CHAPTER XLVII.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 100, 2 May 1885, Page 4

CHAPTER XLVII.

"MY YOUNGER DAUGHTER BESSIE ! ' "Whatfaceisthat? Whatafacc what alook. wha'a ln-eness!" E B J3k wning As ho reached the corner he grew quite weak and dizzy. From the doors and windows of Buck and Eayner's a flood of light poured across the sidewalk. He would go in and re-t a few minutes. And now he recollected that irom the time he had pent the despatch— just at dawn, it was— he had neither eaten nor drunk. He entered. The few scats were occupied. He stood by the register, leaning against the high brass fender that environs the heat-breathing square, protecting it from selfish usurpation. A sort of numbness was creeping over him. He felt exhausted and heart-sick. A gentleman wheeling round the corner without cast a casual glanceinto the brilliant drug store He stood atock-pfillon the crowded pavement. Th« hut rvintr -ix o'clock multitude jostled him. Cummenrs of a nature wildly satirical, others savagely pleasant, were offered him in profusion ; but pot a word did he hear, nothing did he see, save that beautiful boyish face just beyond the lighted pane. Such a marvellous resemblance ! It was extraordinary ! Could it be the fame face ? But that was hardly possible. He would makeeure. . . He swung round, hurried in. An instant liter Voyle became conscious of a pair of eves peering into bis altogether too intently for politeness. He startcd-drcw back.

As he did so the other placed his hands on the top of the very tall brafs fender and leant still more eagerly forward. Was the man drunk or crazy ? Voyle regarded him amazedly. A tall, stout, whiskered individual, he who now confronted mm, a kindly-looking old fellow, too, with a silvery fringe showing under the brim of his high silk hat. Around the latter was bound" a very deep fold of crape It certainly wis embarrassing, to say the least of it, this prolonged and steady scrutiny. A flush came into Voylo's white cheek. " Well, sir," he demanded, impatiently. The other drew a long breath and straightened up. 11 I'll bo hanged if it doesn't-boat-creation !" ho ejaculated, slowly. The younger man opposite, wrestling heart and &oul with a new and terrible sorrow, and physically we^ik to bear the same, but partially controlled his temper. " Confound it. man, what are yon staring at ? I'm not a dime museum curiosity." And then tho offender for the first timo found comprehensible speech. " It's the -the resemblance !" ho gasped. Resemblance ! To Vella, of course. The one word was a lightning-stroko of hope. In a second he was beside the man, grasping his hands with his own ice-cold ones, breathing fast and hard, striving to speak. ••Tom horn?" Tho door kept banging -banging. All around them wero voices. About them hastened clerks and customers. "Ureat Jehosaphat !" murmured the other; "it's amazing '" Voyle crushed tighter the unresisting hands in his. " For Heaven s sake answer me ? >> horn am I like?" " A young girl who was part of the way with my wite and daughters- it's astonish in<* !" breaking off to starve anew. "Part of the way where?" and now tho young fellow's cheeks were carmine. "To Philadelphia" " To Pluladalnhia !" ho echoed. What clue was this which was falling into his hands ? " When v " he whispered. Captain Costello mentioned day and date. " You arc sure?" Yojle questioned. His companion | "I have i-cid ica-on to bo," touching the band of civip^ encii cling his hat crown. ' "In an accident thit very night my dear wite w a- killed." , And now , a* 010 w ill lemembcr afterwaid J thing- to them unimportant, he recalled the 1 name of the lady the railroad man had men- ' tioncl a- being among the dead. i ''Your naino is Costello?" ho asked, quickly. J "lit. How do you know that— ?' "Ne\er mind now; I will toll you another time. Oh, sir," in a fever of en- ! tre-ity, " jou don't know how far you can I help mo now— this instant !" " /.' &tais and =-tiiped •" 11 Yes, }ou ! The young lady you mention was my sister, hince she loft on that awful journey we have heaul no woid from her— of her. How far wa> she with your party— 1 mean %\ here di.i you take the train ? Did I \ou <-ec her after the collision? was she in- ' juicd ? did she die ? Quick, sir, tell me !" I Tho interrogatories, each stumbling over the heels of its predecessor in its haste, were .low, hoaue, pasMonful. Not one of those around dreamed of tho I drama, one act of w Inch was being played out in their midst. Costello grew almost as excited as his I questioner. He wrenched his hands free I and put them on Voylo's shoulders. "Theic, there! Don't take on now, my lad- don't! She was injured, but 1 heard ' the doctor say not fatally. Hope for the ! best. See here !" in sudden alarm, "you're ■ not going to faint?" „,■,,, For from his faco every drop of blood had pone tiding back to his heart. Hope for the beat when he had convinced himself there wa- no best to hope for ! I lie trailed feebly. "Not if I can help it, sir." Costello gave him a vigorous slap on the ! chest. . ■ "Come out and have adi ink. i But Voyle was deaf to the appeal. i " Tell me some more !" he implored. " I i know hardly anything j et Tell " "By the Ghost of Gimlets, I won't!" came Costel'o's characteristic reply. "Nary I a tell till "\ ou come across the street to | Hannah & Hoggs and brace up. You look I like a giil w ho has seen a mouse." And the captain took off his hat, and rubbed hi.s bald head with a great deal of viituous determination. " If I've got to brace up, 1 guess I'd rather do it at the s Boston Oyster House '" young Vcrncll rejoined. " Supper will bo my first meal to-day." A look of horror overspread the old gentleman's face Instinctively ho thrust hi^ hands in his pocket, scanning his companion the while. " Jeru^fdnn ! You don't mean -- " Voyle actually laughed at hid perturbed countenance. '• No, I don't mean anything of the sort. I've enough money in my pocket for twenty ine-ils. The ca'-o k one of voluntary starvation. I've been so miserably nervous all day, eating wa.*> too tamo and prosaic an occupation to be for a moment con--idcred." "Come along then !" And tlicso *wo, so strangely flung together by Fate, passed out. They turned westward. "You don't think she's dead then, Mr Costello?"' Voyle began again in a desperate attempt to glean more news concerning her —a iay more of light, however faint, on thp subject. "Nonsense, lad! Of course she isn't dead. She may be still too languid to write, but depend upon it she's snug, and well taken care of, somewhere. Talk senoe, man !" Voyle drew a long, deep breath. " Heaven grant it !" They passed Dearborn. At Clarke they descended the .steps leading to the cafe. Voyle put his hand before his eyes a moment as he entered. Coming in out of Uie darkness the brightly lighted room with its snowy clothed tables, and snowy-aproned speeding waiters, fairly dazzled him. They took possession of a " two table." " I would make you come dirootly home with me," Costello said, " but that I think you have fasted long enough." •' Will they not be expecting you at home, though ? " a&kcd Voyle, when he had givon hi? order. " Yes, but they know I never wish them to wait supper for mo if I'm not on time " His vi>a-viz looked over at him gratefully. "You are very good to stay down town on my account ! " warmly. Costello was drumming abstractedly on the table. " It is no enormous sacrifice. And then as he glxnced up Voyle saw that a certain sadness had blotted out tho humorous twinkle in hirf eyes. "They will mi3S me a little bit, he «a d, " but not as >he would if I was not home to supper." Voyle nodded sympathetically, but said never a word What could ho say ? What can any of us say when Death before us rears its triple sting, the Jove, the loneliness, and longing of the living ?

