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

I OF Iue ALl1c Sitl uuTlnS tuc1E stay Out SHe
! had not yet appeared ''He called me
/ Alicia all the time, and he said he had often
| dreamed he had little girl like me, but he
had never found her before"
Let US hope on, dear wife" said Mr..
Falconer. If ne can not see as we wish,
| the child may be a great blessing to him. ~
Il will be patient" She looked up at him
with sad eyes and a quivering lip. II can
at least imagine what fathers love might
| have been"
| From that time the child was the con-
/ stant companion of Chester Darlington,
| and, with Pompey in the rear to look after
their safety, took long walks over the plan-
! tation, visiting the negro cabins and enter
/ ing into their simple lives with childish
zest.
| Oracle had never before come in close
| contact with the race. and they were a
source of great curiosity and pleasure to
| her, as she listened to their quaint songs
and tales.
! Maum Dinah, the second cook in the
| establishment, always had choice bit laid
away for ''little missy" for child was =
great treat on The place, and every one ot
| them were ready and willing at any time to
do her a favor, or contribute TO her enter
/ tainment.
Mrs. Pembrokes carriage came for Isa-
bel very soon after the first days visit, and
if she had felt emotion on entering the home
of the Carringtons, she was doubly affected
when she found herself in the home which
had seen her mothers childhood, and from
whence she had gone out, beautiful, joy
Gus bride, to ber husbands home,
Mrs. Pembroke was at the door to meet
her, and she seemed more lovable and win
%bap hot in, ha-
The house, though not so large as that of
the Carringto was still ample, and the
servants were fewer, being chiefly old re-
tainers who refused to leave their mistress
after the fortunes of war had made them
free.
This picture of Alicia was taken Just
after her marriage" said Mrs. Pembroke.
1t was a beautiful oil picture of the fair
young mother, taken in her white wedding
dress, the misty folds of the bridal vail fall
ing about her with lovely effect.
SHOW sweet, how fair" said Isabel, look
ing at it with tenderness. How she loved
the memory of this beautiful mother, whose
life had ended so soon.
'The beauty of her face was only equalled
by the loveliness of her character" replied
Mrs. Pembroke; ''none could know her
without loving her; but now, my dear, l
must know all about yourself; to be sure
Major Darlington has given me an outline
of your history, but 1 want to know your
inner life, your heart, dear child"
They were sitting in a lovely little bou-
doir, one which Alicia had loved in her girl
hood; Mrs. Pembroke sat in a wide-armed
rocker, and Isabel, on low, wide foot-stool
at her feet, leaned against her il confiden-
tial fashion as she told her of her early
trials, as a child, in her aunt's home, at
Nine Arnot's, and of her sudden marriage,
and the visit to the lonely grave of Alicia,
who looked down smilingly upon them in
her bridal array
"And these dear hands have been pricked
with needles, and forced to menial labors.
Ali the sad shame of it," said the old lady,
taking Isabel's hands and caressing them
fondly.
''But, indeed, grandmamma, the needles
did not prick my hands nearly so bad as the
unkind tongues did my heart" said Isabel
''But you have no unkind tongues in your
home now," and the old lady looked at her
inquiringly. This husband of yours, has
he no faults!"
''If he has he is very successful in hiding
them," replied Isabel; she is all kindness
and tenderness toward me-" and then she
told of Lottie and her gentle, dove-like char
acter.
"And she was a shop-girl, too; you did
well to remember her. am glad you can
not forget your friends" and the soft little
hands caressed again the bowed head.
81 could not be content to have these
riches without trying to do good with them;
to make others happy as well as myself"
replied Isabel, earnestly.
.n,,sk .,rh% ,,,1 4l,1 ,,o1l la,,1
nodded approvingly; "but 1 can not help
feeling that this woman whom you have
called aunt has been much to blame, that
she did not advertise or search for US in
some way"
But, dear grand1amma, remember, she
was so crushed, so sad, and believing as she
did that my father had been killed, she had
so little to direct her in her search; she
was bitterly poor, too, and could scarcely
have paid for an advertisement" Isabel pro
tested, eagerly, for she could not bear to
have her second mother blamed.
''That is right, child, defend those who
have been kind to you," and the kind hand
patted her shoulder.
"And now, grandmamma, tell meof your
self" said Isabel; 81 long to know of your
life, also'
"After Alicia left US we were very lonely
but she was so near we could visit her
very often, and we were so happy in seeing
her happiness that we could not regret her
marriage"
"You mean my Grandfather Pembroke
and yourselfH'
"Yes. dear; how 1 wish you could have
known him; one of the noblest of men,"
replied Mrs. Pembroke, with sigh. ''It
was not long, however, before she began to
show signs Of failing health, and her ply
sicians advised the trip to the North which
resulted so disastrously. 1t seemed as if
my heart would break when saw her go
away-so frail, yet so hopeful-but as faith
full Chloe, who had nursed her from an nfant
went with her, l knew she would not suffer
any lack of care, and tired to think it was
fer the best, but have regretted so terri
bly, since that since she must die she could
not have stayed and died in her mothers
arms"
sit is so natural for the sick to grasp at
every straw of possible relief" said Isabel
''Yes, and Chester would have taken her
70 the ends of the earth on the shadow of
hope, he was so nearly frantic when he
learned that her disease was dangerous
one; then the war broke out in all its
strength, and had one letter saying that
Iney nad come 10 the Town Wnere Sne died,
and then that you were born and after that,
silence, terrible silence, until it seemed as
II should die with suspense and dread. l
was all alone with the exception of the
servants, for your grandfather had joined
the army at the first alarm of real war. The
next news heard was when Major Caring
ton came home on a brief furlough, and
told me he had seen Chester for a few
moments and that NV darling rvac daad
and that you, her babe, and Chloe were left