The Penn's Grove record., 1886-10-16

an end by the entrance of Mrs. Went
worth.
'sWhy, cousin Harriet" he x
claimed, 'when did you come? Have
you been over to the house?"
Cousin Harriet shook hands with
him and answered in the affirmative.
Then having seated herself in one of
the wooden chairs, she began abruptly.
"Cousin Zadok, what have you been
doing with Prue? She looks as If she
would not live a year, and l believe it
will be your fault"
The deacon sprang to his feet, his
face ashen with, terror, and caught her
convulsively by the arm.
"Harriet Wentworth, he gasped,
"What do you meanpn
She was startled by the effect OF her
words, and answered, soothingly. "lt
it is very likely l am mistaken. She
may be only a little lonely. But l
believe in my heart she is pining for
Owen Rainsford,"
''She has never mentioned his name
once since he went away" said the
deacon, eagerly. II think she has
almost forgotten him."
Mrs. Wentworth shook her head.
''Prue is such a shy little thing, and
believes SO implicitly in you, that l do
not wonder she does not speak of him.
But she will never forget him."
bacon Bassett hurried across the
road. Was it possible that for this he
had tolled all his life long2 Could it
be true that this little blossom would
never use the money which he had
| spent all this time in maklngp
With trembling hands he pushed
back the half-open door, and entered
the room where Prudence was sitting.
With a pang he noticed how very pale
and fragile she looked.
"Little Prue," he SAID, as he bent
over the pretty brown hair, ibid you
love Owen Rainsfordp"
A crimson blush swept over her face.
'Oh, father" she answered, softly, u
could not help"
For a moment the stern old mar
was silent. Then he took her hand IN
his and tried to smile. as he said
huskily: 81 have changed my mind
and am going back to the city to tell
him to come and see us. Cousin Har-
riet tells me he is a very worthy young
man."
A surprised happy look came into
her eyes. She laid her cheek down on
his great rough hand, as she said.
"You are the dearest father in all the
world"
Deacon Bassett's visit to the city,
however, wa all in vain. Owen Rains
| ford could not be found. He had gone
to Europe. his friends said, and they
| could not give his address just then.
But the deacon did not abandon his
quest. He would have given his life to
save that little face at home. So week
after week, he went to the city, till at
last Prue's letter went across the ocean.
Back over the great water came the
clicking message: "WiIl return on next
steamer" With a pleased smile the
deacon laid the words In the little blue
veined hand,
II am so glad" she said simply. 81
want to see him once again."
Eagerly the anxious father watched
for the vessel, hoping by some means
to restore Prue to health. The day the
steamer was expected to arrivs he went
up to the city, saying to Prue, as he
bid her good bye, 81 will bring him
back with me-"
He never brought him back. There
was a message, instead, awaiting him,
stating that Owen Rainsford had died
on the day before the vessel arrived.
"He Is Dead" groaned the deacon.
sit is my fault. l have killed my little
lamb"
For a moment the room seemed to
reel around as Priscilla Bassett's steady
nerves deserted her. Then she spoke
up bravely:
"Zadok, no earthly power could have
saved our Prudence, even if she had
her lover, for she never was strong.
What you did you thought was for the
best, and she never will blame you"
Somehow there came to the poor
broken heart of the deacon a ray of
comfort at these words. With tremb-
ling steps he followed Priscilla up the
stairs where his darling lay.
As they entered the room, Prue
turned her eyes expectantly towards
the door. sis he comingp'' she asked
softly. ''Shall l see him soonY"
The deacon could not answer, but
with a great sob dropped down on his
knees by the little white bed and buried
his face in his hands.
Miss Priscilla looked at the wan.
wistful face and a mist came over her
eyes.
"Yes, DEAR" she softly answered
gently, "you will see him very SOON"
A glad, contented look came into
the violet eyes. Then Prue slipped her
cold little hand like a snowflake into
the great brown one of her father.
"Prue," he gasped, Twill you forgive
me? l thought l was doing it for your
good. But it was all-all a dreadful
mistake"
"Why, father" she answered in
tender tones, ''you have always been
good to me-"
Don't, don't, my darling" he
groaned IN despair. Then he tried ia
pray, but the prayers that he could
deliver so promptly in meetings failed
him, and his lips refused to move.
The shadow or the wall grew deeper.
The white eyelids fell lower, till the
lashes almost swept the cheek. Miss
Priscilla looked despairingly at the
deacon. But no words came.
Suddenly there ros to Cousin Alice
the remembrance of something Owen
Rainsford had sung the night before
Prue went home. She softly commenced
to sing, while her tears were falling:
Art thou weary, are thou languid
Art thou sore DISTRESSED?
"Come to me-" saith me-, 'and coming
Be at rest"
Such a happy look came over Prue''
face and the thin hand clasped more
tightly that of her father.
Then there fell a silence in the room
Outside the bees were humlng and The
birds were twittering in a slow sleepy
fashion. Nearer and crept tht
shadow on the wall as the sun wen
down. But another had entered thu
room, a still unseen presence. anC
quietly, with a smile on her lips, tireC
little Prue lay at rest.
Mime. Patti is to begin her Amer
can tour on November 10, In New
York.
Opinions alter, manners change
creeds rise and fall, but the moral Law
is written on tablets Of eternity.