Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1884-05-10

~-~N~ >~>~SA>AN0
shim, with what tenderpessshe antic;pated
lbs wants, and even when it would seem
that he Was scarcely entitled to her r.
spect, honored him.
/, To her, nnder all his~ wretchel dis
guiscs, he was still father.
But her constant dutio wore heavily
upon her. She grew pale rnd thin, then
feverish and hectic; but still she worked
OIL.
Three times a handsome carriage and
pair were seen before the door of her
plain little home.
The first time rich aunt came to re-
n1onstrate with her and offer her home.
She found her preparing her poor meal
over the tiny cook stove
"Jcddy, you are the best girl in the
world. but you must 60 back with me,
If only for while, and leave that man te
take care OF himself"
This was after most affectionate
greeting, for Jcddy was her favorite
niece.
II conldn't leave father" was the re-
sponse.
"Bnt l can't SEQ you killing yourself
by inches. What does he care? One
person is as good as another to one who
has lost all the finer scnslbilities, as he
has"
"Oh, no; at times father is his old
| Eelf-cyen-cven at the worst" she
| faltered. Gle don't forget that he is a
| gentleman. He never was unkind to
| me-"
| "FiIdlesticks ! Your ideas of duty
are exaggerated. Come, now-don't dis
| appoint me-takc little rest. I have
come way from Lou purpose to
carry y0n back, and the last words your
Cousin Kitty said, as I left her, were:
Mother, don't fail to bring Jeddy
back; l want to see her ;"
Tears came to Jeddy's brown eyes,
but she reiterated
81 cannot leave father"
'And here you are, losing al! yonr
beauty-a)l your advantages, and even
your health-I can see it For your
fathers sake, you ought to go. II wonld
make a new creature OF you to see oil
sights and old faces, and to live while
like Christian. Why, child, the walls
are damp; how do you ive?'
''It isn't living, aunt, it's only stay
ing" said Jeddy, trying bravcly to
smile, "but that can't help while fa,, Ter
lives. There's nobody in all this wide
world to care for him but me-. Iknow I
might live in ease and comfort if went
with you, and oh, sometimes my heart
does long SO for little OF that eld.t
JOY. It would be liko looking into Par
adise-but-I can't leave father"
There sounded heavy sigh. Both
women turned round to see the old,
gaunt man in the doorway, the tears
streaming down his checks as he held
forth his trembling hands as if in bene
diction.
"Go, Jeddy, go ang,l-don't stay fol
me-Im not worth your care he said
pitifully.
But Jeddy thought otherwise. Long
after the splendid carriage had gone she
sat there holding the gray head against
her shoulder, soothing and retting him
and lending a willing car to his promises
OF amendment.
The second carriage brought q stylish
young gentleman, with whom her friends
had often coupled her name He came
with an offer of marriage, but Jedd,
gave him the same soft but determined
answer: Il couldn't leave father ant
he, too, went away disconsoIatc.
The third carriage contained one who
had always been friend, also young
gentleman, who had lately returne,
from a foreign tour.
he asked no questions and exrrcssn'
no surprise, though the change he say
affected him painfully. But like tru'
friend, he resolved to aid both fathe
and daughter.
: To this purpose he followed the former
: and quietly tried to hinder him from tn
abuse OF his appetite, and gradual.
gained his confidence.
!. i. Then he. told him how sadly tn
? t change in his daughter had trouble,
S Kim.
5 Change = exclaimed old Joe, ''ho7
: is she chan ged?"
rs it possible you do not see that sh
II is at deaths door 2"
;" What DO you mean? At death
"a door-my child-my angel? You woul
Id Kill me What have 1 bu. her."
lyon have God. and He will help 20
rs &c redeem yourself. II you do that
~ your daughter viii live; if you do no'
she will die"
se That night old joe wen. home full {
Us doubts and fears. He watched his chill
sick at heart from the news he heard
pc II can make her Ive-and I VIII
d he said, resolutely, to himself. Il 81
dc not an old man vet lifting his bove