The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-05-24
AN UNHAPPY MAN.


lis. the other returned Californian who had
been absent from New York for six years
It would be hard to imagine stronger
contrast than these friends presented to each
other. Tom Bayley, the merchant was a
slight dappcr little man, with blue eyes and
blond whiskers, whose face was the very I'M
personation of good nature and frank kind
ness His companion, TALL dark and heavily
bearded, was evidently bowed down by some
bitter sorrow, some deep, ever present grief
that clouded his large dark eyes, and made
even his smile seldom seen.
"Aud now," said TOm "tell me something
of yourself. | hear you are to be congratu-
lated upon a legacy from your uncle, OF an
odd half million or So"
mot quite so much as that, Tom, four hun
dred thousend, if you want the figures"
'"Quitc enough for congratulations" was
the smiling reply.
Congratulations said the other bitterly,
81 am no subject for those, if you knew all
my history"
Tom looked sympathetic His friend had
been away so long that he scarcely knew how
or where to bestOw the coincidence evidently
expected, so he only looked sorrowfully into
the sad face before him.
"You never knew my wife" said Ralph
WentZ, after moment OF silence. Our
meetings were generally in business quarters,
and Ellie was not strong, so never bothered
her much with company When the crash
came that swept away business and credit
we had lovely home in Harlem, and was
the happy father of two sweet little girls, two
and three years old. My creditors were entl,
tied to all possessed, and was trying to ma
q situation as clerk in a dry goods house,
when my uncle and godfather wrote to me
from San Francisco, that he would start me
in business there if would come on there
alone He was a savage old bachelor, and
wanted no women and children around him,
though he graciously agreed to their coming
when | was sufficiently wellestablshed in
business to have home OF my own. Ellie
and held many an anxious discussion DC
fore decided to leave her, but finally re-
solved to go for year, leaving Ellie at her
mothers in Philadelphia.
"FOr year all went well, and my uncle
consented to allow me to start home for my
wife and little ones. ] wrote to Ellie to meet
me in New York, and proposed to sail ny the
Labrador. The day the steamer LETT l was
seized with malarous fever, and lay for weeks
at the point of death When recovered, the
first news heard was the loss of the Labra-
dor with all on board.
81 wrote to Ellie at once, and found that
during my illness she had written me an an
swer to my last saying she would meet me,
and telling me of the sudden death OF her
mother.
"No answer came to my letter. and as soon
as | was able | sailed for New York. traced
nv wife from Philadelphia to Il boarding
house here, where | was informed that she
had the smallpox and was taken to the hos
pital. The children were sent away, nobody
could tell where.
''TOm, never knew any mOre-Money, in
quiries advertisements, were all lavished in
vain. The records of the hospital show the
death of two women named Wentz so there
seems little doubt of poor Ellie's fate, but
about the children | could learn nothing.
Every ste amer brought me urgent recalls from
my uncle, and finally returned to San Fran
CISCO. My uncle Is dead. am rich, There
is my story.-Judge if millions of money can
make me happy"
at is very sad But now you are free and
wealthy. You may yet find your little girls
out"
ALAS fear they are dead; perhaps beg
ging in the streets. They were such mere
babies, Tom, such mere babies!"
There was deep silence, when there rose
on the clear frosty air the music Of u chime
Of bells playing Christmas hymn.
christmas eve" said Ralph, sadly.
eyes, Christmas eve" echoed his compan
ion.
Come, we have finished dinner. Suppose
We take stroll up Broadway, and spend a
dollar or two on beggars. Come"
Arm in arm they sauntured in the street,
talking earnestly, till they found themselves
in the brilliantly lighted quarters where the
retail stores were doing II thriving business.
Crowds were hurrying in all directions Dis
tracted shopkcepers were trying to make one
pair of hands do the work of ten. Family
men were hurrying home with delightfully."-
suggestive paroles under their arms, in their
overcoat pockets, and swinging from their
fingers. Children were spending the boarded
pennies of month.
Al one of the gay windows of a large toy
shop two children were standing who attract
ed the eyes of Ralph and Tom at once by
their little faces. They were neatly dressed
in blue, with blue hoods round their golden
curls, butthcir clothes were of coarse material,
and carefully patched and darned Wooden
mittens covered their fingers, and coarse
boots their feet.
Did you ever see such angelic faces =" said
Tom. Come nearer"
Drawing nearer, they heard the oldest of
the children, a demurc little damsel of eight
years, say gravely-
"lf only Santa Claus knew we had moved,
sister, he might come yet"
mo, nurse said he couldn't, because nam
ma was sick Minnie"
But when she gets well!"
Then il won't be Christmas. Ii won't be
much like Christmas now, without Santa
Claus, will ity"
"Who is that talking about me ~ said Tom
in a gruff voice. "Who is talking about Santa
CLAUSE"
"Oh! oh ~ cried both the children, looking
up.
But you amt Santa Claus" said Minnie.
Giles ever so old"
"Thats my father. He's awful busy to
night, 50 he sent me 10 find some of his pets,
and was to look especially for Minnie-Mn.
nie-what was the name!'
Minnie WentZw cried the child eagerly.
"and this is sister Ellie"
Ralph Ralph for Heavens sake bear up"
cried Tom, as his friend reeled against him
as if fainting-
Come inside"
Grasping Minnie with one hand, and half
carrying Ralph with the other, Tom pushed
his way into the crowded store The shock