The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1871-06-22
Grace ReGCIe'S Test.
BY o. AUGUSTA CHENEY.
rXVbot ebouTJo vith bar o,l

"What shall ! do with her?"
This was what Charles Williams
said, as he finished reading letter he
! had Just received from DIR. Wharton,
la physician in AndOver. 1t gave the
details of the sickness and death of
/ friend and former classmate, Wilbur
Reade, and enclosed letter which he
had written several months before. 1t
ran thus:
"Aly dear Charles You will, no
doubt, be surprised to receive q letter
/ from me after a silence Of so many
years. But within that time many
events have been crowded. 1 was
married twelve years ago to Grace
Bentley, whom you perhaps remem-
| ber. Two years of uninterrupted hap
piness followed. Then, in giving
birth TO a daughter, my wife died.
This was a bitter blow, but still my
child was left tO me to care for and in
struct, and in this employment / took
great delight. But, two years ago, my
/ health began to fail. l moved to An
dover, trusting that the fresh air of the
country might bring back my lost
/ health. But 1 cannot deceive myself
| longer. / am growing weaker, and
am slowly, but surely dying. This
thought would not pain me,-since l
do not fear deHth-were it not for the
| thought that my little Grace viii be
left alone in the world. / have
thought of various plans for her, but
none satisfied me till l recalled your
words, spoken when we last parted:
"GOOdbye, Will, and if l can ever do
you a service, command me.'
81 write you now, asking you to re-
deem your promise, and be father to
my child. She is gentle, amiable and
affectiOnate, and cannot fail to win
your love. Transfer the affection
you felt for her father to the
child, and my heartfelt gratitude will
be yours.
az may live several weeks, perhaps
months, but shall feel easier know
ing that Grace is provided for, and
will receive your kind care and affec-
ton. l leave sufficient property to
pay all her expenses, and to provide
for her future wants.
ffThis letter will be forwarded to you
after my death, by my physician and
friend, DR.. Wharton, who will take
charge of Grace till YOU are able to
NOAlE lOl 4AEAs Jul O4h A44CAANf
WILBUR READE."
Accompanying this letter was
note from DR.. Wharton, stating that
/ Mr.. Reade died the week previous, and
/ that his daughter Grace was stopping
with himself and Mrs. Wharton; who
were her fathers friends. He added
/ that he had forwarded the enelOsedlet-
ter at Mr.. Reade's request, and should
be happy to see Mr.. Williams any
/ time when agreeable to himself.
Charles Williams sat for a few mo-
/ ments, wondering what he should do
with his young charge. He was a
bachelor of thirty, and it was rather
awkward for him to have the care of
a child. However, he would not re-
! fuse to take her, for her father and
himself had been ehums together.
True, Mr.. Reade was five years older
than Charles, but that had made no
difference in their friendship. So the
young man determined to start the
next day to bring the child home with
him.
He reached Andover early in the
afternoon, and found the house of DIR.
Wharton without difficulty. He in
| troduced himself to Mrs. Wharton,
who told MIN that Grace had gone to
| the cemetery, as was her daily custom
to carry flowers to place on her fathers
grave.
tiPerhaps, sir" said she, "yOu will
come in and wait her coming; she will
not be absent long"
'I think l will seek her, if you will
direct me to the cemetery returned
the young man.
"It's only a short distance from
here" said Mrs. Wharton. "HOu
must have passed it in coming from
/ the depot. 1t is about half way from
/ the station to this place. But as it is
at a distance from the street, you may
! not have noticed it,
az think did see il, j" said Mr.. Will
liams. "There is a group of trees near
/ the entrance, is there not >"
''Yes; it is a very pretty place.
] There is considerable shrubbery in the
part of it where Mr.. Reade is buried.
/ He took a good deal of pleasure in or
namenting the grounds .
/ Charles Williams walked slowly
down the street. 1t was q pleasant
afternoon, and ne preferred being out,
enjoying the day, to waiting the arri-
/ val OF MS young Ciiai S0 ~ NiiS iiO"9o vi
Mr.. Wharton.
He did not 90 at once to the ceme-
terv, but fingered near the river. On
one side was an elm-tree, whose
branches, many feet above him,
dropped gracefully over the water A
little farther down was rustic Drldge,
spanning the river, which was quite
shallow at this point.
He passed slowly on, and soon
reached the cemetery. He walked uI
the path, gazing around him at the
beauties Of the place. By sudeen
turn OF the walk, he came upon tht
! object of his search.
As he approached nearer, he found
that she had fallen asleep. He came
still nearer, and scanned her closely
She sat on the broad granite slab
her head pillOwed on her arm. In one
hand she held a rose, while her basket