The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-11-04

He went outside ans sat Gown on the
garden bench. "IlI see Cicely," said
he, with a crafty look on his face.
Cicely was the girl who sorted and dealt
out the mail at the village postoffice.
Not long after this Lucia ceased receiv-
ing letters with California postmark.
Time passed and it was now nearly
ten years since Lucia and Angus had
stood at the garden gate and said good
by. Old Marsden-had fallen into state
of dependency so utterly abject that
Lucia was sometimes on tAe point of
yielding to his wishes, but she thought,
'I'n wait awhile longer; something has
happened or he'd never have broken his
word"
One day her father called her to him.
He was unable to get about the house
now, but lay propped up in his chair all
day with his eyes closed, a very unhappy
old man. Luce" said he, 'Ill make
short work Of it. The last investment
made staked all and lost 1t was the
first time, Luce, and your father has
had many bargain in his day, but this
time has outdone them all. In a month
from now we won't have house to cover
our heads. hoped this sickness might
hurry me off, but l see it's going to give
me time, and I'll have to go to the poor
house, Luce, unless" and the old man
looked at her pitifully, ''unless you save
your old dad"
"I'n work for your cried Lucia.
"You shall never go to the poorhouse.
And she was more tender in the care of
her father after that
One day as she stood near her favorite
bed of flowers sadly thinking how soon
she would have to leave them, voice
broke the silence of her meditations:
II beg your pardon, but your flowers
look very pretty and had to stop to adj
mire them" and looking up Lucia saw
a tall, well dressed gentleman standing
at the garden gate. Il raise a great
many flowers myself" said the gentle
man, land l always take an interest III
them, but l live in a flower country
where they grow much more luxuriant-
ly than here"
Lucia gave a startled LOOKOUT no.
how foolish; it couldn't be he. Angus
Howard could never have developed into
such handsome man.
81 declare, Luce, you don't know me-"
said the gentleman with smile.
"Oh, Ang! l know you now, for you
speak with your old voice, but you have
been away long time"
"You stopped writing, and 1 read in
California paper that you were mar
ried," said Angus; "but recently /
learned that it was false report, and i
am here once more to ask you to be
mine"
Father, this gentleman wishes to see
you," said Lucia, as she ushered How
land into her fathers room. The old
man opened his eyes and murmured.
well, have chair"
Il understand that you have suffered
a misfortune" said the gentleman
kindly.
The old man groaned. III have to
die in the poorhouse; there's no help
for it."
ut may not be SO bad as that" said
the gentleman.
The old man turned on him fiercely.
What do you want with me, I'd like
to know? Amt it bad enough to be
ruined, but a lot of vultures have got to
come and hover around me before I'm
dead?"
81 have been investigating the mat
ter" said the gentleman, and ] am
sure that it is not 50 bad as you think,
ard here IS evidence that you will not
be turned out of your home at any rate,
and he opened before the old mans eyes
the Cancelled mortgage. the place is
yours" said the gentleman, and all
your other property is safe. for have
been making Investigations"
"Who are YOU" cried old Marsden,
that comes at such time and saves
me from the poorhouse:'
sit is not so bad as that" said the
gentleman, smiling, but my name is
Angus Rowland"
The remaining few months of the old
mans life worked great change in his
character. One day when the autumn
leaves were turning he called his chill
dreu to him. "Goodby," said he. Il
am going Yon are d good boy, Ang,
and will make her happy" and he closed
his eyes forever.-Chicago News.