Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-07-30
IS SAB IA:
From Shop to Mansion.

broke,n she said ct last, brokenly, "but can see my Alicia's beautiful hair and her lovely eyes"
 "And 1 hope, dear grandmamma, you may find Alcias heart also," said Isabel, batting tho wrinlkled little face lovingly. "Yes, yes, my child's own loving ways," murmured tho old lady, moro to herself than to others
 "Let me introduce you to MT. Faiccner, the best husband in tho world," resumed Isabel, leading Mrs. Pembroke to her hus- band.
 "Oh, it is woll that you found my chlld before I did," said the old lady, with shake of her small head ''for If I had found her 1 first should have been 10th to havo given world," repeating 1sabel's words with on arch smile.
 "I account myself the luckiest of men that was so fortunate, then, madam" he replied. | have been otherwise" said Isabel, "for the 1 train of events which have led to 1t all seems to have been developed since my | marriage" Her eyes wandered uneasily | around; there was another meeting which 1 she was looking forward to with mingled l feeling of tender impatience and dread 1 dread lest her fathers state should be worse than she had anticipated. l Major Darlington read her heart intui- lively, and said, quietly: My brother is not at home just at present, but will be in, 1 l thlnk, after dinner" Tho bell rang at tho moment, aud they filed out to the largo dining-room, Maj jor l Darlington with Mrs. Pembroke upon his l arm, and the rest in their proper order. The old lady's bright eyes sought her long lost gHndchild's face continually through l the meal, and she seemed to be living i'll the past as she listened to her voice, and noticed with quick eyes every motion and gesture, many of which reminded her of her beloved daughter "Ycs, like, very 1 like Alicia," she murmurcd. as they re- turned to the drawing groom. | Isabel and her husband were i'll the libra ry and Major Darlington was showing his books, Q subject upon which he was enthu- siastic, when sound of footstep at the door caused them to look up. It was a l slow, uncertain step, and 1t paused upon the | threshold.
 Isabel was standing by window in the full light, and the eyes of the person stand ing there were fixed mildly upon her. It was an old man, though there were few wrinkles in his pale face, but his hair was snowy white, and his blue eyes had a dim, far-away look, which told at glance that there were lost faculties vailed behind their vacantly mild glances.
 "Chestcr," said Major Darlington, lay ing down the book of which he had been talking, and going at once to his brother s side, Isabel advanced, her face pale and her hands nervously clasped before her. "You know told you your daughter was coming g to-day. She Is here. and longs to know and love you.''
 "Dear father r,' said Isabel, coming close to him and looking up at him with be- seeching glance. II am so glad to have found you"
 My dau ghterl" he said, slowly, and with bewildered look. "How should have a daughter without wifcs think there Is Q mistake"
 ''No, no, there is no mistake" she cried eagerly; "dear father, am your daughter and Allcla's; don't you remember Alicia your wife, and can not you love mo for her sakei'
 'Alicias" He put his hand to his head in 6 dazed way. "1 do not remember Alicia, and yet tho namc has a homeiike sound did you say that you were Alciaa' } "No, father, I am Isabel, and Alicia't daughter and yours; if you can not remem Der her, won't you love mo for my owr saIke!"
 "Why, yes," he answered, slowly, taking the hand which she extended to him, anf looking in her eyes with Q troubled expres ! sion. " It Is all very strange" he said a last; "you soem like some ono have known but I can not tell who" and he passed hil hand over his forehead again, as if to brusf away the vail of forgetfulness which wa! hiding tho past from him.
 "Better drop tho past and win him in tn, present." suggested tho Major in a low voice.
 "Yes, the past" feebly echoed Cheste Darlington; ''they talk of a past, but d. not know what it is, and so we will dro] that and 1.-Two to-day alone. You say you ar my daughter" and he looked again in hel F. eyes with that strange, troubled look "Who then, is thisf" and he looked inQuiringly 0 MT. Falconer.
 "This is my husband, father," and Mir Falconer advanced and took the soft whit = hand in his. twill you accept 0 sen also
 fathers" he said, with his frank, manly
 smile.
 This look had no power to move tn
 clouded mind to any effort of remembrance :, and ho took the offered hand in tho matter N of-fact way in which he greeted al s. strangers.
 y IA daughter and son, both in one hour, a.i he said, shaking his head in perplexitJ e "It's strange world, vcry strang
 worldv'
 = Isabel turned away to hide her tears;
 was bitter disappointment; although sh
 had told herself so many times how 1t mus
 inevitably be, yet she had, in spite of al r. cherished hope that 1t might be bette
 than she feared.
 'Then who is thisa" he said, gently, a r. Gracie came springing in to her father
 side; her eyes aglow with interest in a Y, Y, aviary which Tom, little colored boy, wh n had been detailed to entertain her, had bee le showing her. She stood by his side in blusl t. ing confusion, as the atranger's eyes wer
 bent upon her in min gled surprise and 1T
 quiry.
 ''This is nny little daughter" said Mr Fla
 coner, drawing her to him tenderly. "Wi
 you not go and give the gentleman you ,p hand, my deara" he continued, kindly.
 She looked at the strange face steadil,
 but something in the kind eyes, so vagu
 and yet so inquiring, struck her childis
 fancy, and she left hor fathers side req
 lily, and held out her little han to him
 childish trust. He took it in his and locke
 at her wistfully. "I never had ltttte daug R. ter," he said, pitifully, looking over at Is