Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-06-13

youth, on his brightness, the flash OIL
genius in him, bis soft heart and caross-
ing ways; the old dog. Of which he had
been fond, crept into bis fathers heart,
though he had never cared for animals;
the old apple-woman to whom Clement
used to give sixpences and chat with
about " Oireland /" in his winning way,
was surprised at the grave, gray gen.
tleman stopping to talk and giving her
q shilling over and over again. When
be sat alone in the dim room be recalled
the boyish voice and laugh, the music
of the little old violin, the tune which
he called the " Claude tune haunted
his ear with q balf-soothing persistence.
The story OF the son who came home,
and Of the father who fell on his neck
and kissed him, lay at his heart.
One day in the beginning Of Deem
Der, about 5 O'Clock, Louis Dumaresq
came home. twas Saturday, and he
was earlier than usual. lie had nothing
to do with his time, and did not care to
spend it anywhere but in that old room,
where so many hours had wore them
selves away. Whenever he opened the
door he could not help, though he tried to
do so sometimes, letting his glances fall
on the spoilt picture. 1t had one cash
through the sparkling water, another
through the group of dancing girls; yet
the light still caught it and brought out
the soft mellowness Of the coloring. He
got bis books--he was great reader OF
all kinds of curious literature-and,
finding in one of them subject which
was suggestive to him, he got piece Of
paper and sketched in black and white.
lie was rather absorbed in his draw
ing, which took shape that pleased him,
and whistled over it very softly, as was
his habit when he was designing. Sud-
denly the low whistle stopped. lie
raised his head quickly, and listened
with a curious intensity Of expression.
1t was only the distant sound of
street. musician's fiddle that he caught.
What made all the muscles of his face
culver as the air was family borne in
to him?
He started to his feet, ran to the win
dow and threw it open, letting in the
damp ard smoky air, and kneellng on
the window sill, stretched his head out,
trying not only to hear but to see. The
tune was distinct now. 1t was light
and merry one, but somehow the very
lightness Of it made it the more pathetic
in the misty grayness Of the London
street. 1t was the tune which Clement
had made years ago" to fit the pic
ture," as ne said. Dumaresq's heart
beat audibly to himself as the notes
were repeated more distinctly. lie knew
in a moment that only one person in the
world could play that tune, and that
the time had come at last for which he
had hupgered these weary years.
lie left the window, forgetting to shut
it, left the room-door open, too, so that
the draft made the lamp on the table
flicker and flare. lie ran down stairs,
as he had never run since he was boy,
opened the great heavy hall-doOr, aud
vert straight up to the wandering mu-
stefan. He only saw his boy he never
even noticed that a dark-eyed, curly
headed child was holding on to his coat
with both her little hands.
"Clement-you'ye come home-at
last, my boy " the father painted out,
breathless with his haste. "l'ye looked
for you; wanted you all this while
come income in-out Of this cold :"
He had one hand in his, the other
was holding the violin. lie clasped the
arm, however, since the hand was full.
He drew him toward the open door be-
hind them. 1t was Clement; mo-
ment would have satisfied him Of this
if he had ever doubted but seven years
Of want and folly had wasted him to a
shadow. Commas great eyes, as they
had been in the last months of her life,
looked out Of his thin, brown, hand
some young face, and if he had needed
any appeal, would have made his fathers
heart yearn over him.
"But stay, father" the young man
said, drawing back a moment to bring
forward the little figure half hidden be-
hind him. Here is another come TO
ask you to take her in"
Dumaresq stopped and lifted her in
his arms without a word. lie led the
way, carrying the child, who trembled
q little, but neither cried nor spoke.
Clement followed him; they went si-
lently up the broad, dark staircase, ST.
lently entered the room Fl ON which the
young man had rushed seven years ago.
Dumaresq drew the old.fashioned sofa
close to the fire, stirred it to a blaze,
shut the window, and placed the child
gently in one corner. Clement sank on
the other; he was too exhausted in body
for mental emotion he only glanced
up once at the ruined picture. The lit
tie girl called out with delight at the
warmth, and spread out her eager little
hands to it. She was still shuddering
with the cold and with certain sensi-
tive timidity which was not exactly
shyness. Dumaresq stood a moment
to look at her as the freight flashed
on her small, oval face, and was re-
fected in her wonderful dark eyes. lie
gave a sort Of stiied cry at last-a
hungry cry Of delight.
element" he said, "do you know;
Do you see: She has your mothers
face
And kneeling down on the rug before
her, he took the thin little arms and put
them round his neck; his gray hair
touched her thick, crisp, dark curls
be kissed her psssionately.
Clement looked at them with visit
full, melancholy smile.
"Yes, | saw that" he said.. II
think that was why came. | thought
| would give her to you, for l shan't
stay long with her, and her mothers
dead. felt that | must come home
and tell you"
Don't tell me anything yet" the
father said, turning from the child with
a gesture as if he would gladly have
taken his son into his arms, too, only
the long habit of reserve forbade. "I'll
take it all-eyerything-for granted, at
All xnusra MIL Eyaryth,n,.