The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-01-30

Many person would turn to look at
them at they passed, and in Mr.. Den
hams place of business visit from the
child was the event of the day. She
took all this attention with a kind Of
serene unconsciousness; 1t neither ex-
cited nor troubled her.
One still, cold afternoon in January
Francis Denham made haste home.
"Why, papa" cried Aida, running 10
meet him. "What brings you home so
early?"
"You, my pet" lie answered. gaily.
''Be quick, there's good girl, and have
jamie wrap you up warm. Mamma lying
down, is she? Well, you tell her that
am going to take you to hear Wilhelmj,
and will bring you back safe and
sound"
No second bidding was needed. Aida
flew like fairy, and in few minutes
the carriage had left them at the Music
Hall. Their seats were on the front row
of the first gallery. about midway. They
were hardly in their places and Alda's
wraps unloosel, when WilhelmI en-
tered, and all her attention was centered
on him.
1t was wonderful playing; clear. firm,
mastery, yet with an undercurrent of
passionate life. The spirit Of music was
there, as well as its body.
Her father felt the beauty of the per-
formance, but his strongest emotion,
after all, was pleasure in Alda's pleas
ure. Now and then she looked up, long
enough to appropriate his sympathetic
smile, but was silent until the intermis-
sion. Then she chartered joyously, for
the music had set free her happy little
tongue, and he answered, more gravely;
still, it satisfied her.
Now and then she made an absurd
pretence of looking through his opera
glass, and bowing to some imaginary
acquaintance thus recognized. Next, she
leaned her fairy arm on the balustrade,
to peep down at the people below. Her
glance roamed idly at first, then all at
once grew earnest, for directly beneath
sat her Uncle Frank.
The thought rushed over her: My
chance at last and at this moment her
uncle looked up. His worn, tired, hag-
gard, face met full the young and lovely
one of his little neice. Something in
her gaze arrested him; an indescrlbable
expression of love and joy and longing
He self no anger toward her-who
could?-and he smiled family in re-
sponse to the pleading of her eyes.
Aida drew back. The orchestral
accompaniment of the next concerto
began with crash, rs she pulled her
fathers head near to listen, and whis-
pered, breathlessly, "Now, papa, now
is the time, and Uncle Frank will take
itr'
No explanation was necessary. Her
father understood, for he too has seen
his brothers upturned face.
He held out his hand, and with eager
fingers she pulled off the ring. Once
more she bent over the railing, and once
more, drawn by some secret impulse to-
ward good, her uncle looked up.
He saw two faces above him-the
mans grave, yet entreating, the child S
radiant with beautiful intention. And
she held out the ring! The next mo-
ment it was it his feet. No one heard
her say it, yet he felt sure that her lips
formed these words: ut is your own,
dear uncle. l give it to you from my
dear papa"
The old, hard anger melted from his
heart like ice in the sun; he felt no i'm
pulse to refuse; on the contrary, he
gently lifted the ring and put it on, then
looked up at Francis and his daughter.
No mean triumph touched his smile ;the
brotherly kindness of old days lighted
up his face.
Then Aida, her work accomplished,
leaned back and said:
at is all done, papa. Now wen lis
ten to Wilhelmj."
Very few persons noticed this little
episode, and those who did see, thought
nothing of il; a child's freak. that was
all. But when the concert was over, and
A la, muttled to the chin In white fur,
like snow-sprite, came down the stairs
with her father, and there was Uncle
Frank waiting for them.
She threw her arms around his neck
and kissed him, but though the brothers
exchanged hand-clasp that spoke vol
umes, no words were possible till they
were out of the crowd.
At the carriage-door Frank said
rather huskily, Ibid you mean it,
FranCis?"
Prank" replied his brother, "I do
mean ii with my whole heart, and may
God forgive me for not having done it
beforem
So the great Denham feul came to an
end. The boys found each other de-
lightful comrades, and wondered that
they had meyer fraternized before. The
wives exchanged receipts and conf
dences; the brothers renewed the amity
of early days.
As for Aida, If she was not completely
spoiled, II was due to the inherent sweet
ness of her nature, and not to her rela-
tives, who thought nothing that could
be done was enough for her.
''She hasn't fault"' said her Uncle
Frank.
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