The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1876-10-06

even cited his utter REIMBURSEMENT OF
the visible property as proof that he
was remunerated by that which was
unseen.
His friends forsook him; one by one
dropping off. unable to vouch for. his
innocence. His health failed, and
if il had not. he could have witnessed
the nublic sale which was now an
nounced, of his household treasures.
He had tortured himself by throw
inc into his creditors hands even lit
lie trifing mementoes of the past-lit-
orally leaving everything in his house,
save his own clothing and his private
desk, which, whatever others thought,
contained little but family letters, and
the miniature of little child, with a
curl of golden hair at the back of the
locket. That child Oh, if he could
but now recall the past If he had
but spoken kindly and forgivingly,
that child might now have been near
to save his gray hairs from shame and
disgrace.
There was, as we have said, public
sale. 1t comprised the store and
household goods, and included val
liable horse, which Mrs. Phillips fail
ing health had induced him to buy,
and which he would not part with
after her death. The man had ten
der spot in his heart after all. His
first question, when the man who had
been his clerk came into his solitary
room at boarding house, the night
after the sale, was -
"Who bought Fleetwood 2"
4 did not know the man, sir. He
was stranger. There were many
strangers there, and | did not learn
the name of him who purchased the
horse. He was in the house a good
part of the time, and [ noticed that
he bid for a number of things
4 hope Fleetwood has kind mas
ter" observed Nj. Phillips, after a
pause.
The clerk was going, but returned,
after a short parley with some one at
the door.
Heres man, sir, who wishes you
to meet him at the house you occu-
pied, at half-past nine this evening"
''N hat can any one want of me
there 3 said Mr.. Phillips, with an un-
easy gesture.
4 cannot tell. sir. | did not know
the man, but from the dim glance |
had of him at the door, should say
it was the man who was bidding upon
the horse when | came away, and the
same who bought Fleetwood"
Il must go, suppose yet, if he is
a gentleman, should hardly think he
would expose me to the pain of going
there"
Mr.. Phillips walked to his own
house with trembling steps. He
looked old and feeble, like a man who
had numbered twice his years. He
reached the door that once opened to
his familiar touch and rang the bell.
The woman who had so long kept his
house opened it, and ushered him to
the sittting-room, from which, years
ago, he had ordered his boy from his
sight forever.
This thought flashed into his mind,
and was more vivid from the circum-
stance of his own armchair being re-
moved out of its ordinary place, and
set in the middle of the room, and
low chair directly in front of it, on
which Samuel had leaned in passionate
weeping. The boy on that night, had
left his cap hanging on the corner of
that low chair and, as if to deepen
the fathers anguish tonight, a boys
cap hung there again. How well he
remembered it How he shook with
the memories that rose up to his mind.
His fearful eyes scarcely took in the
figure of noble looking gentleman
who now entered the room, and de-
sired him to walk around the house.
every piece of furniture as in its old
place. In his own chamber, the little
arrangements of his dressing.table were
precisely as they always were; and in
a little bedroom beside it, were the two
small beds in which his boys used to
sleep.
He looked up at his conductor
through his fast falling tears. Some
thing in his face, in the bright, flash
ing eyes of the stranger, went to his
heart. They had returned to the sit
ting room, and the stranger held his
hand with a warm, loving grasp. He
heard the words, This is all yours,
dear father - and then the two men
sank together upon their knees, while
the younger breathed out a fervent
thanksgiving that he had been spared
to comfort and console him in his hour
of adverse fortune.
Stung with his fathers cruel words,
Samuel Phillips had deserted his home,
and, driven almost to desperation, had
wandered away from the place that
knew him, to a far city. Providence
raised UP friends to the desolate boy.
He found himself trusted, honOred, re-
spected and at the death of one who
had been as a father to him, he be-
came wealthy. He saw the notice of
the sale IN newspaper-hurried on to
prevent it, and arrived only when it
had already commenced.
He had heard of his mother S death,
and from that time resolved never to
return. But when he found that his
father was in real distress, all was for
gotten, save the thOughtthath he might be
lntlme to save him from open disgrace
or actual want. Everything had fall
en- into his hands, for the by-standers
saw that he was determined to possess
all, they gave way to his evident de-
sire and ability to crafty it.
The reconciliation was complete.
The pride of the father was subdued.