Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-03-12

hand to him, and said, "John, dc you
know me?"
The voice seemed to strike him with a
sharp, stunning shock. He quivered, held
his breath, stared into the eyes of the ques-
TONER, and then, suddenly becoming un,
naturally cool and collected, said, "Is il
you, William?"
The two who stood back had once been
johns warmest friends They now came
forward, and with such words as they
| could command told the story of Will
| Jams sudden return, and sought for them
| selves forgivness for the cruel and false
suspicion which had so long estranged
| them from their friend.
John seemed to hear this as one in a
| dream. He talked with William and the
men IN a manner that seemed strangely
coia ana Indifferent, about where William
haG Deen Voyaging so long in distant seas,
ana OF MS strange absence. A quarter OF
an hour passed away. The men proposed
that john should go with them to their
homes, and said there would be gather
ing OF friends there. They pressed the
invitation with warmth and such true feel
ing as our voices express when dear
1rlend has been greatly wronged and we
oChuOW16ugG II.
John said absently in reply that he did
not know. He looked uneasily around as
II IN search of something, perhaps his hat.
He essayed to rise from his chair, but
could not; and in moment he fell back
ashy pale: fainting and breathless. The
men had not looked for this, but, accus-
TONED as they were to the rough life of the
wilderness, they were not alarmed. They
Idnne0 fhp taIOtinn with &hpir ctray
hats, and as soon as water could be found
applied 1t to his hands and face. He soon
partially recovered, and, looking up, said
IN broken voice: "Give me little time,
boys" At this hint the two old friends,
who were now crying, stepped out OF the
door and cousin William sat down out
upon the doorstep.
John found that little time was not
enough. He had travelled too long and
far III that fearful desert of loneliness
easily or quickly to return. A nervous
fever followed the shock he received, and
for two months he did not leave the home
stead and was confined to his bed. But
the old house was not lonely. The men
and women came, both his old friends and
some newcomers, and tried to make up to
him in some degree the love and sympa-
thy he had so long missed. But for many
days it was evident that their kindness
panied and oppressed him.
cit appears like" said Pete, that a
rough word don't hurt him, but kind
one he can't stand" And this was true
His soul was fortified against hatred and
contempt, but kind voice, or a gentle
caress, seemed to wound him so that he
would sob like infant.
AS he recovered from his illness he
continued gentle, kind, and shrinking, to
fault. By the operation of some spirit
ual law that do not fully comprehend,
he was, after his recovery, one of those
who win a strange affection from others.
His influence seemed like a mild fascina-
ton 1t was said of him in after years
that he was more truly loved, and by
more people, than any other man or
woman in all the settlements round.
Children loved him with a passionate at
tachAent, and the woman of child-like
nature whom he made his wife is said to
have died of grief at his death. He de-
parted this life at the age of thirty-eight
years, and he sleeps on the edge of the
great valley, with his mother and his
wife beside him-Atl0ntGc MOnthlg.