his pious wife, that every one respects; think of his
good-hearted, kind daughters; think of their poverty, and all they have
suffered so long; an' above all, oh, think, father dear, of what they
will suffer if you are the manes of takin' that sorrowful white-haired
ould man out from the middle of his poor, but lovin' and dacent and
respected family, and hangin' him for an act that he has repented for,
maybe, and that we ought to hope the Almighty himself has forgiven him
for. Father, I go on my knees to you to beg that you won't prosecute
this ould man; but leave him to God!"

As she uttered the last few sentences, the tears fell in torrents from
her cheeks; but when she knelt--which she did--her tears ceased to
flow, and she looked up into her father's face with eyes kindled into
an intense expression, and her hands clasped as if her own life and
everlasting salvation depended upon his reply.

"Go home, I desire you," he replied, with a cold sneer, for he had now
collected himself, and fell back into his habitual snarl; "Go home, I
desire you, or maybe you'd wish to throw yourself in the way of that
young profligate that I was spakin' to when you came up. Who knows,
affcher all, but that's your real design, and neither pity nor
compassion for ould Dalton."

"Am I his daughter?" she replied, whilst she started to her feet, and
her dark eyes flashed with disdain: "Can I be his daughter?"

"I hope you don't mean to cast a slur upon your--." He paused a moment
and started as if a serpent had bitten him; but left the word "mother"
unuttered.

Again she softened, and her eyes filled with tears. "Father, I never had
a mother!" she said.

"No," he replied; "or if you had, her name will never come through my
lips."

She looked at him with wonder for a few moments, after which she turned,
and with a face of melancholy and sorrow, proceeded with slow and
meditating steps in the direction of their humble cabin.

Her father, who felt considerably startled by some portions of her
appeal, though by no means softened, again directed his steps towards
the garden gate, where he left young Dick standing. Here he found this
worthy young gentleman awaiting his return, and evidently amazed at the
interview between him and his daughter; for although he had been at too
great a distance to hear their conversation, he could, and did see, by
the daughter's attitudes, that the subject of their conversation was
extraordinary, and conseq