The Springdale news., 1889-02-15

an old man in an apparently unconscious state. His eyes were wide open, but they wandered listlessly around, resting at last with vacant stare upon Dimont
 Matthew, old friend, here is your boy, Lawrence, of whom you have spoken so much lately. Bid him welcome"
 No token of recognition came from the old man, and he did not seem to hear what his good friend said to him. All at once, however, he caught sight of Loveioy, and then bright look of intelligence suffused his pleasant old face, as he exclaimed My boyl you have come at last. Dimont, please leave us together" Thus addressed Dimont left the room, after exhortng Loveiov not to allow his father to overexcrt himself.
 Lawrence, my boy, you are like your poor mother who died years ago. Give me your hand while tell you d long story. tlrst of all, be assured am Matthew Beck with, your father"
 " Father said Lawrence dhe word 'fathcr' seemed to come quite naturally to him), do not make your story too long, for your own sake. 1 remember well every thing up to the time I left Mdshire, and have heard all about the events of the past week. Far be it from me to blame you for what you did; the aggravation was great You are my father and you may expect sons respect from me"
 " God bless you, Lawrence, God bless you. Well, you know that for taking a few hares out of Lord Ogilvie's thousands to feed my hungry children I was sentenced to seven years imprisonment. It was hard, and as had not the spirit to kick, they called my lifclcss mood good bohavlor,' and was liberated In less than SIX years l worked at my trade as a journeyman for q year or two and saved all could. Then 1 came to Northborough, where l started in business in a small way l have prospered ever since, and have saved q nice little sum of money, which have wlled to Mary. knowing her to be a widow You will ask me why never looked up my childrenl I will tell you. It was some years after 1 came out of jail before Ilearncd their where abouts. When l did you had just become rector of Mill Hill. Mary l found married to q good husband, and Lucy heard was the wife of n baronct Then. l thought, what would my children, who have settled well in the world, think of a father who has spent good slice of his life in jail} So resolved to keep my namo and place of abode to myself I have lived Q lonely life here. known as Matthew Eldis, with no friends to care for except William Dmont But have watched you all, save Lucy, and lost sight of her some years ago You must try 10 find her, Law renee, if she still lives. or you, my son, am proud. You have done well i'll life. As clergyman I was proud of you, but as a leader and instructor of the people, and on account of the stand you have taken in re- gard to the vile Corn Laws, l am doubly proud of you. l would try to live could 1 hope to see you in Parliament fighting the grand and glorious battle side by slde with the noble Richard Golden. No thanks, how ever, 10 the Oglyics Curse the race l heard all about their conduct 10 you, and, by heaven, they paid high price for it. On, Lawrence, revenge sweet, especially after waiting over twenty years for it. l think God will pardon me if the deed was wrong I don't ask mans pardon. But, oh, old Lord Ogilvie killed my eldest boy and ruined my home, and now have taken his boys life God forgive us all. Lawrence, my son, be l man Of the people for their sake, and for the sake of your brother, your mother and your father. Your hand, Lawrence
 The old fellow frightened hls grasp Oil hi5 ! son s hand and fell back on his pillow ex- haustcd. HIs eyes closed and he seemed 10 fall into peaceful sleep Lawrence was i completely broken down, and. when he thought the old man asleep. with their 1 hands still locked together, he kncit by the i bedside and wept Thus MT Dnnont found 1 them when ho cntcr2l the room, thinking his old friend would talk too much. He [ saw what Lawrence had not noticed I Touching him lightly on the shoulder Dimont pointed to the old man and said E Poor Matthew no earthly judge VIII try | him. lie has passed 70 where beyond these voices therc IS peace. '' Lawrence arose. kissed the old mans forehead and stepped to tho window,
 The snow Was falling gently tthc first snow since the fatal shot of week snccl. cover ing the earth with white garment cras- ing all the stains and marks on the street The moon shjnmered its snvery light through tho falling flakes. and, as he locked OH this scene of quictuess and purity, he prayed that the stains of his fathers eheckered life misdt be wiped out in hts death as tho snow erased all tlet was black from the earth on whichit fell.