The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1894-01-11


Mrs. Elder her girls should catch the
4 p. m. train, aud there isn't another
horse left. You are DIRE adfully tired of
course"
"Not bit, dear. You forget
walked 20 miles QUE day last spring"
Really Then why can't you walk
back with Charlie Dorthl I'll speak to
mamma this minute"
A strange incident happened just as
they were setting out together. At
the galway they encountered the
middle age, tall and meager, but still
prepossessing. He seemed in stage
of intense excitement, as If he was be-
ing pursued. Meeting the pair at the
gate he stopped short
'Dr. Rodman is here he cried.
THAT was the name of the guest at
Bartlets whose face Phyllis did not
like.
81 believe So" answered Dorth, and
moved as If to pass on.
Suddenly the unaccountable person
caught a glimpse of the face of Dorth's
companion and sank, gesticule.ing, to
the ground. Dorth shook him to no
purpose. He had collapsed. The man
was attired respectfully, but was with
out an overcoat, and the air was cold.
"We cannot leave the poor man
here" said Phillis, pityingly. ooh,
here comes the gardener, who will
perhaps carry him into his house while
you run for DOCTOR"
"I'll do that with pleasure" Dorth
answered, and at once rushed off in the
direction of the Gables to fetch DR..
Rodman.
1t needed all the gardeners strength
to carry the unconscious man into the
house. Then, by the aid of few sim
pie remedies, Phyllis was rejoiced to
see her change returning to conscious
ness Indeed, while, with her back TO
her patient, she prepared cordial the
man half rose from the couch on which
he lay.
"Good God. Where am Iln he called
out.
Phyllis turned round to quit him,
when he observed the girls sweet
face.
"My daughter-my little Phyllis!" he
sobbed. 'She whom have grieved for
all these years"
Phyllis started. There was some
thing in the mans face, something in
the tones of his voice that reminded her
of her childish days.
dearest" went on the man implor-
ingly, 'don't you remember your own
father? Have you forgotten the time
when we both went to the Rose and
Crown and was taken away from your
am your father, Edwin Harford!'
Then the mists seemed 10 clear away
from poor Phyllis brain. She remem-
bered.
"Oh, father, fatherw she cried, as
she flew to her fathers embrace. 81
know know-you are my own dear
father. Why have you been away SO
lopgf'
"Ah, my love, my love-" said Hartford,
tenderly stroking the girls hair, 81 did
not willingly leave you. 1 have been
locked up these fifteen years. They
say my wife's-you mother's-death
made me mad. But that is no reason
why they should have torn me from
you. Besides, am not mad now. |
broke away from them like this fifteen
years ago-you remember, my child. l
stopped at the Ross and Crown in Ha-
zeldean. You see, do not forget |
fancied I should find you still here, and
Rodman thought so, too, for he has fol-
lowed me. Look-look-he is coming
nowr'
Phyllis glanced out of the window.
Voices were close at hand. AS size
looked two men came up to the house.
One was Dorth and the other DIR. Rod
man. Without 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 encered the room
they saw Dorth and DR.. Rodman ap-
proach.
"Ah, where is my patient" said the
doctor, darling a quick, steady glance
at Phyllis.
''Here l am, sir we'll and happy an
swered Hartford, coming forward. "Mrs.
Bartlett, Mr.. Dorth, listen to me, and
let me expose this man who would have
killed me had ne the power"
"But the man is mad" in,erposed 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 a private In
sane asylum" said Hartford. GA friend
of his, who was to be the sole legatee
to large fortune in case was sup
posed to be of unsound mind for twenty
years, or die in the meantime without
c. ildren, conspired with him to keep
me ont 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 nv