Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-03-17

~ me. Yet. looking backward. don't
see how l would have supported her
for. being brought up as was to in
herit great wealth, | was not practical
A strange coincidence happened.
frequently visited my mother and stay.
ed as long as pleased. When | went
my father never asked me how long
intended to remain away. and when
returned never complained that | had
been gone too long, though am quite
sure he missed me. While l was away
he never communicated with me. The
house might have fallen on his head
and l would never have known 1t un.
less by report.
On one Of my visits to my mother
1 stayed two weeks. I wrote to my
father every few days. though did
not expect him to write to me. When
I returned | was informed that he had
been taken Ill few days after my
departure and had been under the care
of several doctors ever since. ran
upstairs and was met on the landing
by woman in nurses uniform.
"Agatha!" | exclaimed. what are
you doing hereT'
Nursing your father. A nurse was
called suddenly; responded and did
not know where was coming till ar
rived"
"What dispensation!'
went In to see my father and found
him still quite Ill. though his doctors
had pronounced him improving. He
seemed much relieved at my retur''.
but said that he had had every care.
having been fortunate in his nurse.
He had asked for man. but his doc
tors had dissuaded him. "My nurse Is
n treasure" he said. That's. one thing
women can do well; they can take
care Of sick persons"
"And persons sick at heart. too
added. But he did not seem to heed
the remark, for he closed his eyes and.
knowing how weak he was. left him.
He was Ill for several months.
months us full Of bliss mingled with
bitterness for me as Of suffering to
him. Agatha remained at her post all
this while, and when he became con
valescent and she wished to be re-
lieved, that she might get rest. he
begged her to rest where she was.
turning over his care temporarily to
me. 1t is needless to say she con-
sented.
One morning she came out Of the
sickroom with q joyous look on her
face.
"What is itY' l asked eagerly.
what do you suppose l have sue
ceeded in dolng?"
"What7"
IT am the bearer to you of your fl
theirs request that you so TO ycCl
mother and ask her to return to hc,
home"
I was thunderstruck.
But / gasped.
"But the conditions? There are
conditions except that the past. oi
rather, its cause. Is not to be mel
toned"
"And you have accomplished thisr
mot I alone. Invalids are nOncom
batants. Your father has been i'm
pressed with what have done for him.
though l have been paid for doing 1t
This morning he asked me what he
could do for me besides paying ne
and l replied that II he would take
steps for reconciliation with his wife
I would feel amply repaid. | lave
done my part. 1t is now for you to
do yours. Persuade your mother to
come back"
clasped Agatha in my arms. then
ran downstairs three steps at time
FASTENED into the street, called pass
Ing cab and bid him drive as fast as
his horse could go to my mothers
home. It was some time before per-
suaded her to return with me. but
when I pictured how near father had
been to death she decided to go to
lim and, having once decided. could
not go quickly enough to satisfy her
mpatience.
The spell which hung over my IA
ther had been broken by the kindly
feminine attentions of good woman.
and 1t never returned to him.
Frank" he said to me on the day OF
our reunion. III you don't marry Aga-
tina I'll disinherit YOU"
"That's pleasant" | replied. For
years I've been living under the expec-
tation that you would disinherit me II
did"