Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-12-29
strange, proud father. Norah's eyes,

softened her heart and made her pitt
full towards the grief OF others. But
all this while, her carriage stood walt
| ing, with white haired old gentleman
inside, and the coachman impatiently
stamping his feet.
81 must leave you," she whispered
to Norah at last, longing to clasp the
little figure to her breast. "I shall
come and see you soon, may | not ?"
Then, seeing that the child hesitated
to reply, she added, care you afraid
papa will object? Tell him charity
has nothing to do with it, but that it
is for my own sake, and because you
remind me of some one loved years
ago, that [ wish to come"
Norah was hospitable little soul,
and the beautiful lady had completely
won her heart. Papa will be glad to
see you," she said simply, "and I
| too"
:Thank you, dear" Then moved
by a sudden impulse the lady stopped
down and kissed her. The coachman
looked on, rubbed his eyes, and
thought that perhaps Norah was some
little princess in disguise. So she was,
and by q right more royal than that
OF blood or money.
"What child was that ?" questioned
the white-haired old gentleman, as the
lady took her seat in the carriage and
babe the coachman drive on. "Some
begger whose tale of distress touched
your sympathy ?" He looked at her
fondly and in O. manner that showed
| that she was the lone woman of the
world" for him.
mot q beggar," and the lady smiled
and told how Norah had refused the
money.
"But the child interested me strange
ly. She had eyes like those OF the lit
tie Norah left in Ireland, and for q
minute had a faint hope that my
search was at last ended. But her
fathers name is Brady"
"And yours was O'Connell, said the
gentleman. "And it was not here,
but to France that he migrated"
81 know" and touch of impatience
came into her voice. cit was but for
q minute, as I said. Afterwards | un-
derstood how impossible it was"
She sighed bitterly and went on: "I
wonder if this is to be the punishment
for my folly-that am never to know
the fate of those I deserted ?"
"That girlish folly, as you call it,
dear wife, has been expiated long
SINCE" was the answer. "Let the
dead past bury it's dead. Donot make
yourself miserable by raking up it's
ashes"
81 am not unhappy" she said, soft
ly. "Why should be? Every wish
is gratihed save one-that of recon
Citation with my parents, and per-
haps it is right this should be denied
me-"
"Has it never occurred to you that
they may be dead ?" asked the gentle.
man, looking at her compassionately
'Many times" she answered. "But
| cannot myself believe it. Something
seems to tell me that they are living
and in want"
"Oh, that is because the agent we
sent over to Ireland told us your
father had lost his property. You
would naturally think of him as poor
after that"
eyes, and when pride is joined to
poverty the struggle is the harder.
Father was strange man; stern and
naughty, and obstinate; but Under g.
harsh exterior hid one of the warmest
hearts that ever beat. I cannot un-
derstand why he left ireland so sud-
denly, and covered up all traces of his
| flight, lest those who had known him
in prosperity should witness his
humiliation. He could not have
borne that; it would have been the
added drop of bitterness that would
have choked him. But mother was
| different; so meek and gentle, and was
the only person living who knew how
to manage him. Everyone else was
sure to see the worst side of his
nature.
"Ah, yes! You have told me of her
| before. But | cannot understand,
Kate, why she never answered your
| letters. You were but II when you
eloped; q mere child, and she might
have given you some words OF help
and comfort when your heart was
almost broken by his baseness. True.
he was your welded husband. and
held you by bond stronger than that
OF parents; but their silence was cruel,
and cannot forgive them for it,
"You do not know how [ had tried
their love. My father warned me
against the man, my mother told me
of his falsehood and wickedness, and
| deceived them both. Oh! I was
guilty of such subterfuges, it seemed as
if demon had entered into me, and I
was no longer my old self! Whatever
they said only increased my obstinacy,
and made me more infatuated with
the object of their censure. Besides,
you must remember my father had
reason to think | robbed him the
night of my departure. though the
theft was committed without my
knowledge, and by the wretch into
whose hands had trusted my honor
and happiness. That l could have
been SO blinded to his real character
seems impossible now; but he had O.
winning, plausible manner, and was
vain aud foolish, fond of fattery and
admiration"
"YoU fed to America at once, did
you not? and wrote home from
there?"
| eyes NV husband - vil1ai1v WAS fret