The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1892-09-24

give no and pass into banlnup Mrs
Bernard refused to adapt herself to his
altered circumstances, and after long
suit and much elimination and recrim-
nation, they separated. Bernard went
west, where he began life OF debauch-
cry which in time led to his incarcerar
ton in an asylum for inebriates, and
where after long time he died, a mis-
cradle, lonely, friendless wreck with
not an eye to shed tear of regret.
and not tongue to speak word of
love or pity.
Ten years after my marriage my fa-
ther wrote letter urging me to come
home. It was so full of the spirit Of
contrition and so pitifully pleading in
its tone that was not proof against its
requests. He stated that my step
mother was very sick and not likely to
live long, and that Mary had come
home a heartbroken woman. and that
they were all in great trouble and need
ed some one to comfort them in their
sorrow.
went. Charles urged me to go, and
I did not hesitate. put aside all of the
past, dismissed every recollection Of NY
stepmothers cruelty and my fathers
GOODNESS, and with no feeling III my heart
save wish to console them went forth on
mission of mercy and charity, happy in
the thought that could do good to
those who had done so much to darken
my life.
Arriving at my fathers house I was
shocked and grieved by the sight that
met my eyes. My father was SO changed
since that morning when / stood ON a
distant hill and looked back to my old
home and saw him for the last time.
Then he was proud, erect aRd strong,
while now / saw him bert with age and
trouble, his head whitened and his face
furrowad. My stepmotler, too, was so
sadly altered. Instead of the proud, de-
FAINT woman she was when she drove
me from my fathers house found her
a sunken, wasted skeleton, weak almost
unto death. And Mary, my once
naughty sister, what O. change there had
been in her! 1t needed no words to tell
me that she had suffered bitterly and
that her hopes and her life were blasted.
I saw all that plainly written in
her aged countenance, her deep
s,1nlzen eyes and her bowed form,
She had drunk from the cup Of disap-
point1nent and had drained it to the
dregs.
My father met rue at the gate when
~, ,4>IJ =, and
forward, held out his hand He YVES
trembling like a leaf, and the tears
stood in his eyes. He held my hand an
instant, his lips moved IS if in speech,
then turning away he threw himself
down on the stile and burst into tears.
The scene was too touching for my feel
ings, and I, too, wept true tears OF sor-
row and grief. If had harbored any
Thought or feeling against my father,
should have forgiven him then.
Several minutes passed in silence,
after which my father lifted his face to
mine, the tears still rolling down his
checks, and, taking my hand again, said,
oh SO sadly:
ssMy child, may God forgive me for
what you have suffered, for you never
can .-
':Father,'' said, drawing nearer to
him, II have nothing to forgive. have
no il-feelings Cor anyone
GOD bless you, my child he said,
softly, laying his hand on my head.
s'God bless you for what you say, and
for coming to us in this dark hour"
He paused an instant to master the
rising tears, then went on:
''Iy child, you do not know what |
have suffered, nor how sad and lonely l
have been these long years. My life
has been a ,sorrowful one, and often
and often have longed for some one to
love me as your mother did, and as you
would had let you Agnes, l have
been punished bitterly-rnore bitterly
than T can tell
There, father replied laying my
hand on his arm, edo not say any more
now. 1t distresses me to hear you talk
SO. I have come to you, and II can
cheer or comfort you, even very little:
l shall be happy
went in to see my stepulother, but
she refused to speak to me and turned
her face away. I believe it was not re-
sentiment but shame that actuated her,
and I was confirmed in that opinion
when at last she said to me:
s'Why do you come here to rejoice
at nv misfortune and to laugh at
NV trouble? Is it not enough that
should be brought down to this, with
out having you come here to see it?"
IT have not come 80 rejoice or laugh
at your trouble" answered. Il SYM
patlnize with you from the bottom of
my heart, and if I can do anything to
comfort you I will do it freely
think that speech hurt her more
than any reproach could have uttered,
for she turned to the wall, and covering
her face moaned pitifully. I believe,
though, that it was her pride rather
II; e !! /. >
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