Page:The Father Confessor, Stories of Danger and Death.djvu/151

Rh days. Not an hour was she from him, that she could help. Even in the night she would often awake, and fancying she heard that cry, "Come to me," would creep to his door to listen.

It was on one of these wanderings that a great fear came to her. As she crouched listening by the door, she heard her father's voice speak in a tone of deep agony.

"O destroyer of the beautiful!" he cried, "why have you pursued me, to rob me of my heart's treasure, and leave my home to me desolate?"

He paused, and the child could hear him walking restlessly up and down the room. Her heart beat in great blows. Who was with her father? Who was this terrible destroyer who killed the young birds, and was now inside with her father? Who was he who had robbed that dear father of his heart's treasure. Would he open the door, and fall upon her, a little girl, to devour her? She clutched the handle to prevent it from turning. Her father, hearing the rattle, cried out, "Come," and she pushed the door and sprang to his side. She hid in his arms, and only after a moment's