Thomas County cat., 1889-08-15


perfectly helpless. And even now, sir.
doubt whether would not have died
before asking favor of any one had
it not been for the broke n-hearted girl
who conducted you hither."
1 can not describe my sensations on
hearing these words, so full of pride
and candor, fall from the lips of man
who might be dying. 1t was plain to
be seen that the invalid had once seen
better days and moved in circles of re-
fnement, and l was sure that his in
teilect was of the finest order. 1t was
owing to these peculiar circumstances
of the case that became deeply inter-
ested in my new acquaintances and felt
anxious to relieve them, and at the
same time to learn something of their
history. After couversing with the in
valid for few moments he intim ated
to me that he would willingly let me
into the secrets of his history provided
the girl was not present to listen.
Accordingly directed ''little Hetty."
as the old man called her, to 60 for .
physician of my acquaintance, telling
her l would stay by her father until
she returned. The night was not cold,
and I felt that it would benefit her
body and divert her mind to take a
walk in tho city, with the ways of
which she was very well acquainted.
Hetty had scarcely left the house
when the door-bell rang. The sick
man said that the lower part OF the
house was not occupied, and requested
me to see who was at the door.
Carrying the lamp in my hand I
proceeded down the stairs. found a
well-dressed gentleman at the door.
who seemed surprised on seeing me in
such place.
'.Does Mr.. Farley reside here?' he
esked.
II don't know that he does" re-
piled.
"Well, then. is there more than one
family living in the house?"
There is only one family, l be-
lieve."
..And you don't know whether the
name of the family is Farley or not,
said the stranger, with smile.
saw the drift of his remark, and
replied that was not acquainted in
the house, never having been there be-
fore.
''The name of the family may be
Farley" said l. ''but have not heard
it. All know is, there is an old man
and his daughter and he calls the girl
.Hetty.'"
'.The same" said the stranger; 'he
is the man / would see."
Hoping he might bring relief to my
new acqIaintances, l readily con-
Quoted him up the stairs and into the
apartment l had left
On approaching the bedside, found
that Mr. Farley had fallen asleep dur
ing my absence from the room.
LET me sit here" said the stranger,
quietly seating himself at the foot of
the bed and shading his brow, which
observed betrayed some emotion,
land DO not tell the old man l am
here. 1t is the girl l would see, and
will wait here until she returns"
Scarcely was the stranger seated
when. as approached the bedside, the
invalid awoke.
you must know" said he, con-
tinuing the subject of his history in a
manner which showed that his slum-
Der had been light, you must know
that have not always been in the con-
dition of poverty in which you now
see me- was once in excellent cir
cumstances. and enjoyed high stand.
ing in society,"
'.How did you become reducedl" I
asked.
"By a series of misfortunes, of
which l need not tell YOU, By de-
grees / lost, until l became quite. fort
uneless-quite friendless.
'.Is the girl who brought me here
your only child?" l inquired.
..Ah! it is of that l would speak, !"
sighed the sick man, pressing my
hand. IL had another child-a SON.
"And is he dead?"
"No-but he is dead to me- l lost
him through my pride-my worse than
folly"
"Where is he now?"
'sAlas! know not"
'.Has he deserted you?"
'.No-l drove him from my door. 1t
was in my days of pride and influence
that disowned him and cast him off
, penniless." 5"
! The old man pressed his feeble hand
upon his brow, as if to still its throb-
, bing. and closed his eyes with sup
pressed groan.
Il loved my son." he continued,
after pause-''I was proud of him.
too, but even he could not change the
f firmness OF my will. 1t is that which
= has estraneed us"
I'm what manner?''
A ''Can you not guess? Had you
, known William Won would hava die.