Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-08-30

hcrc rs only ohc iuihily. i
believe
And you don't know whether the
name OF the family il Farley or not"
said the stranger. with smile.
/ saw the drift OF his remark, and
replied that was not acquainted in
the honse, never having been there be-
fore.
The name Of the family may be
Farley" said |, "but have not heard
it. All know u.s. there is an old man
and his daughter, and he calls the girl
'Hetty'"
THE same" said the stranger; 'he
is the man / would Sec"
Hoping he might bring relief TO my
new acquaintance, | readily conduct
ed him up the stairs. and into the apart
ment had left.
On approaching the bedside, | found
that Mr.. Farley had fallen asleep dur
ing my absence from the room.
LET me sit here" id the str ger,
quietly seating himself ut the foot OF
the bed, shading his brow, which | OBJ
served betrayed some emotion. land
do not tell the Old man | am here. 1t
is the girl ! would see, and | will wait
here until she returns.
Scarcely was the stranger seated
when, rs | approached the bedside, the
invalid awolIc.
You must know" said he. continu-
ing the subject OF his history in man
ner which showed that his slumbcr had
been light, you must know that |
have not always been in the condition
of poverty in which you now see me.
/ was once in excellent circumstances,
and enjoyed n high standing in So
ciety"
''How did you become reduced ?" /
asked.
by n series OF misfortunes, of which
/ need not to tell you. BY degrees l
LOST. until became quite fortuneless-
quite friendless."
lis the girl who brought me here
your only child3" inquired.
''Ah! it is OF that l would speak,
sighed the sick man, pressing my
hand. Il had another child-a son
''And he is dcad?"
''No-but he is dead to me- / lost
him through my pride-my worse than
folly"
w nero Is nc now!
ALAS! l know not"
He has deserted you?"
MOI drove him from my door. 1t
was in my days of pride and influence
that | disowned him and cast him off
penpiless."
The old man pressed his feeble hand
upon his brow, Us if to still its throb-
bing, and closed his eyes with a sup
pressed groan.
IL loved my son." he continued,
after a pause-'I was proud of him,
too, but even he could not change the
iil1nness of my will. 1t is that which
has estranged US"
'ln what manner?n
Can you not guessp' Had you
known William, you would have dis
covered before this. His generous
soul, so unlike my own, was totally
free from family pride and prejudice
TO which | owe my ruin. He had no
idea OF the aristocracy Of wealth. and
when he found among the laboring
classes n maiden whom he thought
might make him happy. he cared not
for her humble condition. but resolved
to win her he TT and hand"
"And you opposed him?''
Firmly bitterly blindly opposed
him" exclaimed the old man. ''He
was n m1jor, and | could not enforce
my commands, but / threatened, little
thinking my threats were vain. / told
him in IL moment Of calmness that the
hour which saw him united 10 the poor
girl he was wooing, saw him no longer
my son. Bnt his soul like mine, was
above compulson; and unlike mine, it
scorned the allurements OF wealth. He
believed that toll and poverty were
honorable. and that worth was oftener
found with them than with luxury ana
riches. He trusted that he had found
priceless jewel in the person OF the
humble girl he loved, and he boldly
and unhesitatiugly offered her his
heart and hand, although he knew j
would disinherit him.
And he married HERO
Yes; and from that time | have
never seen him! He provided home
for himself and wife in Boston, and
wrote me "A letter. In that he begged
me to excuse he did not say forgive
his acting against my wishes, but said
not word-not syllable about being
received once more as my son and
heir. He ended by inviting me to visit
him in his new but humble home, and
expressed desire that we might live
on friendly terms. | was too proud to
visit him, and he never saw tit to cross
my threshold again.
..And he continued TO reside in Bos-
ton-in the same city with you, his
fatherY'
Yes, for time: but he was poor,
and could not bear | presume, the
sight of those OF his old associates who
ceased to know him when he was no
longer able to live in style. He scorned
them, it is true; but he hated the sight
of them, and therefore removed from
the city"
"And he never came to you or
wrote ID you afterwards" said /.
Never. The l. s. / heard OF him
he was in New YORK, and in tol 'ri b
circumstances. Oh, what Il Triumph
it would be to him could he see me
thus reduced-shorn o. my pride and
former Wealth.
You see / am now left alone in
the rnfriendlv world with tho child