The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1905-06-30
CHAPTER XXXIII.
HAPPY REUNION-SAINT RUTH'S CHAP
Ell IN THE FIELD OF ALFALFA.

HAPPY REUNION-SAlNi Rule ShhAI
Ell IN THE FIELD OF ALFALFA.
CONCLUSION
ssWho is it Pedro?' came from a
feeble voice within, and the next mo-
ment Imogen had pulled herself away
from Diana's protecting grasp, rush
ed past the astonished Mexican, and
with a sob of thankfulness, knelt by
her fathers bed.
Diana, who had followed her young
mistress into the room, stood a mo-
ment in silent contemplation of the
sweetly pathetic scene of the reunited
father and child clasped in each
others arms, while they mingled their
tears and prayers of thankfulness to-
gether.
''Tank de Good Lawd, for all his
mercies," she exclaimed at last, start
ing toward the front entratnce where
the Mexican stood guard.
"Senorita, he began in broken En-
glish, putting out OBTAINING hand:
'Dont Sin'retto me, nor stop me to
heah you talk Dutch nor Spaniard
neither; move, man! and le'me out,
I'se gwine fo' Miss Alva whose out
yonder in de Vaughn, waiten to hear
dis glorious news" and Diana's
ample figure went flying down the
walk through the faint light made by
the dawning day, just beginning to
tremble in the clear eastern sky.
tOh, Miss Alva," she cried when
she reached the wagon where Mrs.
Murriatte still sat, guarded over by
Johnston, who when he saw that I'M
ogen was safe from harm, had return
to your ole Nanny and let her tell
you how good the good Lawd is after
all he put on us to beah, Mars Newell
is alibIe! and not so awful sick nuth-
er, don't belibe, frum de way he is
setten up in de bald, am taken, on
ober Miss Imogen. Johnston, has you
don loss your senses? What all you
niger! Git down QUITO dat wagin
lif Miss Alva out, an glib her to me-"
.'Oh Diana, is it true; is it true; is
my husband alive?" cried Mrs Muir
riatte, as Johnston tenderly lifted her
from the wagon to the ground.
Eyes my lam, jest as true as preach
ins,'' Diana said as she put her arm
supportingly about Mrs Murriatte's
trembling form.
''Why honey you is all of a tremble
Miss Alva; you is not gwine glib up
and break down is you, after you
habe been such brabe soger thru
ebberything' Shorely you is not 60
ing to let joy kill YOU mo DIANA"
the .dy said making powerful and
successful effort at self control; 10y
seldoms kills. Take me to the house."
When they entered the long low
room where, Imogen, her face illumi-
mated with her new found JOY, stood
by her fathers bedside clasping his
happy hands in hers, Diana said:
Come wild me, Miss Imogen, and lief
youh paw and NAV alone. De 'fes-
sions dey hab to make, and de words
dey hab to say, is. only fifteen to
be heard by de dear Lawd, and
deyselves," and taking the happy
daughters hand she led her out OF the
house, and seating her on rustic
bench under an arbor in the yard,
sat down on the ground at her feet.
The pale dawn in the east deepened
into rosy flush, and flung out Grim
son banners proclaiming the near
approach of the king of day.
The fragrant morning air fresh from
the bosom of the night was filled with
lowing of kline and the distant bleat-
ing OF thousands of sheep. A band of
merry cowboys seated on their lean
brOnchOs on their way to the DAYS
roundup, swept past the gate and
greeted the stately Johnston who |
stood by the wagon in dipinified |