The Irish standard., 1889-06-29

TO have found you at last" as the ha0w
tears rose to her eyes.
The old lady held her off at arms lengM,
and looked at her through, q mist OF t4efS.
"You are more Darlington than rem.
broke.n she said at last, brokenly, "butl
can sea NV Alicia's beautiful hair and her
lovely eyes"
| "And [ hope, dear grandnnamn1a, you
NAV find Aucia's heart also" said Isabel,
patting the wrinkled little face lovingly.
"Yes, yes, my child's own loving ways"
murmured the old lady, moro to herself than
= to others.
! "Let me introduce you to Mr.. Falconer,
the best husband in the world" resumed
Isabel. leading Mrs Pembroke to her nus
band.
ooh, it is well that you found my child
! before did, said the old lady, with shake
of her small head; 'for it had found hef
! first should have been 10th to have given
/ her up even to the best husband IN the
world" repeating Isabeps words with al
arch smile.
81 account myself the luckiest OF men
+, that was so fortunate, then, madam" ne
replied.
Il fear this happy meeting would never
have been otherwise said Isabel, ''for the
! train CT events which have led to Titan
seems to have been developed since my
MARRIAGE Her eyes wandered uneasily
around; there was another meeting winch
she was looking forward to with mingled
feeling OF tender impotence and dread
dread lest her fathers state should beWorse
than she had anticipated.
Major Darlington read ner heart lntul'
lively, and said, quietly: My brother is
not at home Just at present, but will be in,
think, after dinner"
The bell rang at the moment, and they
filed out to the large fiinin groom, 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 Oh
her beloved daughter eyes, like, very
like Alicia" she 1nurnured, 90 they re-
turned to the drawingroom
Isabel and her husband were in the libra
ry and Major Darlington was showing his
books, a subject upon which he was enthu-
siastic, when G. sound OF iootstep at the
door caused them TO look up 1t was
slow, uncertain step, and it paused upon She
threshold.
Isabel was standing by window in tha
full light, and the eyes Of the person stand
ing there were fixed mildly upon her. Ii
was an old man, though there Were few
wrinkles in his pale face, but his hair was
snowy white, and his blue eyes bad q dim,
PARKWAY look, which told at a glance that
there we're lost faculties vailed behind their
vacantly mild chances.
ssChester," said Major Darlington. lay-
ing down the book Of which he had oeen
talking, and going at once to his brother's
side; Isabel advanced, her face pale end he1
hands nervously clasped before her. "You
know told you your ghter was coming
to-day. She is here, and longs to know and
love YOU
"Dear iather,'' said Isabel, coming close
to HIM and looking up at him with be.
seeching glance. 81 am so glad to have
found you.'
"Mv dau ghterl" he said, slowly, and with
bewildered look. ''How should I have
daughter without q wifes 1 think there is
mistake"
ssNo, no. there is no mistake" she Cried
eagerly; f'dear father, ain your daughter
and Alicia's; DON'T you remember Alicia,
your wife, and can not you love me for her
sake?"
:tAliciaY,' He put bis hand to his head in
dazed way. &C Go not remember Alicia, and
y
say that you We're Alicia?"
:sNo. father, + am Isabel, and Alicia's
daughter and yours; if you can not renenl-
Der her, won't you love me- for my own
sake?"
"Why, yes,'' he answered, slowly, taking
the hand which she extended to him, and
looking in her eyes with q troubled express
sion. "1t is all very strange" he said at
last; styou seem like some one have known,
but can not tell who" aud ne passed his
hand over his forehead again, as if to brush
away the vail of forgetfulness which WAS
| hiding the past from him.
"l3etter drop the past and win him in the
present." suggested the Major in q low
voice
eyes, the past" feebly echoed Chester
Darlington; 'sthey tall, Of a past, but l do
not know what it is, and so we will drop
that and live to-day alone You say you are
! my daughter" and be looked again in her
| eyes with that strange, troubled look. "Who,
then, is this?" and he looked lnguiringl at
Mr.. Falconer.
.sThjs is my husband fathec," and Mr.
Falconer advanced and took the soft white
hand in his s'Will you accept n son also,
fatherl" he said, with his frank, manly
smile.
This look had no power to move the
clouded mind to any eforto remembrance,
and he took the offered hand in the matter
of-fact way in which he greeted all
strangers.
"a daughter and son, both in one hour"
he said, shaking his head il, perpIexity,
"It's strange world, vcry strange
Woridv'
Isabel turned away to ride her tears; it
was bitter disappointment; although she
had told herself 80 many times how it must
inevitably be, yet she had, in spite of ali.
cherished hope that it night be better
than she leared
'Then who is this!" he said. gently, as
Oracle came springing i'll to her fathers
side; her eyes aglow with interest In an
aviary which Tom, a little coorfl boy, who
had been detailed to entertain her, had been
showing her. She stood by his side in blush
ing confusion. as the strangely eyes were
bent upon her in min gled surprise and in
quiry.
ssThis is my little daughter,' said Mr. Fal-
coner, drawing herto him tendcrly. evil
vnn not po and rive tha pentl n,ran ,,o,,r