Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-08-22

the hand which she extended 10 hluts and
| LOCKING in her eyes with troubled expires
| sion. alt Is all very strange" he said al
last; ''you seem like some one have known
| but can not tell who.n and he passed his
hand over his forehead again, us If 10 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 a low
voice
"Yes, the past,n feebly echoed Chester
| Darlington; ssthey talk Of q past, but l dc
not know what IL Is, and so we viii droI
that and live to-day alone You say you are
my daughter" and he looked again IN her
eyes with that strange, troubled look who
then, is thisi" and he looked inquiringly al
Mr.. Falconer
.'This 10 my husband, father,n and Mr.
Falconer advanced and took the soft white
hand in hts. "Will you accept son also,
fatherln he said, with his frank, manly
1 smile.
This look had no power to move the
clouded mind 10 any effort of remembrance,
and he took the offered hand in the matter
Of fact way in which he greeted all
strangers.
"a daughter and a son, both in one hour
he said, shaking his head In perplexity,
''It's strange world, a very strange
worldr'
Isabel turned away to hide her ears; II
was bitter disappointment; althcRgh she
had told herself 80 many times how II must
inevitably be, yet she had, in spite of all,
cherished a hope that 1t might be better
than she feared
''Then who is thisln he said, gently, as
Oracle came springing in to her father's
side; her eyes aglow with interest In an
aviary which Tom, little colored boy, who
had been detailed TO entertain her, had been
showing her. She stood by his side Ia blush
ing confusion, as the strangers eyes were
bent upon her In min gled surprise and In
quiry.
'sThis is my little daughter" said Mr. Fal-
coner, drawing her to him tenderly. "Wil
you not go and give the gentleman your
hand. my dearl" he continued, kindly
She looked al the strange face steadily,
but something In the kind eyes, 90 vague
and yet so inquiring, struck her childish
fancy, and she left her fathers SIDE read
lily, and held out her little hand 10 him In
childish trust. He took tin his and looked
at her wistfully ~ never had title daugh-
ter" he said, pitifully, looking over at Isa-
bel as she stood with her he'll turned
away.
1t was evidently difficult for hlns to grasp
| the idea Of O grown.up daughter with O
family, and II In his darkened mind he had
formed an idea of what the daughter which
Major Darlington had told him Of would be
like, II was that she would be little child
like Oracle
He looked at her tenderly, and sitting
down he took her on his knee ald kissed
her. Major Darlington looked it him In
surprise, for since his injury he had never
noticed child, and his affectionate nature
had seemed 10 be buried in the giave Of the
past.
Oracle was very affectionate child, and
as she saw the sad, puzzled expression on
the face of her new acquaintance, she
reached her little arm around his neck
saying sweetly: 4 win be your little
daughter, sir, If you wish me 70, looking
to her father for his approval
He nodded kindly, and she prattled on,
her sweet voice evidently acting on the
clouded mind like music, for 10 listened
intently while she told him how Tom had
shown her the big green parrot who had
spoken her name, and told her solemnly
that Polly wanted a cracker, and how the
hooking bird had sung the same song which
Linnet sang at home.
isabel had conquered her emotion, and
turning viewed the scene witha renewed
hope that the little child might BE the agen-
cy through which her fathers mind might
find light, for she could not give up the
idea that in some way there WAS to be a
rift in the dark cloud which oh,sured 1t.
"Come, Alicia, let us go and see the rab-
bits lac said TO the child, mildly, as he put
her from his knee and rose to his feet.
"But. sir, my name is Oracle she said,
as he took her hand.
Eyes, yes, Oracle Alicia; it has sweet
sound, hasn't it, little daughterln and the
great and small child passed out together,
she looking up at him with mute, wondering
eyes, he looking down at her with tender,
protective air, without thought or look for
the real daughter, who looked after him with
a heart almost bursting with grief and dis
appointed affection.
"How did he receive you, deariel" said
the little grandmother, coming in as the
rair went out at the hall door. The group