The Democratic advocate., 1884-08-02

<AoA hSA SeAAA WIS OhS-
promptly, ready at once to take the office
of interpreter.
"Ask her-if he-the magistrate-Mr.
Ruthven-belongs to her."
Flags opened her mouth and whistled
long and low, working her eyebrows. The
lady was busy detaching little bunch of
flowers from the rest. She lifted her head
quickly, and looked at Daddy.
"You know him? All, yes; see. He
is my father-he is very good man. He
wished me to visit in this district"
90 my God!" said Daddy, in long
sob, as he looked at the little hand which
held some violets toward him. Tears
were coursing down his furrowed cheeks,
as he lifted the fragrant flowers to his face.
Is there not something about the smell of
fresh violets which ever appeals to hard or
sad hearts? They breathe message of
innocence and modesty wherever they are
carried. They do not mock the poor and
desolate with any tale ofluxury and warmth.
Theirs is no exotic perfume, to overpower
and sicken those that have their habitations
in dismal dwellings. Neither do they
faunt gay colors, or proclaim handsome
form, to deride the ragged and unclothed.
In one short moment Daddy was carried
back to sheltered nook in a sweet old
fashioned garden far away from here
There, in the days of boyhood, he had
been wont to gather posies for fair young
mother. Merciful heaven how many
years of reckless dissipation separated him
from that recollection She was long at
rest in peaceful grave, and all her hopes
and fears and prayers for the erring one
were ever.
Again the gentle thrilling voice of the
strange lady reused Daddy from sort of
lethargy. Once more the look of intelli-
gence was awakened.
"You like them, do you not? Violets
are early this year. | have them sent
from my home in the country, to bring
here"
That here was breathed softly, almost
reverently. For, indeed, to Lily Ruthven
the aspect of life she faced in this quarter
was full of awe. The responsibility of
doing good lent her gravity which sat
strangely on her young face.
After she had gone away, Daddy sat
silent and absorbed on his STOOL. looking
intently into the fire. Perchance he saw
strange pictures there, for sometimes smile
moved his wan lips. As the evening
shadows crept into the room, Flags put
down her work and watched her compan-
ion attentively. At first he did not notice
her attitude.
"Does my young lady call of .your Lily
Ruthven to mind? Were she Sweet-look-
in, too? You looks rare and happy, Dad
dy, tonight. Tell us all about her"
There was sort of petulant curiosity
perceptible in the girls remark. Her COM
panion did not answer, only lingering the
violets fondly and necessarily.
"You was respectable wunst, Daddy, [
knows. o, you don't never deceive of me.
Why did yer come down to this ?" A
sweep of the young woman's hand indicated
her derision of their mean surroundings.
'You was used to droring- rooms, and meat
every day, and shirts with buttons on, and
socks, and what not, I'll go bail, she pur-
sued, with vindictive energy toward such
luXuries
Daddy smiled with long-lost sweetness.
The halo of far-off youth seemed about
him tonight 1t was not the Daddy best
known in Linnet Lane. The breath of
the flowers he held had effaced all that was
vile and weak.
"Don't ask me Flags-don't ask ques-
tions. I've never been one to talk much,
have l, now?" he appealed, in a weak
quaver.
There was silence for few seconds.
Flags, who was not destitute of tact, felt
the rebuff keenly She turned her head.
'Oh, no; won't ask no questions. I'd
bust of curiousity afore I'd have the i'm
perence of some. No; you amt never been
one to prate of yer grand days, I'll say that
for yer, Daddy she said finally, as the
sense of justice pressed forward.
''It wouldn't be fair to tell, resumed
Daddy, looking strangely over his should
er, as though he saw something; "the girl
might learn about me, and perhaps she
might not come again, I'll not bring that
trouble on you.
"What girl ?" said Flags sharply, think
ing he was talking what she called wild. y
Daddy pointed to the door.
'She-the lady that was here just now.
She must never know who 1 am, Flags
never, never. .....
The needlewoman tossed back her yell
low name in her amazement. She laid one
thin nervous hand on Daddy's arm.
''She do belong of your folks, then ?"
she said, with irrepressible curiosity. "I'll
never speak of it, Daddy, if you'll trust of
me. Tell-quick-there's others may be
comm in.
No answer. Daddy, smiling into the
fire, seemed to have relapsed into his dream
world.
The next morning the old man was too
i'll to rise with the other dodgers. A com
plant was laid against him down stairs to
Mrs. boo. Daddy had coughed so vehe-
mently, and muttered so necessarily during
the night time that half of the men had
been disturbed. They loudly demanded
the return of their money, with certain
degree of menace in their attitude How
ever, the landlady having villifed the COM
plainants with more than customary vigor,
they were driven out into the street. Mrs.
Doc then promptly ascended the ladder
like staircase to investigate Daddy's condi-
tion. She saw at once that he was very
near death, and suspended the use of her
tongue. What availed abusive oratory in
the face Of that mighty visitant who could
not be driven away or be dictated to
Now the landlady was pitiful, nay, she was
almost courteous, toward Daddy. He was
going away to lodge elsewhere, and, per-
chance, in that unknown bourne he might
do her a good turn. The beauty of his
youth had come back to the old mans
face, and placid serenity appeared to
have smoothed away the marks of dissipa-
ton. His eyes were clear when he opened
them, and his voice had lost its husky in
indistinctness Mrs. Doc lifted the straw
stuffed sacking, and shook it to ease his