The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-11-19

Oracle said nothing. She did not even
weep. But she grew paler and sadder,
and her step became slower. At times
she would lock at her aunt with a
strange, wistfui expression on her face.
Onen she would sit for hours in her
room, holding the little ebony easket in
her lap-turning it over and over in her
thin hands.
At last she said TO her aunt, in q hol-
low voice, that almost broke the heart Of
her tender, loving relative:
Aunt, am going away"
"5oing away"
ayes. TO join papa"
Mr.. Barton was in business in Homo
lula, Sandwich Islands.
Well did Gracie's aunt, with the swirl
divinafion of woman. know why her
niece desired TO 90 there.
It was in order that she might pass
over the great ocean, and perhaps. in
looking al it, see the very spot where her
lovers vessel had gone down.
The two at length sailed in a ship call
Ell The Walohlieht for the Sandwich Is
lands.
When at last the craft was within a
thousand miles OF the port of her desti-
nation. Oracle, looking over the rail ct
the white, roaring waters, brought herself
10 imagine that this WAS the place where
the Inflated WandsrcT had foundered.
She watched If long and earnestly /;
then she went into the cabin and lay
down in her berth
Her aunt found her there in brain
fever.
For days she lay raving in wild delir-
ium, calling again and again on her loy-
er, bidding him come up from the depths
Of the sea and take her down there with
him.
When Honolulu hove in sight the fever
had passed, but its victim law white,
helpless and hollow-eyed.
The fiery disease had left her 50 weak
that she could hardly meve-could SPEAK
scarcely above whisper. The cool air
Of the sea famed her brow.
Through the oper cabin window the
invalid could see the lines OF waving
palms. and white strips of beach, with
huge breakers rolling in towards them,
and natives in their canoes skillfully
riding over the lofty surges. She could
only see them dimly, for her life seemed
slowly drifting sway from her.
"You think then there is no hope p
whispered her aunt to the old doctor
who had attended her during her ILL.,
ness
I He slowly shook his head.
Il am afraid there is none" he said.
Oracle smiled family. She seemed to
guess what the two were saying. She
placed her hand in that Of her beloved
/ relative.
Goodbye, aunt she murmured. u
know ! must die, but l should ike TO
see papa before ! 60"
"A telegram informing him Of your
/ illness was sent to him, dear, WHEN we
weIe of the point expect him every
moment"
I Half an hour passed, and still he had
not come.
/ Oracle now lay white and still. Scarce
/ Iy was there a movement Of the eyelash-
The doctor looked at his watch
she may not live ten minutes longer,
be whispered to the aunt.
All at once footsteps were heard on the
deck.
An almost unearthly expression light
ed up the half closed eyes of Oracle. 4
faint color tinged her cheek.
! A form quickly descendedthe eompan-
ion stairs and sprang to the side of the
sufferers berth.
@Hary Sandfordi Dsar H5ary !" muir
INJURED Oracle, in an almost inaudible
+ voice.
Doctor SAndford - cried her aunt.
1t was, in fact, Henry Sandford who
had come-he who was supposed 70 have
been lost aboard The TFaRdTer.
A new strength seemed TO come with
him TO Oracle. She partly rose, threw
an arm around her lovers neck, and laid
her cheek on his breast.
The old doctor stared.
"The most wonderful case ever heard
0. :" he crled-
@She knew him before; he was hei
lover" whispered Grscie's aunt to the
speaker, who, being little deaf, had noi
heard what had been said by the invalid
when the young doctor entered the
cabin.
@Oh, ali, l see
"You now think there is hope, then y
@Humph / should :hink there was r
cbuckled the old physician. '-Sbe ha.
got the medicine she wanted-the onl1
medicine that could have cured her
And be discreetly withdrew from thc
cabin.
Explanations soon followed. The
Young doctor, with several others, had
been saved by means Of floating spal
when their vessel foundered. They ver'
picked up the next day BY s crah bound
TO the Sandwich Islands. Sanford ther
resolved to practice his profession at ihii
place
Among his patients was Mr.. Barton
Gracie's father, whom he had lately beeI
called upon to attend for an attack Of the
gout. As there we're many people in tbs
world Of the name OF Barton, Sandford
had no idea that this person, Of WHOM
Grseie had never happened to speak
was her father, until the telegram came
Mr.. Barton read it aloud to the doctor
who vas at that time with him, anC
then, stricken with anguish that his gou
prevented his going TO bis dying child
he requested Sandford 10 hurry aboari
and tTy to save her.
Even before be spoke, SAndford has
stared.
He was soon aboard one OF the sxifi
est boats in the harbor, and, as shown