Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-05-27

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thedral heights. He paid the charge.
expressing his firm conviction that the
price was half the value of the ma
chine and seven times the value of the
thief who drove it-and hurried into
the hospital. where he gave his name
and begged to be taken to his afflicted
son at once.
He was Informed by the house sur
geon that the patient was doing fairly
e well. though his temperature was still
above normal. The physician thought,
however, that the fathers presence
might rouse the patients tagging spir-
its. but suggested that the first inter
view be short. A trim, fresh checked
nurse was summoned. and without fur
ther ado she led the way to the eeva-
tor. which took them to the fourth
floor. AT the door of his sons room
the old rancher paused
My dear" he said, "are you the
young lady who has nursed my poor
boy through this spell of sickness:"
Yes. SIR" answered the brisk young
person in tone somewhat more cheer
full than the gravity of the occasion
seemed TO warrant
God bless your the anxious father
murmnred in a voice choked by his
emotion. "Did-he-ask for me-of-
ten?"
The experienced young person hest
tated, hanging for an instant between
,ncompromising truth and the wish
to spare this kind old gentleman un-
necessary pain. Womnnile. she de-
cided upon charity rather than verac-
ity.
"Oh. yes" she answered nervously,
though you know. of course. he--he
has been justwel. n little deirions, |
fear. You must be careful not to excite
him, to control your feelings. SIR
The Texans great heart was touch
ed. His boy had been shouting out his
name. even while pain aud fever held
him In their raging grip. The father.
who could have faced a battery of ar
tillery in action without blanching.
was greatly overcome by what he read
in the nurses halting words. He lean
ed for support against the wall and
furtively brushed his eyes. then look
ed up. striving to smile, and asked:
WAS he conscious when my tee-
gram arrived? Did he know? Was he
glad to hear that was coming!"
Very answered the adroit young
woman. blushing to the roots of her
chestnut hair, that peeped from under
saucy little cap. She had made the
first plunge and had no hesitation in
going the limit
lNnp at at
to this dainty angel of mercy and eff
cheney who had ministered to grief
and suffering. He fumbled in his pock-
ct and produced large, double figured
note. which lie pressed into her hand.
For you, my DEAR" he smiled, "a
ribbon or something. There. there; it's
nothing"
But Mr.. Williams she protested
in charming confusion. this is not at
all necessary. | am paid, you know
by-really. couldn't think Of
Honey" he interrupted. while he
gave her plump shoulder fathery
pat. Its just little secret between
you and me. Now run along. ! want
to see Dicllie alone"
Again the nurse hesitnted and, like
her prototype in the proverb, was lost
1t was best to be present ut the inter.
view. yet how could she refuse so sim.
pie request from this moist eyed.
T generous old dear?
Very WE'LL" she nodded; ~ will
stand outside. You promise to be very
quiet?"
II PROMISE" answered Bill Williams
huskily. Then he opened the door.
closed 1t after him and tiptoed softly
across the room
The father found himself in a bare
walled little room that was scrupu-
lousy clean and neat. The shades were
drawn. yet by the dim religious light
he espied bandaged form apparently
asleep upon Il narrow brass bed. The
face of the patient was in shadow.
yet the Texan felt instinctively that
he had found his martyred son at last
For moment he could not speak. His
emotions choked him, while two great
fears rose up and rolled UNDECIDED
down his weather beaten cheeks. He
sank on his knees beside the bed,
stretched out his trembling arms and
murmured brokenly:
"My boy! My boy"
The Earl of Croyland rolled over on
his back and stared at the sobbing ap.
partition in wonder struck amaze In
! dropping into Il doze he had forgotten
to remove his monocle, which by years
of habit remained tight set in his no
Bile eye.
go way!' he muttcred feebly
Don't be a silly asst"
Bill Williams still remained upon
his knees, his mouth wide open, into
which the two tears aforementioned
trickled unheeded. He was too be-
widered fully TO realize his ridiculous
position all at once That he had
Travelled over 1000 weary miles for
the dubious pleasure of kneelng by
the bedside of this glass eyed lunatlc
was thought which at first refused
to percolate through his stunned cere-
brum. He returned the stare and an
swered, with ii series of hoarse, mar
tlculate gasps:
'Wha-you! My son-you-ch? Who
who the devil are you?"
The earl drew the sheet about his
hseh, Nioscl HIS eyes anu luT1leu OH
his pillow Ianguidly.
NO card-in my-ah-nightshirt
I'm Richard Willams-San Antawneo
Texas. Get OUT"
You're a liar!' burst out the old
man angrily. rising to his feet.
The Earl of Croyland pulled the bell
above the head of his bed and waited
In unrulfled calm till the nurse APP
peared. He opened his eyes and point
ed to his visitor
"Er-show this odious person out.
! wish to-er-sleep."
The girl stepped forward. laid n gen
tie hand upon the sufferers forehead
and whispered soothlngly:
There. there. Mr.. Williams! Don't
excite Yourself. This gentleman is
your father. Don't you know him?"
ROT" said the earl II haven't a
father; been dead for fifteen years or