Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1888-11-23
ALTHEA,s CONQUEST.


THE ways o. the Lord is past findin'
outl And like as not the very things
we think amt goln' 10 turn out nothin'
turn out ahead o. the heapl P'ranz
Twin DO so with our Althy; but Tia
now she's weight onto my heart.
and a Uneasy experience. vile.
where is the child9"
Old Beacon Winters glanced up
rom the letter In his hand, which he
had been slowly and laboriously perus.
ing through the great iron bound spec
tacles upon his Roman nose; upon his
wrinkled, weather beaten face a look
OF anxiety.
Mrs, Winters, portly, red checked
woman, had just hustled into the
shabby little sitting room where the
old man sat In his big wooden rocker.
She came 10 a halt with a tired look
upon her face, in her arms a huge pile
OF ireshly ironed garments, which she
deposited upon the table preparatory
to a regular saturnslia Of darning.
wal, I am tired" she calculated,
Smiling YEARLY into the nearest seat
"fhe days Is so short now, one can't
scarcely turn round afore pight
Aithyr Don't ask me where she Isl
You know as well as | do, Silas, that
faint no use a-tryin' to keep track o.
hurl She's allus outdoors in the
woods or some such place; but therel
the child is 30 sweet and loyin' and
good that faint in my heart to scold
her. What's the letter aboutP' she
asked. changing the subject abruptly
Deacon Winters opened the thick
sheet of family scented note paper
once more. 1t bore q fancy mono.
gram-"A. W."
''lt's from Alicy-broiher Reubeu's
gal, you know, Dorcasl She's mar.
rled TO q city chap named Warrington.
They live in York, in a big, line
house, and folks DO say they wear
silks every dAy--leastwsys Alley does,
and they've got their own kerridge,
and, oh, can't begin to tell YOU; Lut
reckon Il don't matter 10 them
whether tho wheat crop fails or not
tor warrington is something in the
clty-banker, 1 believe. Wal, wife.
this letters FROM hur; and this here IL
what she says"--spreading the letter
open with both broad palms while he
read aloud;
DEAR UNCLE SILAs.--I have been
thinking for several days past of
Althea. You know have never met
her but once since she was grown.
and then thought her the loyeliest
little creature have ever seen. III
want you TO do Inc q favor want TO
beg Althea Of you for the winter
Send her to US at once you will, aud
ii she will like 10 come. enclose
a check for her necessary expenses.
Do let her come. Your niece,
ALICIA WARRIEGTON."
The letter dropped from Beacon
Winters wrinkled hand, and his eyes |
met the astonished gaze of the moth |
erly gray orbs bent upon him. At |
last:
'Land Sakes alivel The idee o.
Althy going TO the city and seeln' all |
the fine sights and ridin' in a kerrldge, |
and there's the child nowl See how
purity she Is, fatherp
Up the old.-lashioned, box. bordered |
walk q slight, slim figure was tripping
lightly. Was it a fairy2
A lovely face, exquisitely tinted, |
with delicate, regular features; eyes SO
deeply blue that they were almost
black, and mass of sunny hair, like
gold.
She wore an III fitting brown. hol-
and gown and big white sun-bonnst.
A moment later she was in the
DOM, and the wondrous news un-
olded.
ooh, it sounds like a fairy talep
he cried, gayly. Gam / really 10 go
,spaI"
The old man stroked the golden
iead with one wrinkled hand and
milod.
"I'm willin' if mother isl" he said
iollly.
Mrs. Winters stopped and kissed the
5weet face.
"You shan't be dis'p'inted, dearie,"
The said, ''it my consent is all that's
And seei the checks for two
hundred collars. We will git you
nice, and Miss Jones shall
rake It up"
Althea shook her head obviously.
Let me Lave a travelling dress,
and few necessary things,
md will wait for the rest until get
o Cousin Alicia's."
And so all the little details were ar
'anged, and one cold, clear wintry
morning Althea kissed father and
mother goodbye and started for New
York.
Don't cry, darlin'," her father
at sight OF the tears in her
eyes; "and whenever you git
onesome and feel like comm home,
Tou come right back TO father. Will
Tou, AlthyP
"Yes, indeedn she replied; and then
me more goodbye kiss and she was
zone.
''Miss Winters, allow me to present
ny particular friend, Cecil ArnCliffe;
lope you two will be good friends"
And with bow and satisfied smile,
drs. Warrington turned away.
II was at ball In the great metrop.
lisa grand ball which Mrs. War.
ington had given in Althea's honor,
nd at which the girl was TO make her
ebut, II
Althea wore u costly robe of white
ace, with knots OF lilies OF the valley, &
while Mrs Warrington herself was
esplendent in amber satin and dia-
londs.
Althea-could it be Althea Winters,
whom we first saw in brown holland
ress and white sun -bonnet2
The new home and luxurious sur.
seemed to metamorphose