The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-07-22

protecting love changed 10 wonder
ing respect Day By day the tendeI
little hands prscticed the menIa
routine of a household work, wash
ing ironing, cooking, eonquering ino
rance by patient perseverance, new
er faltering in their task. The busy
needle kept up the expenses of ths
small family, and if the dear, swee
face grew pale and thin, it never los
its cheerful courage. Maudie, b.
was A. proud man, .this father, bu
for his child's sake heeonquered hi:
pride and wrote to tbe rich uncle
who was the only father he had ev
er known. He told him of his owr
crippled. helpless State, OF bis
daughters devotion, aid he asked
for little out of his abundance FOL
his child's sake. An answer came
from France, no. from the uncle bu,
from his wife. Her husband, che
wrote, was sick, and she would moi
allow him to be ANNOYED by begging
letters from poor relations. She had
not shown him the letter and would
destroy any further coTmunication.
This hope DESTROYED, the father
proposed to go to a hospital"
Don't, papai do9t!" Maude
cried.
''Well dear, let that painful sub
ject pass. You preferred to work
twice as hard to keep n1e away from
any such institution, aud yielded.
But, Maude, my story ls not finish
ed. Among the friends. who stood
by the ruined, crippled man was a
young physician who had been bis
friend when friends were numerous.
1t was his care that found the new
home, it was his professional skill
that soothed many hours Of fsuffering.
Unwearied in his devotion, he knew
there was no reward for him but the
prayers and gratitude of father and
child.
"In the careless, petted days OF
her girlhoo he had admired the
daughter, had found her gentle and
winsome and had thought of her
more frequently than Of other wom-
en-. But he was not a rich man,
young vet in his profession, and
would not take her from her home
to a poorer one, hoping in the future
to win money. But when trouble
came, when the gentle nature de-
veloped into such noble woman
hood, the love that had been hidden
became stronger, more open in ex-
preston. He sought her for his
wife and she gently but firmly re-
fused his offer. She would not leave
her father; she would not burden
her lover with the support of a help
less cripple. He pleaded eloquent
ly, he even enlisted her father on his
side. but the girl was firm. Maudie,
darling, did she love him?"
Father, why do you speak of it
now? ? 1t is nearly q year since it
was finally settled, and DR.. Warren
is our good friend STILL
mot finally. Maudie. There is
more yet of the story. But answer
me truly, darling. Did you love
Herbert Warren. and does be still
love you? / do not ask from any
idle motive, Maude. Last week,
when be was here, he gave you a
letter. Did he renew his suit then 2"
Il never meant to tell you of it, ~
Maude said, answeringa certain sol
emn earnestness in her fathers tone
'but in that letter he told me he had
been appointed visiting surgeon to
one of the hospitals, and asked me
to be his wife again, thinking his in
creased salary would remove my OBJ
ections. But, papa, cannot feel
that it is right to burden him with
Dur support. So long as can work
it is nv delight,my privilege to work
Tor YOU. You are mine. | owe you
years of devoted love, years of ten
ierness. Can | ever repay the love
you gave me from my cradle? Do
you think was too young to appre-
,iate the self-sacri6cing devotion of
hose years when you were toiling
for me / could give you only obe-
lience and affection in those child.
sh days, but when the time came
hat 1 could prove my gratitude and
owe, it became holy privilege to
repay. in some measure, the care of
years. Do not urge me, father, to
yive to another what is my dearest
work"
But, Maudie, dearest, if the ques-
ion of money could be overcome
t your father was no burden upon
four husband, but could bring
greater ease and comfort into his
life, would you then refuse him ?"
Papa. you distress mel
Not willingly. Only one ques-
ion. Answer me truly nv darling.
Do you love Herbert Warren ? Can
you give him that confding perfect
owe that is the only certain hope
or married happiness?"
Il do love him :"
Was that all, but in the few fall
ering words the father read only too
ruly the certainty he had already
of the heroic self.sacrifice
daude had made for his sake. For
!. moment there was a deep silence,
hen, taking Mauje's hand in his
'wn, Mr.. Hannum said:
The clouds are breaking, Maude.
fou saw the servant give me a letter
his morning ?"
Il thought it was from the land
ord
at was from lawyer, my un-
les lawyer. Take deep breath,
daudie, and don't faint, for all the
lays of toll are over. You may
rear finer dresses than the one you
made for Mrs Morris; you may
lave diamonds if you will, servants
o do your work. You need no lon
,er eat pudding to save meat, or sew
ar into the night with the door clos
d that ! may not see the gas burn
ng. and may think you asleep. For
We are rich. Maudie. My uncle's
Fife gets only one third of his prop
rty, and his will leaves ne one hum
red thousand dollars, his country