Daily camera., 1901-08-17
AN OLD SONG
BY Hrs. Moses p. Handy.


speaking, it would be more correct to
say that he had married her; she had
small volition In the matter.
1t had never occurred to her to re-
gard Mr.. Hopkins as possible suitor.
Almost as old as her father; his hair
nearly as gray, he had been the IA
miliar friend of tho family ever since
she could remember. As child she
sat on his knee. and he brought her
toys and candy; as q young lady he
kept her supplied with flowers and
matinee tickets.
The Fraziers were well OF enough
to have all the necessaries and many
of the luxuries Of life. but they could
not afford superfluities. Mr.. Frazier
was director of the Bull Dog Security
bank, in which also his moderate for
tune was invested; having implicit
confidence in the bank. he had not hes
itated to trust all his eggs therein.
1t was the old story Of a bank pres
ident and treasurer speculating with
the money Of the depositors, and when
the consequent crash came Mr.. Frazier
was overwhelmed. not only because
Of his personal loss, but by crushing
sense OF responsibility for the losses
sustained by others. He argued that
as director he should have detected
and prevented dishonesty before it en-
tailed ruin.
This was why the shock killed him;
not instantly, since he fingered for
days afterwards, but the news
brought On paralyt!c stroke from
which he never entirely rallied.
Alice was away, visiting . wealthy
relative at a fashionable seaside re-
sort. when the calamity befell. /, was
Mr.. Hopkins who sent the dispatch an
nouncing her fathers illness: Mr.. Hop
kins who with his coupe met her al,
the railway station when she hurried
home.
Alice found her father tormented by
anxiety. which amounted TO anguish.
about his wife and daughter. His life
was insured for trifling sum, so
small that it was impossible they
could live on il even after his death;
meanwhile he was helpless and bank
rupt.
Then i, was that Mr.. Hopkins asked
Alice to be his wife, saying. simply,
that he had loved her for years, but
never thought to tell her SO. Now he
vcntured TO beg that in her time of
~ "A hiy. ba rir n
provide for her and hers. And. with
ou: waiting for Alice TO answer. he as
sured her father that to do SO would
be the greatest happiness which he
could ask.
Oh. the look OF inefiable relief which
came into the face OF the dying man!
He did not ask il his daughter were
willing, but, bracing himself to final
effort, took her hand and laid il in tha,
of his friend. God bless you both"
he murmured. and then, with q smile
on his lips, went out into the Great
Hereafter.
After this il was more than ever Mr..
Hopkins who did everything. Alice
felt herself bound hand and foot; al
though the bonds were of softest silk.
they were strong as steel.
How could she tell them about Dick
Dick. who loved her, and whom she
loved dearly, but who had nothing but
his youth and strength. his manly
beauty and his pay as ensign in the
United States navy? Dick, for whom
she had promised to wait lifetime, il
| need be, and who had sailed away on
three-years' cruise the day before
Mr.. Hopkins telegram came.
There was naval station near the
watering place where Alice was visit
ing, and the officers OF the man-o'-war
in port were coming and going contin-
ually. As one Of the prettiest girls at
the Cape. Alice had been one Of the
bellies of the season. She and Richard
Harvie had fallen in love with each
other, after the inconsequent manner
of young things who take NO thought
of the future. They had settled ii that
they were to be married when Dick got
his "step;" meanwhile he was to per-
form prodigies Of yalor, and it would
be happiness to BE- engaged,
There were moments when Alice felt
impelled to tell Mr.. Hopkins the story
and throw herself upon his magnanim-
ity, which she felt sure would not fail,
but refrained for the sake of her
mother. Crushed and broken hearted,
Mrs Frazier had but one joy left, the
satisfaction which she took in her
daughters engagement to Mr.. Hop
kins. When it came to the point, Alice
felt that she must suffer anything
rather than deprive her Of that.
She wrote to Dick and waited fever.
ishly for an answer, her letter being
scarcely more than an incoherent sp-
peal for advice. Weeks passed, bring
ing no reply, and Alice bethought her
self bitterly that it had been general
ly understood at the Cape that lliss
Frazier was the only chlid OF weA-to-
do parents.
She let Mr.. Hopkins and her mother
fix the wedding day, and resigned her.
self to the inevitable. It was on hel
carriage morn that the expected let
ter came:
II am deeply grieved to hear of your loss
and sympathize with you and your mother
| In Justice to yourself, since you ask my
| counsel, I must advise you to accept your
wealthy suitor: poor devil like me can.
not expect to count.
May you have all the happiness you d.
servo.
Sincerely yours.
''R 8. HARVIE."
Alice read the note twice, seeing
only the sarcasm, and not the pain be-
tween the lines. 1t stung her to the
quick, yet she felt relief that he had
accepted the situation so quietly
Then she burned the note and set her
self steadfastly to forget the writer
The majority Of women are like cats
In that they purr to the hand which
strokes them gently and accept ltfe''
cream graciously.
/ Mr.. Hopkins adored his young wifi
and rejoiced to crafty her ever,
whim. Moreover, Alice had Away
been fond Of him, and to her surprise
she found herself BY no means unhap
py. 1t would be too much to say tha'
she ceased 70 remember Dick. but tha