The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-08-07

energetic handshake made Raleigh |
laugh. Faith followed, and Malcom
Joined in. and the excitement of that |
sudden meeting passed into question
and answer.
ITS long way from the deck of
that steamer to this studio" said Nal
com Stanley. But truth is stranger
than f1ction-at least any fiction l ever
read" And then he went on to give
Faith some account Of his life since
the time when Malcom Kirk had left
him with his aunt in London.
The aunt had died when he was 2
years old, and he had been adopted in
to the family Of distant relative, TAX
request in loving memory of his queer
nurse. The money that Kirk had rails
ed on board the steamer had been for
tunately invested. On coming Of age
this fund enabled the young man to fit
himself for an engineer. He had risen
steadily and had at last been promoted
to place Of great responsibility. The
company for which he worked had in
terests in the United States, and NAL
com had come over to superintend the
opening of some mines in Colorado and
New Mexico. His business interests
had made him acquainted with Mr..
Fulton, and it was through him that
he had made the acquaintance Of Mr..
Raleigh and finally purchased the pic
ture, with the intention of giving 1t to
Malcom Kirk. The artist had insisted
on practically giving large share Of
the value of the picture to Stanley, and
the latter had planned a surprise for
Kirk on his way west.
All this and more did Faith hear
wonderingly. The short winter day
was going by. and Raleigh suddenly
interrupted the conversation.
I'VE shall have to give up our trip to
Kenwood today, Faith"
"And l must be getting back to my
workv cried Faith, rising. She was
like one who had been in a dream Of
the day. 1t all seemed SO strange
the studio, the artist, the picture, the
big, hearty. honest young. Englishman.
She found it hard to realize that she
was actually in the heart Of the great,
rushing, prosaic, selfish city. All this
was so like a story, like things one
reads about, but SO seldom knows in
the real life.
eff your father were only here now,"
said Raleigh, whose romantic tempera-
ment was moved deeply by the events
Of the day, this room would contain
all the elements of a genuine story"
As he spoke they all three turned in
| stinctively toward the entrance Of the
other room. There stood Malcom Kirk.
his tall. heavy figure filing up the
opening and his homely. loving face
showing unusual emotion.
"Fatherw cried Faith. and the next
| minute she was in his arms, sobbing
| and exclaiming.
Then she stepped back, a little
ashamed of her sudden outburst as
she remembered the presence of the
two men behind her, but she kept hold
Of Malcom's hand and drew him into
the studio.
"How did you come here, fatheg!
We had no idea
"It's not a long story. my dear"
said Malcom.
| "Mr. Raleigh, how do you do? It's
| a long time since l saw you on the
deck Of that steamer" Malcolm point.
ed to the picture, and still his great
brown eyes rested on Malcom Stanley,
who was standing there pale and ex.
cited.
Raleigh took Kinks hand and shook
it heartily. He then turned quickly to
Stanley.
"You ought to know this gentleman
Mr.. Kirk. You met him before did"
Kirk stepped toward Stanley. Both
men were deeply moved.
"You were with my mother when she
died, Mr.. Kirk" said Stanley in a voice
that trembled little.
eff we were Russians, we would EN-
brace each other now," cried Malcon
Kirk, 'but as you are an Englishmar
and l am an American l suppose q
handshake is the nearest we can get t.
it."
AS he said 1t he grasped Stanley'i
big palm. which went out to meet his
and Raleigh said afterward he wal
sure he heard the bones snap, but nei
ther man WINGED.
1.-THE heart goes with It," said Nal
com Stanley, admiring Kirk out of hii
honest face with loving look.
| Kirk drew back a little and gazed a
the stalwart young figure. Then b.
glanced at the painting.
81 would not like to take the contrac
of holding you in my arms now. as
did then. But, as l remember, yol
were a very good baby"
$50 he is now." said Raleigh, VIII
had turned his face toward the ease
to hide his emotien.
That made Faith laugh, and the res
Joined her, and the tension Of feeling
broke, and they all grew more at ease
For several minutes questions and an
swers few fast In the now darkenini
| studio.
Father, you must give an account o
yourself. The rest of us know how W
came to be here. But your presence i
mysteryw said Faith, drawing NJ
closer to him.
; "Well. my dear, it was your lette
that brought me-"
"My letterY
"Yes, the one you wrote Sunday
Your mother was very anxious abou
you. You did not mean to tell us, bu
we read between the lines that 70
were having experiences as you ca
them. Besides, a check came for On
Of my stories that morning, and fel
the need Of a little vacation and cam
on to Chicago to study the hired gil
problem and other sociological ez
periments."
Faith laughed. Then she passed he