Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-10-24

10 have found you at last" as the happy
tears rose to her eyes.
The old lady held her of at arms length,
and looked at her through mist of tears.
"You are more Darlington than Penn
broke" she said at last, brokenly, 'but
can see my Alicia's beautiful hair and her
lovely eyes"
"And 1 hope, dear grandmamma, you
may find Alicia's heart ALSO" said Isabel,
patting the wrinkled little face lovingly.
s"Yes, yes, my cbild's own loving ways"
mnrmured the old lady, more to oherself than
to others.
''Let me introduce you to Mr.. Falconer,
the best husband in the world, !" resumed
Isabel, leading Mrs. Pembroke to her hus-
band
''Oh, it is well that you found my child
before did" said the old lady, with shake
of her small head; ''for if had found her
first / should have been 10th to have given
her up even to the best husband in the
world" repeating Isabers words with an
arch smile.
al account myself the luckiest of men
that l was so fortunate, then, madam" he
replied.
- fear this happy meeting would never
have been otherwise" said Isabel, ''for the
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
she was looking forward TO with mingled
feeling of tender impatience and deead-
dread lest her fathers state should be worse
than she had anticipated.
Major Darlington read her heart intui-
lively, and said, quietly: My brother is
not at home just at present, but will be in,
think, after dinner"
Tie bell rang at the moment, and they
filed out to the large dining-room, Major
Darlington with Mrs. Pembroke upon his
arm, and the rest in their proper order
The old lady's bright eyes sought her long
lost grandchild's face continually through
the meal, and she seemed to be living in
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. eyes, like, very
like Alicia" she murmured, as they re-
turned to the drawing room.
Isabel and her husband were in the libra
~ and Major Darlington was showing his
books, q subject upon which he was enthu-
siastic, when a sound Of footstep at the
door caused them TO look up 1t was a
slow, uncertain step, and 1t paused upon the
threshold.
Isabel was standing by a window in the
full light, and the eyes of the person stand
ing there were fixed mildly upon her. 1t
was an old man, though there were few
wrinkles in his pale face, but his hair was
snowy white. and his blue eyes had dim,
far-away look, which told at glance that
there were lost faculties vailed behind their
vacantly mild glances.
'Chester," said Major Darlington, lay
ing down the book of which he had been
talking, and going at once to his brothers
side; Isabel advanced, her face pale and her
hands nervously clasped before her. "You
know told you your daughter was coming
to-day. She is here, and longs to know and
love you"
Dear father,'' said Isabel, coming close
to HIM and looking up at him with a be-
seeching glance. "I am 80 glad to have
found you"
''My daughterl" he said, slowly, and with
a bewildered look. ''How should have a
daughter without wifel think there is g
mistake"
No, no, there is no mistake" she cried,
eagerly; "dear father, am your daughter
and Alicia's; don't you remember Alicia,
your wife, and can not you love me for her
sakeln
''AliciaF' he put his hand to his head in a
dazed way. 81 do not remember Alicia, and
yet the name has a homelike sound; did you
say that you were Aiicial"
"Eo, father, am Isabel, and Alicia's
daughter and yours; if you can not remem-
Der her, won't you love me for my own
safeln
Why, yes" he answered, slowly, taking
the hand which she extended to him, and
looking in her eyes with a troubled express
sion. It is ell very strange" /" ne said at
last; 'tyou seem like some one have known,
but / can not tell who" and he passed his
hand over his forehead again, as if 70 brush
away the vail of forgetfulness which was
hiding the past from him.
''Better drop the past and win him in the
present." suggested the Major in low
voice.
''Yes, the past" feebly echoed Chester
Carrington; ''they talk of past, but do
not know what it is, and so we viii drop
that and live to-day alone. You say you are
my daughter" and he looked again in her
eyes with thatstrange, troubled look. s'Who,
then, is thisl" and he looked lnquiringly at
Mr. FaIconer.
''This is my husband, father" and Mr..
Falconer advanced and took the soft white
hand in his. "Wm you accept son also,
fatherin he said. with his frank. manly
smile.