The Van Buren press., 1898-11-19

rooms that seemed like Yairy-land to
him. All that night jim and Andrew
walked restlessly about, but Ephraim
Tracy sat, pathetic, bowed figure, by
his daughters bed. His son-in-law bad
asked him to his house at last, but
alas-for this. But it was the fathers
hand that administered the needed
nourishment, the fathers hand that
smoothed the damp and curling hair,
the fathers hand that held the pale
and wasted one, and Godfrey Dilling.
ham, as he watched too, for the first
time in his life saw, in the despised old
man. something to revere.
Night passed, and it was the day
before Thanksgiving. The doctor came,
and with his practiced eye detected q
change. He looked across to where
Eliza beth's husband stood, gray and
haggard, awaiting his verdict,
Dillingham;" said he, gently, "to-
morrow will be Thanksgiving day,
Thank God for your mercies, for your
wife will live"
A low sobbing broke in upon them
1t was old Ephraim Tracy, down upon
his knees, his face hidden in the Gov
erlet. Though the tears were raining
down his own face, Geoffrey Dilling-
ham went over to the old man and lift
ed him as he would a child
"Come, father" he whispered
brokenly, "eome."
The afternoon of Thanksgiving day
Eliza beth lay on her pillows exhaust.
ed, worn, but at peace with all the
world.
"And you're all here" she whis-
pered happily. Father, mother, An.
drew, Jim and dear old Jud. oh, I've
been so sick, but this repays me fol
it all" She smiled at them, her old
sweet smile, and then she murmured
Kiss me, all of you. for I am SO
happy"
They kissed her, as she asked, with
full and thankful hearts, and quietly
went away. Jud's turn came last
The great, honest fellow stood over
her, his childish face alight with a
wonderful joy.
"You are to get well, Lizzie" he
whispered, rapturously; "and oh,
say, Liz, ain't 1t all grand?
Ills sister raised her feeble hand and
laid it against the loyal cheek.
"Grand-aye, that it is, Juddie," she
echoed, dreamily.
The room was quiet now, with only
her husband beside her. Eliza beth
turned her eloquent eyes to his. Those
eyes, that he had feared might never
know him more this side of the gates
of pearl.
'sYou've been good TO me in every
thing but one, Godfrey; you won't re-
fuse me now?" she said.
He understood, for he bent over her
suddenly, and for an instant his
cheek lay against her own.
"My wife, my wife," he cried, with
solemn emphasis, "your life shall be
a different one, please God, from this
day forward-and theirs, too," he add
ed, reverently.
They hunted the place over for old
Ephraim Tracy a few minutes after
wards, but it was his wife who found
him, back of the big barn, sitting on
a bench. The gray head was bowed
between the wrinkled hands, and he
was weeping unrestrainedly.
She went up to him and touched his
arm.
"Come, father" she said, gently.
The old man lifted his head, striving
in vain tc still the trembling of his
quivering lips.
I'm cryin', Mandy" he answered
brokenly, "and I can't help it. Only
to think; it'sThanksgiving day, Lizzie's
gettin' well, and-he-called me-fa
ther-Mandy."
His wife nodded with tear-wet, smil
ing eyes, and hand in hand they turned
and went into Elizabeth's house.-Su-
san Hubbard Martin, in Ladies' World
New York.