Supper over, they took a carriage. Voyle did not hear the address, did not even | remark in which direction they rolled away. , , . . l\. After twenty minutes' rapid driving the hack stopped. # •'Here we are ! " cried Captain Costello, cheerily, "jump out, my lad." Within an iron-railed enclosure some distance back from the road stood a square house. This was all one could distinguish, so dark was the night. As they went up the path together the j hall-door was flung wide, and a billow of light surged forth a cheery welcome. | Framed in the bright door-way a ngure appeared. , •* What kopt you so late ? Kitty and I are tired waiting and listening for you, you blessed old sinner— no kiss to-night, sir— unless you promise .Oh !" The sweet voice fluttered like a birds, then grew suddenly still. She had just discerned another figure than her father s. "I promise !" laughod Voyle. They entered the hall. She fell back a step or two, staring up at the new-comer. Her gaze remained riveted on his face. She was speechless with amazemont. Her father kissed her and shook her. "Wake up, goosie !" he laughod. "It is only a resemblance. This is the brother of the young lady with whom you and Kitty fell in love that night on the train. Mr Vernell, this is my younger daughter, Bessie." As Voyle gravely bowed to the girl in the simple mourning dress his heart leaped into his handsome brown oyes and paid her tribute. Such a pretty, demure, startled face as it was. And what a dainty dash of colour in the clear- skinned cheeks. And how buggestive of ripe cherries the bright halfparted lips. , Ah, Captain Costello, you fond.^ genial, ejaculatory, unsuspicious old warrior you, put on your spectacles !