Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-11-26

Long the IaCler sat Wnete Sne nau leIt
him. Thinking. For the first time in
years he was thinking, sadly. seriously,
solemnly. Than sgiving-eve! In his
wifc's time the house used to be gay and
cheerful on that night. so filled with COM
fort and bright anticipations, so odorous
with the homely fragrance of good things
in the kitchen, SO delightfully."- merry with
the brisk hustle attendant on the NOR
rows festivity. Now it was desolate,
dreary, darksome with depressing and
unutterable gloom. Whose fault was it2
Hisi decided Godfrey Kirke, as savsgely
relentless to himself in this moment as
he would have been to another. His
when his devoted wife had dropped and
died under his eyer-increasing arrogance,
dictation. His when Maud married the
first man who offered himself, to escape
from her fathers pretty rule. His when
Robert ran away to escape tie narrow
obligations and unjust restrictions laid
upon him. HIS! when the child his
dead daughter had left him could no
longer endure his brutality, or accept
from him the scant support he so grud-
gingly gave. His fault--all his! In
those lonely hours the whole relentless
truth dawned upon him, as such truths
will dawn, in most bitter brilliance He
dropped his head on his hands with a
groan.
He looked around the dim, shabby
room. He looked at the dying fire in
the CRATE. He wondered of what use
would be to him now his twenty thou
sand In bonds, his eight hundred acres
of meadow land, the money he had out
at interest. He rose in dazed kind of
way, shadowy purpose taking definite
ness in his mind. He wished he had
been better to Besse; he wished-but
what was the use OF wishing now? There
could be but one satisfactory answer to
all his elf-condemuation. A shot from
the revolver in the drawer yonier, that he
had always kept in readiness for possible
burglars. Ii e rose. He moved toward
the table. His figure cast a fantastic
shadow on the wall The tears were
streaming do:yn his cheeks. There
might be thanksgiving for his death,
though there could never have been any
for his life.
Hark
He had the weapon in his hand. He
started nervously. Was that Bessie's
voice. He turned, dropping the revolver
with a CHATTER. Yes, there she was, not
three feet away, fresh, fair, damp, smil-
ing.
at is the queerest thing she said,
coming toward him. as she spoke. ~
-badly-yesterday and went over
to Mrs. Farnham's to see if see could get
me work. | met Mrs. Nelson, and sac
asked me to go home with her. Dicky
was ill. and she wanted me TO stay over
night. She sent you note. At least
she sent the hoy with it, bit he lost it,
and only told her so this afternoon. AS
soon as I knew that started home
alone although Dicky was no better"
"Yes2' said Godfrey Kirlzc. He was
listening vita an unusual degree of in
terest.
"And tonight, when I was almost
here, (Nelsons' Is quite two miles away,
you know, got lost in the fog"
Her grandfather regarded her In
amazeu ent. What made he pale cheeks
so BRIGHT What excitement had
blackened her gray eyes2
"And-a gentleman who was coming
here found me, and-and brought me
home. Please thank him, grandpa.
Here he isl"
With an inctedulous, gasping cry,
Godfrey Kirke retreated, as big brown,
muscular fellow came dashing in from
the hall.
"Robert!"
"Father!"
Then they we're clasped in each Others
arms.
'I'm back from the sea for good,
father. And CHANGED to find my little
niece Bessie lost out there in the fog, A
young lady, 1 vowl And l was think
ing of her as mere baby yet! just
think! She tells me Charlie Nelson
wants her"
"Nol Well, Charlie is a fine fellow
He can have her--a year from to-day. u
So now you know why the Kirke
homestead is dazzling with lights and
flowers, and why it resounds with laugh
ter this Thanksgiving; why old Godfrey
wears brann-new suit, and flower in
his buttonhole; why Robert, in his
rie htflil place, looked so proud and
pleased; why dear, busy little Mrs. Dotty
beams benignly; why Bessie, gowned in
snowy, shining silk, thinks this is a
lovely old world after all; why Charlie
Nelson is so blsssedly content, and why
in each and every heart reigns supreme