Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-06-03

Alldn reply, ana lie kepG HiS WOIu
so faithfully that before many days
Richard Oldacre was pronounced out
of danger.
One morning he had been lying
awake for a long time, with many
thoughts busy in his brain
Allan was using his knapsack for
a writing desk. Dicks eyes followed
the swift-moving pen with languid
interest.
Allan glanced up and saw that his
charge was awake.
81 am writing good news to Nellie,
Dick. L am telling her you are out
of danger
For moment the young man was
silent.
His face was working with some
strong emotion. Then he said sud-
denly
''Why did you not let me die, Cap
tain? 1t is strange thing you have
done. A dead man is in no ones
way"
"But, my dear fellow, you are not
in my way"
"Do you think 1 know it not-that
l am in your way because of Nellie's
loving me?" asked Dick, his voice
trembling with emotion. ''You are
strangely unselfsh %
"No, l am intensely and thorough
ly selfish. / want to see all those /
love happy, and I love your mother
and little Nellie. 1t is to make their
hearts light again that / have tried
so hard to keep the breath of life in
your body; and then, Dick, we have
been comrades in play when children,
and now we are comrades in war.
We mnst be warm friends - and AL
Ian reached out and took Dicks pale
fingers in his warm, strong clasp.
There was no installing that he fully
meant all that he said.
"Noble noble !" murmured Dick.
Then his eyes closed again, and he
drifted off into refreshing slumber.
Two years later had brought great
changes into Richard Oldacre's life.
He had served his time in the army
and had received his discharge. Upon
his broad breast hung the Victoria
Cross, placed there by the queens
own hand for an act of special BRAY
cry. His wedding day was set, and
preparations had been made to emf
CRATE to America Immediately after
the festivities connected with that
happy event. Allan had claimed the
right to give a handsome dover to
the bride of his foster-mother's son,
and with the sum which Dick had
husbanded from his pay while in the
army it was to make a capital to set
him up in business. Nellie's father
had objected strongly at first but he
was a man without means, and really
glad 20 have her off his hands, so he
Welded, with much ostentatious re-
luctance, to what he considered
mesalliance, and let her go.
Mrs. Oldacre had seemed quite I'M
like herself as the various prepare
tons for departure progressed, and
at last her nervous uneasiness culmin
! son.
s'Dick," she said, mysteriously, af-
ter she had called him into a room
and shut the door upon any possible
intruder, 81 can keep silent no long
er. 1 have done wrong not to speak
before, but I was weak. dared not
face alone the anger and surprise
of the proud family. Dick, my own
boy, Richard Oldacre was not your
father"
''Not my father!'' The young
man uttered the words like one in a
dream.
emo"
sWho then?" There was a sharp
ring in his voice, and his mother
cowed before him.
Orchard Fairford, the squire's ell
der brother, who was drowned. |
was his wife, Dick; l have my mar
rage lines. You are the rightful
head of the house, Dick-the heir of
the old name"
Dick stood like one dazed, trying
to realize the Importance of his moth
er's words.
81 had been married but few
weeks: she went on, ''when your ia
Their was summoned away on urgent
business but he left me with suffi-
cient to make me comfortable in cir
cumstances, although pledged to keep
the fact of our union secret until he
should return. / have never heard
one word from him since that morn
ing when he held me in his arms and
pressed his farewell kiss upon my
lips You remember how long the
present holder Of the property re-
manned in uncertainty, thinking his
brothers absence to be temporary
one. But at length all hopes of his
being alive vanished, they had proof
that he was drowned, and then, Dick,
you see how unhappy | must have
been. But / was weak, also. | dar-
ed not present my claim. But you
are strong and determined. You can
fight for our rights if you like, and
win the day, too. What will you do,
my son:''
81 can not tell,'' her son said slow
! ly. 81 must have time to think. /
shall know my mind tomorrow"