Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-11-03


asleep now. If he wakes you can call
me- If we only knew his people.
would send for them. fear he will
not last long,"
Alice went in, and took her place
in the nurses chair. Tears of pity
dimmed her eyes as she looked at the
wasted figure in the bed-the pale,
thin face, the fast-c closed eyes, the
hollow temples under the waving
brown hair.
81 wish his mother or father could
come /" she said aloud.
The heavy lids opened. Two deep
blue eyes looked at her imploringly.
''My father!' whispered the sick
man. "Bring him-tell him-I was
coming -Seaton-Seaton-
The faint voice died away. The eyes
again were closed.
Alice stood an instant like one struck
dumb. She had never noticed the re-
semblance before. but now she could
trace the firm lines of the old s9uire's
countenance in that pale, pinched
face.
Sleeping still? That is a good
sign,' said her mother, coming in,
ready to resume her place for the
night.
Alice hesitated for moment. Never
before had she acted by or for herself
in any matter of moment.
But the sound of voices might
arouse the slumberer. Her father and
Tom had gone on a household errand
to the village; there was no one else
to consult.
Finally she threw on her water
proof, drew it's heavy hood over her
head, and sped across the valley to
Squire Seaton's house.
Even the well-trained servant wore
an astonished face as he ushered this
mysterious visitor into his masters
study.
Squire Seaton looked up from his
book, and his usual pallor increased to
ghastly hue as he listened to the
breathless girl.
''My sonny boy-my Philip at
your fathers house? And dying, you
fear? Asking for me? Coming to me?
Wait! I'll go with you, of course-I'll
go to my poor boy! But-the room is
turning round-I think I must be
going blind!'
Alice sprang to his side. The gray
head fell on her shoulder. Tenderly
she smoothed the silvery hair, away
from the high forehead, and bathed
the pale face with the cold water and
fragrant essences which the frightened
servant brought.
The old man revived to find her
ministering to him thus. And it was
almost like father and daughter that
they took their way across the valley
together, he leaning on her arm, and
listening greedily to all that she could
tell him of his long-absent, long
mourned son.
''It is my fathers voice! hear his
step! shall get we'll, if he will only
forgive mep' said the invalid, greatly
to Mrs. Derwent's surprise, as the
house-door softly opened to a
strangers touch.
He struggled up from his pillows,
resisting her attempt to soothe him.
Father, l SIN sorry-forgive mel"
he said, in firmer voice, as Alice en-
tered, followed by the aged man.
And then Squire Seaton came, feebly
but swiftly into the room, and held
his son to his heart, sobbing aloud
with gratitude and JOY, while Alice
drew her bewildered mother into the
kitchen and told of her expedition to
the house of the lonely millionaire.
Joy seldom kills; and there is re-
vivifying power in love and happiness
combined, far beyond the skill of all
earthly physicians, or the virtue of all
earthly drugs.
months deepened into summer, Philip
Seaton, strong and we'll once more,
stood beside bonny Alice, in the porch
one evening, to see the six o'clock ex-
press fash by.
eat Leadville, when I was utterly
reckless, and utterly penniless, too,
letter from my father reached me-"
he said, in low tone. ''It was SO
kind, so sad, that it seemed to turn
me from my old courses on the
moment. Just as I was-in the
rough garments of miner-I set off
to return to my father, like the prodi-
gal son. And God led me here!'
There was long silence; the sun
sank out of sight beyond the circling
mountains; the first chill of evening
was in the air.
''In my anger I swore that would
never enter the door of my fathers
home, "the young man went on. ''But,
it was not this home! Here I may
enter, purified, repentant, forgiven, if
only the good angel of my new life
will go with me. Will she, Alice?''
He took her hand.
''But your father!' 'stammered Alice.
81 am only farmers daughterl And
you"
81 am not worthy of your love in
any way. But.my father begs you to
be his daughter, Alice. Say yesv'
She did sayi it. And SO the greatest
fortune of her life-the brightest
happiness of both their lives-came