet. He put out her arms and drew
! her into them, close-where no child,
not even his own, had ever nestled be-
fore. Oh how much he had missed in
life!-he knew it now. He felt her cling
ing hold round his neck-her kisses
dropped upon his face like the plying
dew from heaven; and he-was it him
self, or another in his place?
Father, see"
Amy's voice had full, cheerful ring
in it. Her married life had been happy.
Mr.. Golding turned at the call
Here are Harry and the two boys
waiting to speak to YOU" she said in a
less assured tone.
He shook his son-in-law's hand heart
lily. Old feuds, old things, were over
now, and all was become new. In his
heart, he had always liked Harry Church.
Then he looked at the two boys, brave.
merry little fellows, of whom he might
be proud.
Explanations ensued. Fortune had
favored Mr.. Church; they had come
back for good, and were already looking
out for house.
NO house but mine," interrupted
Joseph Goldine. 1T will want a ten
ant when am gone. You must come
home tomorrow.