The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-01-30
Ross-H HuntressC Company
Cor.West and Grove SITS.
Rutland. Vermont.
Rutland, Vermont.

In the nurses haltlng words. He lean
ed for support against the wall and
furtiyely brushed his eyes, then look.
ed up. striving TO smile, and asked
WAS he conscious when my tele.
gram arrlvedl Did be know? Was he
glad to hear that was coming"
Very" answered the adroit young
woman, blushlng TO the roots Of her
chestnut hair. that peeped from under
a saucy little cap. She had made the
first plunge and had no hesitation in
going the limit
The fathers heart went out at once
to this dainty angel of mercy and eff.
cheney who had mlnlstered TO grief
and suffering. lie fumbled In his pock-
ct and produced large, double figured
note. which be 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 or
Honey" he interrupted. while he
gave her plump shoulder a fatherly
pat, 'it's just little secret between
you and me. Now run along. | want
to see Dlckle alone"
Again the nurse besltated and, like
her prototype in the proverb, was lost
1t was best TO be present at the inter
view, yet how could she refuse so sim
pie a request from this moist eyed,
generous old dear?
VERY we'll" she nodded; 81 will
stand outside. You promise TO be very
quietf'
II promise" answered Bill Williams
husklly. Then he opened the door,
closed II after him and tiptoed softly |
across the room.
The father found himself In bare /
walled little room that was scrupu.
lously clean and neat. The shades were
drawn, yet by the dim religious light |
be espied bandaged form apparently
asleep upon a narrow brass bed The
face OF the patient was In shadow,
yet the Texan felt instlnctlvely that
he had found his martyred son at last
For moment he could not speak. His
emotions choked him, while two great
tears rose up and rolled unheeded
lown his weather beaten cheeks. He
sank on his knees beside the bed,
stretched out his trembling arms and
brokeDly:
"My boy! My boyr'
The Earl OF Croyland rolled over on
lis back and stared at the sobbing ap-
partition In wonder struck amaze. Ia
lropping into doze he had forgotten
o remove his monocle, which by years
Il habit remained tight set IN his no.
lie eye.
Go way" he muttered feebly
Don't be a silly ASST
Bill Williams still remained upon
lis knees, his mouth Wide open, into
Witch the two tears aforementioned
rlckled unheeded He was too be.
glldered fully to realize his ridiculous
osltion all at once That he had
rayeled over 1000 weary miles for
be dubious pleasure Of knecllng by
be bedside OF this glass eyed lunatic
ras a thought which at first refused .
, percolate through his stunned cere-
rum. He returned the stare and an
wered, with series OF boarse, innr.
culate gasps:
"Wha-you. Ny son-you- ehi Who
who the deyil are your"
The earl drew the sheet about bis
eek, closed his eyes and turned on /
Is pillow languldly.
"No card-in my-ah- nlghtshlrt
nj Richard Williams San Antawneo
Texas. Get outr'
You're llarr burst ont the old !.
an angrily, rising 10 his feet. !,
The Earl OF croyland pulled the bell =
Doye the head Of his bed and waited :,
nnrut'ied calm tlll the nurse ap. +
Jared He opened bis eyes aud point
20 his visitor.
"Er-show this odious person out i
wish to-er-sleep" !
The girl stepped forward, laid gen. :
e hand upon the sufferers forehead
I'd whispered soothiugly: ;,
There. there. Mr.. Williams! Don't !,
Gciie yourself This gentleman Is I.
,ur father Don't you know him." a
Rot said the earl Il haven't n
ther; been dead for fifteen years or !,
wouldn't be an EARL mean-ah-it's y
IN noDsense." !,
The nurse looked toward BIZ WI =
lnis sppeailngly. indicating by eau i
,us gesture that be- would betier n
ave the pa,ien, for the present. but !,
. visitor was otherwise disposed. n