12 TURNS OF FORTUNE.

she knew had not many hours to Jive—uttered,
too, with such demoniac bitterness—forced the
gentle, patient woman to start from her seat,
and pass rapidly across the room to the side of
his bed, where she sank upon her knees, and
seized his shrunken hands in hers. ‘ Father!”
she exclaimed, ‘I have been your child for forty
years, and you have said, that during that pe-
riod, by no act of my own, have I ever angered
you. Isit not sot?” The old man withdrew
one hand gently, turned himself round, and
looked in her face: ‘Forty years! Is it forty
years 1” he repeated ; ** but it must be ; the fair
brow is wrinkled, and the abundant hair grown
thin and gray. You were a pretty baby, Sarah,
and a merry child; a cheerful girl, too, until
that foolish fancy. Well, dear, I’ll say no more
about it; good, dutiful girl. You gave it up to
please your father full twenty years ago, and
when he dies, you shall have all his gold—there’s
a good father! You must keep it, Sarah, and
not give it, nor lend it. I know you won’t
marry, as he is dead; nor see your sister—mind
that; if you see her, or serve her, the bitterest
curse that ever rose from a father’s grave will
compass you in on every side.’’- |
‘“* My father!” she said, “oh! in mercy to
yourself, revoke these words. She knew noth-
ing of her husband’s conduct; he used her even
worse than he used you. Oh! for my sake
say you will forgive'Mary. ItisallI ask. Do