The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-08-02
Daddy.
[cosrIsuED FROM FIRST PAGE. ]

blistered with her tears before the evening
Toward dusk Mrs. Doc again brought
muscular ledger upstairs. This time it wa
Daddy, who was to be removed to her owl
garnet.
"He'll be comfortabler there, and IL
sleep along of you, Flags, tonight" sh,
said, with asperity. ''Twon't never d.
for the dodgers to be turned out of here
and me wilder, and to lose of my Gus
TOM"
But Flags never went to rest at all that
night She sat beside the truckle-bed
without light, throughout the long hours
watching the stars rise and set through two
feet of glass.
Think of that, my friends; you who may
think it a kindly service to keep watch be.
side sick bed in luxurious chamber,
with warmth and light at your disposal
At dawn Daddy became restless. When
he opened his eyes they met the earnest
gaze of the needle woman with recognition.
The yellow orbs which were wont to shine
with such odd lights were trimmed with
red now, for Flags had been weeping in the
dark. She saw and knew what the gray
shadow on Daddy's face meant.
"You amt got no friends nowheres as
you wishes to send word to, Daddy p
she said impressively, bending over him.
"Say as you forgives EN- now, if you've
aught agen 'em."
He shook his head weakly
"I've nothing against them"
Don't go for to die, Daddy, thinking
hard of your Lily Ruthven''
The tears of the girl were falling on the
thin hand she held in hers. 1t was so long
since Daddy had seen woman weep. 4
faint tremor of emotion akin to surprise
passed over his face
IL don't think hardly of her. Flags,
my giR. 1t was she that thought hardly
of me-"
Flags tossed her hair out of her eyes.
Her voice sank to whisper.
Eve heerd yer talkin', Daddy, about
them old days You was a-goin to marry
of your Lily, and she didn't think yer good
enuf; and she broke with yer and made
excuse as yer weren't steady"
Again look of wonderment passed over
Daddy's face. He nodded family.
''She wur settin' her cap at one that was
richer before she sent yer to the devil.
She might have made man of yer, though
only slip of girl who you were nigh
crazy about Bless yer, yer've been fool,
Daddy, but faint no matters now. This
ere Lilly as comes to the Lane she's her
daughter, l s'pose."
Daddy stirred, and muttered something
not ineligible, closing his eyes.
"What is yer name, Daddy?" said
Flags, still softly stroking his hand.
He opened his eyes with puzzled look.
"Name?' he repeated GIVE lost it"
Then, after little pause, he said, as if in
terrogating third person, 'shall [ tell p
does it matter?
The daylight was advancing in the east.
A yellow light Illuminated Daddy's pinched
features. Suddenly he sat up.
"Who called James ?" he said, in clear
voice. Mother, am here" he went on.
"James what p pressed Flags, in an ag-
ony of dread, as he fell back on his pillow
in fit of coughing.
"James- James-oh, help me! Yes,
yes-James Holt"
The glazing eyes gazed upward with IA
sort of rapture.
''Say it agen, so as | can fix it"
Yet more slowly, more distinctly, the
long-disused, disgraced name fell from his
pale lips:
"James-Holt."
An hour later Daddy died, and Flags
went down stairs to announce to Mrs. Doc
that her friend had taken lodgings else
where
Miss Ruthven came at midday to the
Lamb of Goshen.
"You did not expect me- No, it is not
my regular day" she said, entering the
dark kitchen. where Flags was busy at work.
The needewoman did not look up with any
bright expression of welcome as the lady
advanced.
NO., she answered CURLY, bending her
head closer over the flag, ''them as is rich
and happy easily forgets them as isn't"
There was thick huskiness in the voice
Ottentimes too shril
81 could not rest" continued the lady's
sweet, low tones, 'for thinking about the
poor old man | met here the other day.
He seemed to me as if he had once been in
better circumstances-or-or a superior
station" She paused little, as if afraid
Of touching susceptibilities ale cannot
live long, am afraid, and should like to
remove him somewhere where he could be
nursed and die peacefully. Is he any worse
to-day ?"
Then Flags, unable to repress her emo
ton, burst into passionate floods of tears,
laying her head down on the rickety table.
Her sobs shook this unstable rest.
'Hell never be no wusser, poor old chap!
He's gone-he's gone! l don't seem to be
no good in Linnet Lane but for to see EN-
all die. [ never takes fancy to no one
without they goes and dies a-purpose.
There was Ben-him that could sing like
an angelic was drowned a year ago
and now there's Daddy, as | could help "a
biz, has been and left of me. 1t seems as
though Providence were contrary like to
me. l amt got no one b'longing of me,
but I'll never get to like no one no more.
They always ends up by leavin' of me"
The young lady sat down with heavy
sigh. She pushed back her close-ftting
bonnet, as though the weight of it was OPP
pressive. She had put down the basket
with the knitted jersey and soothing medi-
cines at her feet. Alas they would never
be required for the sufferer she had sought.
''Dead, is he So soon Poor old
man did not think the end was so near.
Flags, oh do not cry so. 1t breaks my
heart. What can | do for you all, for any
of you? The misery see here at every
step seems SO great, so hopeless. L am
powerless to remedy it or to do any good.
Tell me, do you know any of Daddy's
friends, or where he came from, or what
his name was? ?"