The National tribune., 1890-11-06

When Charles sister became acquainted
with these facts she began TO tell her friends
that she had heard from the Chaplain OF the
hospital in a certain city that Charlie was still
living The news soon reached the ears OF the
now careworn and gray haired old man. One
morning he appeared at the house whore Jennie
was staying and asked TO see her. In broken,
almost incohercnt words and with bowed head,
the Criet-sfricsen father sued for pardon of the
one whose brother he had so cruelty wronged,
and besought her 10 tell him the truth.
YES" she said, in answer to his eager ques-
tioning ii is my belief that Charlie is still
alive, but he has been badly wounded, and is
cripple for lIfe."
THANK God. thank God, he lives" cried the
old man. " pray that may be able to repair
the great wrong / have done"
He lost no time ina hurrying home TO tell the
news to Kate. In spite of his excitement he
managed to approach her with cnlmness. lie
wished not to startle her; she was SO weak of
late she had seemed TO be giving up her hold
on life, and this had only increased the old
mans attention and anxiety.
Kit my daughter" he said, quietly, II
have good news Cor you"
She hardly turned her head, but answered
YEARLY: "There is no good news for mo until
the ties broken here are made whole again in
Heaven"
YES there is" said her father "a dear friend
who went into the army and was reported
killed, was only wounded and is still alive.
Can you guess who he is?"
Kate looked straight into her fathers eyes
for a moment and then said slowly: Father,
the only one love could not return were he
alive. You made him commit crime which
bauished him from his home, and you threat
ened him and twice attempted 10 take his life.
IL is well for me that he is dead. lido not care
for the return OF anyone else"
These words and the sadness of his daugh
ters tone pierced the old Captains heart.
Falling on his knees beside her, with bitter an
guish he cried:
Kate, my darling daughter, forgive your
poor old father for the misery he has caused
you and yours. He sees the error he made by
his own stubbornness, and truly he has suffered
much more than he can express. He is now
ready 10 do all IN his power 10 make you happy
once more" He did not wait for her answer but
Selling her in his arms, ne pressed her TO his
heart, now almost bursting with his emotions,
and hurriedly left the room.
In the solitude of his own room the old Cap
tain prayed he who had never prayed before,
begged for forgiveness from his God for the
wrong that he had done and the unhappiness he
had caused. He rose with q purer heart, and
the determination in future TO make his daugh.
ter's happiness his first consideration and the
aim of has remaining years. "Ah," he thought,
" il only Charlie is really alive"
Kate felt that the wrong done her by her
father was not sanctioned by his true nature
that his acts had been the result of his i'm
petuons nature. Forgive him? Yes, he was
her father, and she loved him in spite of the
unhappiness he had caused her
Jennie meanwhile had written the young
man about his wife, aud also of the interview
with the Captain, telling him how much she
had revealed in regard TO him. Already Charlie
began TO show the results of his correspond
ence ia his looks and demeauor. He bright
ened considerably, aud no longer went about
with listless and melancholy air. Father Eddy
and studied our next move and how we should
bring him eventually TO what would mean his
greatest happiness.
We wanted him to reach that point where he
would be willing to claim the respect and con-
ddence of his old friends. He had assumed
another name after no bad attempted to kill
the Captain, aud this fact might interfere with
his military record. The confusion arising
from the change OF name would have 10 be ex-
planned away. and this would involve recital
Of the difficulty with tho Captain and the cause
Of his fight. which weighed against Charlie
Notwithstanding the high opinion in which he
was now held by bis comrades Of the army.
The Improvement in Hates appearance and
health was not unuoticed by her father. He
was ready 10 do anything for her comfort now,
and was ever asking Charles sister if she had
any more definite news concerning tho missing
one At last she told him that her brother was
really alive and where he was. and the old man
went 10 Kate with the good news Kate sought
her room and remained theirs along while, bat
when she reappeared there was q glad light in
her eyes that told much.
Some correspondence then passed between
the Captain and Father Eddy, through the me.
dunn Of Charles sister, and this plan devel-
oped: II Kate continued 10 improve. and was
strong enough TO travel, il was decided that
a. a L
the trip 20 Burnside Barracks ia two weeks
from that time. arriving there Christmas day.
supper was 10 be given By the writer 10 some
of the hospital attendants, the Assistant Sur
geons and the ladies Of the post including
Charlie. Father Eddy aud Charles Captain
that night, and the meeting between long sep
aTated ones was TO take place.
We had sufficiently revealed our intentions
TO Charlie 10 aid him, aud he had accepted our
| proiiers Of friendship in a most apprecative
manner. We had assured him that We would
| clear him Of the suspicious against him in the
minds of the people al home, and restore him
70 the esteem Of his friends there Also, that
/ if he wanted TO resign we would arrange that,
and there should be no difficulty about the
/ alias he had adopted.
The night Of the supper arrived aud all the
! guests arrived but those from the East. An sat
down % table, and a merry time followed. In
| the midst Of the jollity hurried footsteps were
| heard, and Capt. Simmons, the Officer Of the
Day, appeared In the doorway, and in moment
ushered in Kit, Jennie aud the old Captain.
Charlie stared for one moment, then with a
glad cry Of Ny wife! my wife I" that did our
| hearts good, he rushed from the table aud he
and Kit met in long, rapturous embrace
Then followed mutual greetings and intro.
auctions, and all sat down to the unfinished
supper.
Speech making followed over the wine and
cigars, and Capt. Clark. Of Charles company
covered the young man with confusion IN 4
| mock heroic eulogy. 10 which Charlie replied
very feelingly and with tears in his eyes. II
was y late hour when that gay company
broke up, the heart Of each of our little party
filled 10 the brm with gladness, and as Wa
looked on the happiness Of Charlie aud XII
and the fondness of the old man for his thre,
children, as he called them. VIC could not hell
being satisfied with our part ia the little drama
that had been enacted.
The Pope a Bird Catcher.
| lGattgnanFs HesssHgeT.l