The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-09-06


esoed in my new acquaintances and felt
anxious to relieve them, and AT the
sane time ~ learn something OF their
history. After couversing with the in
valid forSs few moments he iHtimated
10 me thst he would willingly let me
into the.secrets of his history provided
the girl was not present to Ssten-
Accordingly Idirected '-listle Hetty,"
as the old man called her. to go for
physician of my acquaizsance, telling
her 1 would stay 10y her father until
she returned The night was not cold.
and l felt that il ENSH,ld benefit her
body and divert her Uhnd to take a
walk in the city, wish the ways of
which she was very wsll acquainted
Hetty had scarcely left the house
when the door-ben rang. The sick
man said that the hover part of the
house was not occupied. and requested
me to see who was;at the door.
Carrying the lamp in my hand j
proceeded do wn The stairs. / found a
well-dressed gentleman at the door.
who seemed surprised on seeing me in
such place.
Does Mr. Sarley reside here'r he
Il don't know that he does.'' L re-
piled. I
Well then, is there more than one
family living il the house?"
There is aonly one family, ] be
Heve" -.... -- .. -.--.
',And you oaon't know wnerner the
name OF the family is Farley or net, y
said the stranger, with a smile
IL. , r..
replied that was not acquainted an
the house. never having been there be-
fore
The :-a.ns y. .l.e IamIIIy may be
Farley" said I. ''but have nos heard
it ALI know is, there Is an old man
au5 his daRshter and he calls the girl
.Ketty.'"
The ssne." said the stranger "he
= the man / would see"
HopiR. hc might bring relief TO my
Ee~ aequaintanoes. | readily con
Sucted' him up the stairs and into the
apartment had left
On approaching the bedside, found
that Mr. Farley had fallen asleep dur
ing my-a6sence from the room
-.LstGac sit here, said the stranger.
quietly seating himself at the foot of
the bed,sud shading his broE. which
1 observed betrayed some emotion,
-sznd 40 not tell the old man l am
here Il il the girl would see, .andI
will wait here until she returns"
Scarcely was the stranger seated
when. as approached the bedside, the
invalid awCI0e.
You must know" said me, coz
flnuinS the subject of his history in q
manner which showed that his slum-
Der had been light, you must know
zhat have not always been in the con-
Siuon of poverty in which you now
see me- Iwas once in excellent cir
'cumstanees. and enjoyed high stand
lng in sooiety."
How did you become reduced?"
asked
-'.By a series Of misfortunes. OF
~hich need not tell you BY de-
grees lost, Intil became quite fort
Sneless-quite friendless-
is the girl who brought me here
gour only chrd?" l inquired.
-'.Ahl it is OF that l would speak,
sighed the sick man, pressing my
hand Il had another child-ason-''
And is he dead?"
-"No-but he is dead to me I lost
hiHl through m* pride-my worse.than
folly"
Where is he now?''
.Alasl knew nott''
-.sHas he deserted you?"
',So-l drove him from my doet It
was IN my days sf pride and inhaence
thRt 1 disowned Ehim and cast him of
penriless." 4"
The old man pr sssed his feeble hand
upon his brow, as if to still its throb-
bing- and closed hzs eyes with a emp
pressed groan-
-1doved my sog he continue6
aftersa pause-'I Sas proud of him.
too hat even he c0rid not change the
firmnsss of my will 1t is that which
has sst-anged US"
In what mannerY
CAP you not eTess? Had you
knowuSVilliam you ssould have dis
covered before this His generous
soul. sOsunlike my o4n, was totally
tree frou the family ,pride and pre-
judice to which L owe my ruin He
had no Idea of the :aristocracy OF
wealth. aud when he foa-nd among the
laboring c asses q maiden whom he
thought might make hin happy. he
cared not dor her humble condition.
but resolved to win her heart and
hand.
land yorcGpposed himf"
''Firmiy-1oi oitterly-blin6ly opposed
himr exclaimed, the old .nan. He
was a major. ssnd could not enforce
ds Il IL
thinking nay threats were vain. /
told him in a snoment of eaimness
that the hour which saw him united
to the poor girl lhe was wooiIg saw
hin no longer my son. But his soul,
Like mine, was above compulsion;: and.
unlike mine, il seorned the allure
ments Of wealth He believed 1hat
toll ard poverty 1efe honorable. aud
that worth was oftener found witk
them taan with luxury and riches
He trusted that he had found price
less iewei in the persoE Of the humble
girl he loved, and he boldly and un-
hesitatingly offered has his hand.
although he knew would disinherit
hImt''
''And he married her?"
"Yes; and from that time I have
never seen himl He provided a home
for himself and Sife in Boston. and |
wrote me letter. IN that he begged
me TO excase-he did not say forgive
his acting against my wishes. but
said not a word-not a 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
liFe on friendly terms. was too
proud TO visit him, and he never saw