196 INDIANA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 



one we sought. My child, we have been deceived — grossly 

 deceived — wickedly, wantonly imposed upon by a foolish 

 tale ; and to morrow I will set my face homeward ; I will 

 be the victim of deception no longer." "But, father, my 

 dear father, surely you cannot think that he, that noble, 

 generous, kind hearted man who just left the room, is 

 guilty of deception? that he has imposed upon us?" "I 

 cannot answer. I would rather lose my right hand than 

 know it to be so; but I now wholly despair. Never be- 

 fore has the scene looked so awfully dark to me." 



"Then trust, hope, and pray a little longer. Remember 

 that just before the dawn is deepest darkness. Perhaps 

 even to-morrow the dawn may burst unexpectedly upon 

 us. Never have I seen you so sunk in despair; it must 

 be owing to your great bodily sufferings this evening. 

 You must not attempt to go further, that is true, you shall 

 remain under this blessed roof for a few days, and we 

 will go on without you, I shall not fear to leave you 

 here, and as to myself, I will waive false delicacy upon 

 so holy an occasion as seeking a father's grave. But 

 what, you too in despair" — addressing the young man 

 just then entering, with a face that clearly indicated a 

 heavy heart within. "Then am I indeed a poor unhappy 

 orphan." And her own heart at length, after buffetting 

 difficulties almost innumerable, for many months, without 

 one tear, now burst forth like a pent up fountain of pure 

 pearls, pouring forth from a diamond reservoir, falling 

 upon an alabaster basin. 



The reader has already discovered who these charac- 

 ters are, and can understand their language. To me, 

 then, it was strange and unaccountable. It was clear 

 that the old man, though so called, was not her father. 

 Could it be possible that the allusion to her "father's 

 grave" had any connection with that among the cedars. 

 Curious conjectures passed rapidly through my mind. 

 The old man had become calm. The girl's heart seemed 

 ready to burst, and sympathy of the young man showed 

 his was any thing but stone. 



