Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-08-23

/ "nere IN lew moments she Is joined b..
. lady In the garb Of Sister Of Mercy
lady In every sense Of the word. from
the calm yet respectful manner in which
she receives her visitor to the courtesy
| with which she enters the room and de
mands the strangers business.
| II hope am not taking a great liberty.
| says Della, but l have been told tha
| Vou have q poor old man under your ROOF
-one whom you saw being stoned By
ZONE rough little urchin-and as l hav'
some t. Winchester solely In search OF
such a person. l considered myself enti'
tied to make inquiries Of you"
| your end justifies the means" returns
the sister. gravely, bowling her head. III
| IL true taat we have offered shelter "a
such a poor old creature as you describe,
| but must know more before can iden.
hfy him with the person Of whom you are
h search"
"The man mean is a Scotchman-veEy
| Did and decrepit-not quite right. more
over, In his mind. He has white hair and
| freckled skin-wears q velveteen suit,
and had a large parcel on bis back CON
tanning books Of great value"
: 1T has not been our province to exam
me the contents Of his luggage. madam,
but as far as the remainder Of your de-
pcription goes, think may say it tallics
with the stranger at present under our
roof. But pardon me for asking II this
poor creatures condition 10 Of any mo-
ment to your
Della bushes.
II win be frank with You. His personal
safety is Of no more moment to me than
q IL h,p% hn nf
. thu parcel he has carried away with
him-
Il seei Then need have no hesitation
| IN telling you that he is In a very critical
I condition. He had fit outside our house.
| which was the reason had him carried
| n, and the doctor, who Is with him now
thinks very badly Of him."
20! how I wish Mr.. LIE Mesurier were
aere!' cries Della, impulsively.
| The sister starts and looks at her earn
.stly. The action causes Della to regard
Isaer in return. She Is q very pretty won
han, Notwithstanding her unbecominr
4 iress. and cannot have seen more than
ave-and-thirty years. But there are
y traces Of past pain or sorrow upon her
G lace which no comfort arising from the
a a41leN scr she h 3eadinv pure and
religious life 'nsss had the power 70 efface-
"Would you like to see the old man? He
D unconscious, but 1t may be q satisfac.
| ion to you," says the sister after pause.
mo, thank you. would rnther wait.
| But K would be q comfort to me to ex-
F.! plain the reason Of my presence to you.
And whereupon Della discloses as much
,f her past history as Is necessary to ac-
| .ount for her present interest in old
| Strother. and the sister listens as 1t is hei
l mission to do, with all a woman's sympa-
thy.
"There Is NO doubt that. under the cir
| cumstances, We shall be justified ir
searching the contents Of this parcel" she
replies; "and how sincerely l hope it may
prove to contain what you are looking
| Tor! You must have suffered greatly
Heaven send you the reward Of your pa
:ience and affection"
| Delia's eyes fill with tears.
At this moment the servant thrusts heI
head into the opened doorway.
III you please, sister, there's a strang'
gentleman wants to see yer"
| perhaps It is my friend" suggested
Della; and at the sound Of her voice Mr..
LIE Mesurier steps forward. saying:
According to your directions, Mrs
Manners, i"
i
the Sister Of Mercy arrests his sentence
and Ne turns hastily to confront her star
lied face. At that sight all cOmposure de-
.erts him. Della, watching his counte-
nance. sees 1t change with the rapidity o:
lightning. as a dozen conflicting feeling,
oass over il in quick succession: then ht
Jarts forward, as though to clasp the
| stranger in his arms, but checks himself
suddenly, to exclaim in low voice Of be-
wildered surprise:
| "Adela, Is it your
"Yes, yes, it is l." cries the woman.
But this meeting. as you must suppose
was completely unprecedented. Now lei
me GO without further questioning"
She attempts to leave the room, but he
bars her exit.
II cannot let you 60 without an expla,
nation. For fourteen years We have beer
separated, and my existence has been
living grave without you. l have tried t6
overcome my love for you without sue
cess, and now that we have met again, II
the past can never be renewed, at least let
me have the privilege OF counting yo'
among my friends"
1T cannot be. You ask what Is impos
sible. l am not worthy.
Have our miserable. separated lives.
then. had no power to wash out unworthi-
nes.9 You know how mine has been
,pent. see now how you have employee!
vours. I have forgiven. Let Us both
strive to forget"
"No forpetflness can wash out crime. =
she answers.
"Mr. LIE Mesurier, had I not better
leaye the room r asks Della. to whom this
/ Inn lie0 hHcOmln