The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-12-22

1t needed all the gardeher7s strength TO
carry the unconscious man into the house.
Then, by the aid of few simple RENE
dies, Phyllis was rejoiced to see her charge
returning to consciousness. Indeed
while, with her back to her patient, she
prepared a cordial the man half rose from
the couch ON which he lay.
''Good Godl Where am IP' he cried.
Phyllis turned round to quiet him, when
ne looked AT Une girls sweet lace.
"My daughter-my little PhyllisP he
Bobbed. "She whom 1 have grieved for
all these years"
Phyllis started. There was something
in the mans face, something in the tones
of his voice, that reminded her of her child
ish days.
dearest" went on the man imploring-
", "don't you remember your father
Have you forgotten the time when we both
went to the Rose and Crown and was
taken away from you? am your father,
Edwin Harfordp'
Then the mists seemed to clear away
from Phyllis brain. She remembered.
"Oh, father, fatherr' she cried, as she
flew to her fathers embrace. 81 know
know-you are my father. Why have you
been away so long?"
"Ah, my love, my love-" said Hartford,
tenderly stroking the girls hair, 81 did not
willingly leave you. have been locked
up these Is years. They say my wife's-
your mother's-death made me mad. But
that is no reason why they should have
torn me from you. Besides, l am not mad
now. broke away from them like this
| Is years ago--you remember, my child.
l stopped at the Rose and Crown in Ha
zeldean. You see, do not forget / fan
cied should find you still here, and Rod
man thought so, tJo, for he has followed
me. Look-look- is coming now"
Phyllis glanced out of the window.
| Voices were close at hand. AS she looked
two men came up to the house, One was
Dorth and the ether nr: Rndman. With
out moments hesitation Phyllis flew to
Mrs. Bartlett and hastily begged her to
return with her to the room in which her
father rested. On the way she told her
astonished hostess her story. AS they
entered the room they saw Dorth and DIR.
Rodman approach.
"Ah, where is my PATIENT" said the
doctor, darling quick, steady glance at
Phyllis.
"Here am, sir, well and happy" an
swered Hartford, coming forward. Mrs.
Bartlett, Mr. Dorth, listen to me, and let
me expose this man who would have kill
ed me had he the power"
"But this man is mad" interposed DR..
| Rodman.
"My father is no more mad than You
are, sir" said Phyllis, with bright, glis-
| tening eyes.
"You know who this man is, Mrs. Bart
lett. He is the keeper of private insane
asylum" said Hartford ga friend of his,
who was to be the sole legatee to a large
fortune in case was supposed to be of I'M
sound mind for 20 years, or die in the
meantime without children, conspired with
him to keep me out of the way and to
hide all traces of my daughters existence.
And all this time, since was taken away
from Phyllis, these two scoundrels have
been robbing me of what is mine and my
daughters. But 1 have here got some
thing that will show that am sane"
AS he spoke he took from his pocket
document which he handed to Dorth.
"There," he went on, "is n certificate
signed by magistrate and a doctor that
l am as well in mind and body as any
body. Look at that man" he said stern
ly, turning to Dr. Rodman, who looked
uneasily about him. "That man is thief
and a would be murderer, and am going
to put him in the hands of the police"
But before any one could move to the
door Rodman had vanished. He was next
heard of in London, and shortly after
ward, with the dishonest trustee of the
Hartford fortune, decamped with as much
of the latter as they could lay their ras-
oally hands on.
The rejoicing at Hazeldean on the meet
ing of Hartford and his daughter was as
hearty as that shown at the queens jubi-
lee Dorth ultimately married Phyllis
Hartford, who was now quite small heir
ess. Her father quickly regained his old
position in society, and Phyllis "aunt''-
but, therel that is secret.-Million.