The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-05-02
have found you at last" as the happy

lovely eyes"
'And [ hope, dear grandmamma, You
may find Alicia's heart also,'' said Isabel,
patting the wrinked little face lovingly.
Eyes, yes, my child s own loving ways
murmured the old lady, more 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 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 giveu
her up even to the best husband in th
world" repeating Isabels words with al
arch smile.
az account myself the luckiest of me-
that was so fortunate, then, madam" h
replied.
" l fear this happy meeting would never
have been otherwise" said Isabel, ''for thc
train of events which have led to 1t al
seems to have been developed since my
marriage" Her eyes wandered uneasil,,
around; there was another meeting whicl
she was looking forward to with a minglet
feeling of tender impatience and dread
dread lest her fathers state should be worse
than she had anticipated.
Major Carrin gton read her heart intui-
lively, and said, quietly: My brother is
not at home just at present, but will be in,
l think after dinner"
The bell rang at the moment, and they
filed out to the large dinin ng-room, Major
Darlington with Mrs. Pembroke upon hi
arm, and the rest in their proper order
The old lGdy'S bright eyes sought her long
lost grandchild's face continually through
the meal, and she seemed to be living III
the past as she listened to her voice, and
noticed with quick eyes every motion anC
gesture, many of which reminded her G
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
ry and Major Darlington was showing hi.
| books, q subject upon which he was enthu
siastic, when u sound of a footstep at the
door caused them to look up. 1t was {.
slow, uncertain step, and 1t paused upon the
threshold.
Isabel was standing by o window in the
full light, and the eyes of the person stand
.ng there were fixed mildly upon her.
was an old man, though there were few
wrinkles in his pale face, but his haIr wa
snowy white, and his blue eyes had a dim
far-away look, which told at glance thu
there were lost faculties vailed behind thei
vacantly mild glances.
''Chester," said Major Darlington, lay
ing down the book of which he had bee
talking, and going at once to his brother
side; Isabel advanced, her face pale and he
hands nervously claspcd before her: "Yo-
know l told you your daughter was comm.
TO day, She is here, and longs to know anC
love you.'
Dear father said Isabel, coming close
to HIM and looking up at him with be
seeching glance. Il am so glad to have
found you.n
MY dau ghter?" he said, slowly, and with
a bewildered look. ''How should [ have
daughter without wife! think there is /,
mistake"
No, no. there is no mistake" she cried
eagerly; dear father, am your dau ughte
and Alicia's; don't you remember Alicia
your wife, and can not you love me for hel
sake?n
''Ahcia9" He put his hand to his head in q
dazed way. " do not remember Alicia, ant
yet the name has a homelilie sound; did ycl
say that you were Alicia!"
"No, father, l am Isabel, and Alicia.
daughter and yours; if you can not remem
Der Eer, won't you love me for my owl
sake?"
9 why, yes," he answered, slowly, taking
the hand which she extended to him, an,
looking i'll her eyes with Il troubled expires
sion. "It is all very strange" he said
last; "you seem like some one l have known
but l can not tell who" and he passed hi,
hand over his forehead again, as if to brusl
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.
Eyes, the past" feebly echoed Chester
Darlington; ''they talk of past, but | d,
not know what it is, and so we will drot
that and live to-day alone. You say you ar,
my daughter" and he looked again in her
eyes with that strange, troubled look. "Who.
then, is this?" and he looked lnquiringly a;
Mr.. FalcOner.
This is my husband, father" and Mr.
Falconer advanced and took the soft white
hard in his. "Will you accept a son also,
fatherl" he said, with his frank, manly
smile.
This look had no power to move the
clouded mind to any effort of remembrance.
and he took the offered hand IN the matter
of-fact way in which he greeted all
strangers.
he said, shaking his head in perplexity
"lts strange world, uery strange
world!"
Isabel turned away. to hide her tears; il
was bitter disappointment; although she
had told herself SO many times how it must
inevitably be, yet she had, in spite of ALL
cherished hope that it might be better
than she feared.
Then who is this?' he said, gently, as
Oracle came springing in TO her father s
side; her eyes agiow with interest in an
aviary which Tom, little colored boy, who
had been detailed to entertain her, had beer
showing her. She stood by his side in blush
ing confusion, as the strangers eyes wer,
bent upon her in min gled surprise and in
quiry.
This is my little daughter" said Mr.. Fal
coner, drawing hert him tenderly. "Wi
/ you not go and give the gentleman your
hand, my dear!" he continued, kindly
+ She looked at the strange face steadily
but something g in the kind eyes, so vagu
and yet so inquiring, struck her childisl
fancy, and she left her fathers side read
| lily, and held out her little hand to him il
childish trust. He took it in his and loolseo
at her wistfully. 81 never had little daugh
ter" he said, pitifully, looking over at Isa
| bel as she, stood with her head turned
away,
7 1t was evidently difficult for HIM to gras;
the idea of a grown-up daughter with
family, and if in his darkened mind he ha
formed.an idea of what the daughter wtic
Major Darlington had told him of would
!