The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-28

he counted must be pain, that ~ seemed
best to him TO let things be as they were
TO let her owe all to him except the truth.
which might perhaps deprive him Of her
love which all unknown he enjoyed.
But for one thing, so strong a hold had
the idea of her probable repugnanoe to him
taken upon him, that he would have let
things be. Recalling the dangers she bad
already run he could not.
All JOY in the thought OF the long de-
layed union dead within him, and turned
into Il white shivering fear, he deputed to
Others the breaking of the news; and even
when she had been brought to the house,
and set waiting for his coming in the dainty
room which be had hastily assigned to her,
he fingered outside in the passage, putting
off moment after moment the hour which it
seemed to him must bring him the greatest
blow OF any he had received, foul as many
of Royals had been.
She, poor child, lay back on the sofa
cushions OF her easy chair, asking herself
over and over again that one question:
Am awake or dreamingp
At length, however, as time went by and
her father did not come to her. as those
kind people had promised who had brought
her to this grand house, she knew she was
really awake, blind as she was, for the
carpets made no noise beneath her feet,
there were many servants who spoke Ia
decOrous whispers, there was much furni-
ture, for, when she had tried to move about,
she had felt many strange things barring
her progress, while, best OF all, wherever
she turned she seemed to smell the scent Of
Of flowers, such as she knew were an ex
pensive luxury at that time OF year.
But as her father still did not come, the
first cloud over her happiness was fear
which stole unbidden into her mind.
"Was this really her fathers house, or
had she been begulied into some trap from
ha unt hnOa 70 in har
blindnessP"
At that moment the sound Of a step fell
upon her ear, and she started to her feet
"Some one .coming" was her fearful
thought. Can it be that am in dangeri
But no. Something in my heart tells me
there is no need OK fear-thst he who comes
is he for whom l have longed 80 long-that
my weary search and waiting are indeed
oVer--that in but a moment now l shall see
no, not see as the remembrance Of her
affltction, forgotten in her great JOY for a
moment returned to her-''I shall meet
my fatherp
The moment had indeed come for by a
desperate effort, shaking of her coTardIce,
Sir Lawrence had at last turned the handle
of the door, and entered the room.
But even then for the moment be could
not bring his lips to speak.
But the girl whispered to herself in tone
Of absolute rapture.
"Closer, closer, he is near me noww Then
as still he was silent, following her hearts
impulse she sank upon her knees as if be-
fore a holy shrine, with the cry-"Ah,
father father speak to me! say it is you'll"
"Nell-my child"
And with one bound he was beside her.
rejoicing that she knelt because he could
thus put his arms round her. In the eager
ness with which she returned the embrace
she never noticed anything strange about
him.
"Fetherl At lastl At lastr'
Aud then a great sob burst from her lips,
and torrent Of tears overdowed the eyes
which could not see.
"Nell, my darling" he cried, in tone of
great pain. Look up"-he, too, forgot her
bllndness-"speak to me-tell me the long
misery and pain you have endured has not
broken your heart"
mo, father, mop she answered, con-
trolling herself with an effort. 1.-The sor-
row is all over now-I weep for gladness
now-perfecc happinessm
Perfect happness"
Would she call 1t 80 when she knew alll
Half Involuntary tho hunchback drew
back. She felt the movement and on the
instant inquired the cause.
why do you draw away, fatherP' Then,
as he shrank farther beyond the reach Of
her eutstretched hands, she added, fearfuIly
and quaiatly, "You have not left me so
soonp
mo, dear, am here" he replied, hastily,
because OF the pain her face revealed,
"but-"
BE paused. How could he tell her the
truth!
"Why do you stops What is it you are
afraid TO sayl Alb, father suspense is worse
than anything to me. Won't you tell meF'
'She must know" was the unhappy
should tell her than any one else. All, Law
renee Huntlngford, you cursed your crooked
back, but never SO much as do now, when
it may lose for me my child's love- This
sweet, dear child; God help mel If she
shrinks no power on earth shall keep me
from standing upright-from being man
once mors.n
"Father, won't you let me touch your
pleaded the sweet voice. which spoke SO di-
rectly to his heart, while the little white
hands fiuttered like wondering doves nearer
and nearer to his breast, the cage of his
aching heart.
He once more nerved himself TO the task
and plunged into the pain.
II am here, child, beside you; this is nv
hand in yours. Nay. do not rise"-as she
would have done so-''put your arm round
my neck. Yes, like that; for have some
thing to tell you and can ten 1t better so,
for it is something which well-nigh breaks
my heart, because | fear it may dim the
joy of this meeting
His voice faltered at the end, but without
a moments hesitation, as she ctung to his
neck with her whole soul in tie embrace;
little Nellie made answer:
"No, no; nothing on earth can DO that
nothing can take away my hsppinsssi You
are my father and l have found you at
last All, you do not know but 1 have
looked forward to this meeting, my father,
my dear father"
ms tears were streaming down the
hunchback's face now, tears such as seemed
TO sweep away some at least of the eitter-
ness from his tortured soul.
Can you so easily give me that name
when have SO little deserved itP
Deserved it," she repeated, LAYING her
face against his in a caress, which was even
more sacred than the kisses which had gone
before. is it not enough for me that you
are my fatheri What you have done, sven
it has brought me pain and sorrow, as for
the best. Father, you don't know bow dear
the name is to me, how dear you are, ten
times more dear than / ever dreamed be-
fore l ever knew what it was to have your
arms around mem
The fathers tears flowed faster, the words
fell upon his heart like balm.
Gould you really love me, my darling,
unknown, almost it seemed, indifferent to
your welfsrel Did you, do you, really
Iowa mo Nall2D