The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-05-09
ISABEL:
- R.
From Shop to Mansion.
BY MRS. F. NJ. HOWARD.
CHAPTER XII.

>NO'Aeo ~
dear as home?"
"Then the sunny South has not quite
taken your heart captive,'' said Mr.. Fal-
coner, looking up from his paper. He was
ruddv and strong again, better even than
before his sickness.
''No," she replied, thoughtfully; ssde-
hghtful as our visit there was, and much as
loved grandmamma and the rest of the
friends, there is no place like home, after
all"
"Where is father? Have you seen him
of late?" There wa3 an undercurrent of
anxiety in his voice.
"Pompey and he, with Grace, went to
drive" she replied. "Isn't it wonderful
how he clings to hers All! if 1 could only
win his loving recognition how perfectly
happy l should be,' and she sighed heavily.
sit is indeed a singular affection, and
Grace seems to return his love sincerely
and fully" said Mr. Falconer. Il doubt if
you could have persuaded him to return
with us had it not been for her influence
Do you know, dear, feel vague anxiety
about him whenever he is out"
"But Pompey is so strong and so dev oted
to him." returned Isabel, quickly, Il had
never thought of danger. Perhaps 1 did
wrong to bring him away from his home
if not his recognition" and she looked at
her husband with newly awakened sense
of alarm.
''Do not let my fancy distress you," he
said; She is probably as safe with Pompey
here as at home; by the way, l have let
ter for you from Lottie" and he handed her
white envelope. 81 was careless to have
forgotten it so long"
"One whole hour since the postman came,
you naughty man," she said, playfully shal-
ing her finger at him. 'Dear girl, her room
seems so vacant and lonely and she broke
the seal eagerly. ''She will be here in a
week." commenting as she read, ''and her
parents a month later. Dear, happy little
girl; | little thought that in bringing her
here 1 was bringing her to home, love and
happiness"
81 little thought when I consented,
strongly against my will, assure you, to
accompany Lillian on a bonnet excursion,
that was to meet my fate, the other half
of myself, so to speak," he rejolned.
"There is divinity that shapes our ends,
rough hew them as we will,'' quoted Isabel,
looking at HIM thoughtfully. SIT is a beauti-
full thought, too, my dear, that there is a
great over-rulinS Providence which, how
ever weakly and blindly we may be strug-
w hi'o oiiS pdIll Ill me- Csiu uldAC
even our slightest acts the leading strings
by which we are drawn toward the crowning z
events of our lives. Had you come in five
minutes later l should have been in tbs
work room, and Jennie Dewey would have
fitted Lillian with bonnet"
SIN which case there would probably have
been no Mrs. Falconer to this day. he re-
piled, with a smile.
They went down to the dining-room arm
in-arm, and found, to Isabels relief, that
Mr.. Darlington and Grace were there be-
fore them. "We had such lovely drive"
said Grace, eagerly. ''Pompey is such a
grand driver, the horses seem to know every
word lie says to them, don't they, Papa Car
rington?"
He nodded with a smile; he was never
talkative, and his eyes had the dreamy ex.
preston of one just reused from sleep. His
attitude toward Isabel had not changed, and
she seemed an object of mild wonder to him
as she called him father, and lavished
the affection which she could not repress
uron him.
He would often look in her eyes with the
same puzzled look which he first wore, and
say, mournfully: sit is strange, very
strange, how you remind me of some one
have known but can not recall"
The child, however, seemed thing of the
present; reality which he could grasp,
suggesting no torturing thoughts which re-
fused to take definite form, and on her he
lavished the love which Isabel so craved,
keeping her beside him hour after hour.
He said little about his Southern home;
that seemed to have faded from his mind but
occasionally he would look about him as if
he missed some familiar presence, and ask
Pompey if Major Darlington had come in
yet, and receive with ever-recurring sur
prise the intelligence that he had not
Pompey had taken care of him so long that
he knew just how to humor every whim
and make him comfortable. He was
splendid fellow, perfect specimen of his
race; TALL stalwart, and with keen intelli-
gence which would have done credit 10
many in higher station. His devotion to
his unfortunate charge was untiring, and
no Inconvenience was too great to suffer in
his interest. Oracle shared il his pro-
tective love, and he was never weary of
contributing to her pleasure with s2ngs or
stories, which were fully appreciated by the
child.
Lottie returned at the time appointed,
and was once more domiciled in her room.
She was so much better now that she could
walk short distances easily without her
crutch, and her face, sweet and pure al
ways, was illumined with soft glow of
happiness which rendered it doubly charm
ing.
DR.. Conroy, though an undemonstrative
man, could not control his eyes, and
watched her with a devouring look which
plainly showed his heart, and the tender
care which the bluff, stalwart doctor showed
toward his fragile little patient was touch
ing; even the gentle little mother had been
entirely willing TO surrender her darling
into his keeping when she saw his devotion
and her love for him.
The family would remove to Philadelphia
in short time, and already a neat little
cottage had been engaged for them by
the doctor, who had entered into the life of
the little mother and the kind father with
the warm interest Of son.
Pompey was intending to return to Elm
Park with his charge in few days when
an event occurred which materially altered
all plans in the household. 1t had been rain
ing, and the streets were in q slippery and
uncomfortable state which precluded walk
ing or driving.
Chester Darlington was in the gloomy,
brooding state of mind which always, in a
greater or less degree, accompanied low,
depressing state of the atmosphere, and
which was particularly aggravated by an
electric storm.
Pompey had followed him closely, and
strlven patiently to amuse or turn his mind
upon pleasant topics, but he had shown
himself strangely impatient of control, and,
sending his attendant upon some fanciful