Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

CHAPTER XVI.-Continued i!
Suddenly he began speaking:
ut was for her sake, for my tender
little child's sake. Good Lord, forgive
me! She could not battle with the
worM In poverty, only helpless, weak
girl BE Is strong; he is young; he is
ambitious. It will all work out right
npr him. He win carve out name and
q fortune for himself. But-but-I am
going 10 met them. am going to see
Lucettn. Rufus, all Of them. What shall
{ aay9 What can tell them? Unfaith-
1M friend. false steward, sinful mani
hear them crying 1t in chorus. Thomas,
forgive mel Lucetta, don't turn your
dear face away from me! Rufus, friend
OF my boyhood."
He opened his eyes with start. His
first fully conscious gaze fell upon
Olivia's face. Its drawn, frightened
look startled him. He grasped her wrist
with force that panied her.
have been doing. Did talk in my
sleep? Did I say anything silly, as
sleep takers always do?"
You talked little, father, just lit
tie. There, dear. Don't stare at ME so.
You look as if you were angry with
me. It is only I, father, your loving lit
tie daughter. There is no one else here,
no one at all"
know, know-only you, poor lit
tie lonely girl; only you, my precious
one"
She answered him with pathetic
little boast.
"Oh, I could have half the town If I
wanted to! Everybody has been beg
g1ng to help nurse you. Everybody
holds you in such high esteem, dearest.
But we don't want them"
But we don't want Them" he echoed
duly. mo, we don't want them. 1t
won't last very much longer, my child.
am just waiting to see Thomas, and
then I will 60"
Father, father, have you no thought
for me7" The wall escaped her uu-
guarded lips with piercing shrillness.
NO thought for you? God forgive
me, Olivia, there has been room in my
brain for no one but you. For you, and
you alone, have lived, have labored
and"-his voice dropped to tired
whisper-"yes. sinned.'
"Sinned? Father, take that one word
back. know you do not mean it.
Take it back in pity for me. Don't
leave it to me as horrible puzzle.
It will torture me all the rest of my
days. Death is not the very worst
that can befall us, father. Leave me
the reverence for you that has gilded
all my young life, father. I know
you have loved me too well. Perhaps
In your tenderness for me you waxed
careless of others interests. That was
all, papa. am sure that was ALL"
She was on her knees by the bed.
Her slight frame was quivering under
the storm of emotions no longer I'M
der her control. The dying man laid
his hand on her bowed head. When
he spoke, his voice was calm and SOL
emn, but very weak.
True, child, death is not the worst
that can be7all. I have confessed
everything to my Maker. had meant
to confess to Thomas, but my strength
GIBBS fast. I doubt If shall be here
when he comes. The temptation to
secure your future against the posi-
bility of want was too mighty for me,
Olivia. My idolatrous love for you
turned my boosted strength into weak
ness. Opportunity was my undoing.''
4 will make restitution, father. He
shall have everything"
h1o ~, a %l,<> 1850 :, i,
{ Restitution lies in one direction only.
At least my failing senses can point
out no other course. You alone can
right the great wrong have done Ru-
fus' son."
81, father?''
"Don't speak. Listen to me. Would
you help me undo what, I have done
for your sake?"
She shivered as if an ague had seiz-
ed her, but her gaze never left his
face.
You know I would, father! oh,
you know there is nothing would not
do for your dear sakev'
IA few weeks ago could not have
+ humbled myself before my own inno-
cent child as am doing now, my dear,
but when the shores of eternity seem
actually in sight the mortal vision
broadens, and we can slough oil that
is mortal Of us with contemptuous pity
for its infrmities, it's temptations and
Its mistakes. I have been an unfaith-
full guardian to Thomas Broxton. You
can make the losses have brought
upon him as nothing, weighed in the
balances against his happiness
A perplexed look came into the wide
eyes fixed upon his face. II, father?"
You, and you alone, can turn curse
into benediction."
Again that pathetic II, father? oh,
tell me how!'
Marry Thomas Broxton. He loves
( you. You know that he does.'
"But do not love him, father?"
Marry Thomas Broxton."
Father, have You forgotten Clarence,
forgotten that betrothed myself to
him with your full consent ! belong