Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1890-05-16
ALLEGES FORTUNE.
BY HoRATIo ALGER, JR.

"Sister Theodosla, said Zee bic
voice from the bed.
The Sister of Charity, q mild-faced
woman of middle age, answered tho
summons of the dying man, and ap-
preached the bedside
The dying man was Hector Moritz, a
carpenter, who had fallen from house
which he was building, few days be-
fore, and so injured himself that he
could not recover. He lived juA. out
side the village of s.. Barbe, with his
little girl, Alice, now seven years old.
Hi, wife had died three years before,
but Alice, child as she was, could make
coffee and cook an omelet as skilfully
as if she were twice as old, and had
acted as her fathers little housekeeper
So it happened that, being alone, an
unusual affection had sprung up
bet ween Alice and her father.
The Sister of Charity approached the
bedside. The sick mans face expressed
anxiety, and his eye turned from the
nurse to his little girl, who was pale
and grief stricken, yet had self control
enough not to betray her emotion lest
it should distress her father in his last
moments.
"What can do for you, NJ. Mortz2"
ali Giofo
voice.
His glance wandered to his little girl
once more.
''Alicc," he gasped, provided for. +"
''Do you mean that you wish Alice
provided for2" asked tho sister, striv-
ing to interpret his broken words.
'Already provided for - money
there" and he pointed vaguely down
wards.
.Poor man! He is wandering in
mind," thought the sister, for he was
pointing to the floor; but she thought
it best to appear to have understood
him.
"Yes," she said gently, shave no
anxiety" He looked at her wist'ully,
and then, seeming to think he was un-
derstood, he fell back upon the pillow
from which he had lifted his head, and
moment after expired.
When Alice realized that her father
was really dead, she gave way to exccs-
sive grief-so excessive that it soon
wore itself out, leaving her pale and
sorrowful. Sister Theodosa took her
into her lap, and pressed her head
against her bosom in sad compass ion.
for little Alice was now without father
or mother.
In due time Hector Moritz was bur.
led, and the next thing to be complet-
ed was, how should Alice be disposed
of
Hector Moritz left two near relatives.
both cousins. One of these was thriv-
ing tradesman in tho next town. a man
who had prospered. partly through his
selfishness, which was excessive. The
other, also residing in the next town,
was poor shoemaker with large fam
lily, who found it hard enough TO make
both ends meet; but was, wlthal, kind
and cheerful, beloved by the children
for whom he could do so little, and pop.
ular in the village.
These two cousins met at the funeral
of Hector Moritz.
81 suppose Hector died poor" said
NJ. Ponchard, the tradsman, little un-
easily.
"This house is all he ownel, so far
as know" said the notary, "and it is
mortgaged for nearly its value"
"Humph! that is bad for the child"
said NJ Ponchard.
suppose you will take her home,
NJ. Ponchard9" said the otary bluntly.
1--WE all know that you are prosperous
man."
The tradesmau drew back.
''lf / am prosperous," he said, 81
have had to work for my money. 1t is
all can do to provide for my own fam
lily. ] cant support other peoples
children"
"Then you won do anything for the
child2"
Il didn't say that. I'll give her
twsaty' Avs-~nay, iif.y francs. Tbais
all I suahs 50 d."