Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1894-09-07

"No'm,"
''Too bad. How my heart jumped
when [ saw that name! What if
nonsensei BY the way, Bobby, what
is your fathers name?"
''Dick, ma'am.''
''Dick?"
"Yes'm."
'Don't you know that Richard and
Dick are the same names?" she asked
severely.
"No'm. My uncle Silas calls my
pa Dick"
"Well, here is Richard Steele at
one of the hotels. We will call and
see. But remember if your papa
doesn't want you, Bobby, you are go
ing off come and live with me"
''Do you think my pa don't want
me?"
"Bless my little sailor, no. Why,
every golden lock must be precious to
him. Do you know what I'd do,
Bobby, if had little boy like You?"
''No, ma am"
'T'd-Fd love him to death. -
At tho next hotel Mrs. Van Altine
was informed that Richard Steele was
stopping there; that he had boy;
that the aforesaid boy was lost; that
Mr.. Steele was nearly frantic and that
he had just gone to the prefect of po-
lice.
''And where is that?'
'Just across the way, madam.
'Come, Bobby, we will surprise
him. He must be pearly crazy"
A handsome American, thirty-fve
years CT age, solid and prosperous
looking, was conversing with the Of
fetal in the magistrates office.
'I will do what l can, monsieur.
The lad will be taken in, and our sys-
tenn of communication is such that the
fact will be known at headquarters. L
will then at once inform you of the
circumstances.
''Your reward shall be handsome
one.
At this moment the clerk looked in.
"a lady to see you, monsieur.
''Say am engaged" responded the
officer.
81 did tell her that"
"Well?"
"She asked if an American gentle
man was here. told her yes, and
she said she must come in at once"
Every well. Show her in"
Mrs. Van Altine, vision of glorious
womanhood, stood in the doorway
with Bobby by the hand.
"Is this your son, sir?" she said.
Richard Steele sprang to his feet.
Bobby dropped his elephant and the
next moment was folded to his fathers
breast. Mrs. Van Altine seemed
strangely moved as she regarded the
scene. Her face was overspread with
unusual pallor.
81 was not mistaken" she told her
self. "There are, truly, many Steeles
in the world, but it must have been
some psychic sense that caused my
heart to beat when heard this name.
Let me see, now; it is sixteen years
since-and there he stands and does
not know me. Time, time, how you
level romance! He was slender. Now
he is stout. He had such dainty
mustache. Now he has beard.
Really, he is much better looking"
These and other thoughts flashed
through Mrs. Van Altine's mind at
that moment. The American turned
Madam, how can l thank you?
/"
Words failed him. He gazed in
growing amazement.
''Fannie !"
''Dick !"
They clasped hands. The years that
had passed were bridged by that pres
sure of hands Plighted faith, resent
ment, broken VOWS, pique, misunder-
standing, separation-all, all vanished,
and in the sunlight of the present
they gazed gladly into each others
eyes.
"And Bobby is"
My boy? Yes.
"She wanted to keep me, pa," said
Bobby, with the elephant clasped to
his breast.
Dick, who knew all about Mrs Van
Altine's history, bent toward her as
he remarked: "There's way she
could do that"
'tDear me, how late it is getting!
SO glad to have met you, Dick
Charming to see old friends after so
many years! Goodby-no, au revoir,
for trust shall see you. My salon,
as | call it, is quite resort. Come
and / will introduce you to many
clever people-true Parisians."
"Who will bore me?" he said,
bluntly.
''The same honest, outspoken Dick !"
Then as she entered the carriage, she
said:
''You will Gomez"
"To meet clever people,"
''No, to see me.
eyes, will come. I had intended
to leave Paris tonight
''But now?'
81 shall remain---so rs to call on
you and thank you more fully for
your great service to-day.
Glow adorable. You always were
charming, Dick.
"Even when"
"When we quarrelled Yes, indeed.
You were the most delightful man to
quarrel with l ever met. If you had
not been But l must be going. Be
sure and come"
"When?"
''As early as you can. :"
'sNO- morrow nIpht 2'