The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1878-08-10

These words brought the dear little
creature SO plain before my eyes, that I
sank TO the ground and covered my face.
As weeks and months and years
passed on" he went on slowly, cher
cheeks grew thin and pale, and hungry
look came into her eyes. | saw she was
plnlng, and wrote letter after you, but
no word could we hear. There came to
me IN little envelope, directed to both of
US, draft of five thousand dollars, with
not word to tell how or from whom it
came. OF course we knew it was from
you, bnt whether gift or legacy, who
could tell?
We instituted new inquiries. Moth
ing that love could suggest was left I'M
done. At last we were forced to con-
Guide you were dead. By my advice
| the money was invested in a small farm
some distance from San Francisco, and
Susy went to live on it, while [ started
out on sort of vagabond wandering
life, IN hopes at least to find your grave,
for we never believed you were alive
these long years, and never let us hear.
That life | have lived for fifteen years,
returning once in three or four years to
see to the comfort of Susy; and now l
find you"
You find me-" | interrupted, ga
wreck-a miserable wretch, who has
blasted three lives by his criminal weak
ness, his childish creduity in believing
evil, and who will soon rid the earth of
his presence" and [ started to go, for
despair had seized upon me.
That | should have believed that hor-
ror for so many years, and find it a
stupid mistake; that | should have
thrown away my life, the blessed love
OF my true wife, the warm affection of
my brother, for an idle scandal. 1t was
too much to endure
Robert laid a OBTAINING hand on my
arm.
But Susy, Ralph! what shall | say
to the loving woman who has suffered so
much for your
Let her still believe me dead" [ said
gloomily.
Nay, brother; let me rather restore
you to her Ralph, go home, and let us
be SO happy together as to partly make
up for these years of m istakes and error
and grief"
Well, he persuaded me, and soon I was
eager enough myself Now the gold l
had despised was valuable, as it could
add to Susy's comfort. | gathered it up,
and we started for home.
HomeI | had not spoke the word for
fifteen years.
As we went, Robert tried to prepare
me for a change in Susy.
"She has had a life of sorrow as we'll
as you, Ralph, and you must remember
she isn't the girl of Is you left. She is
nearly 40 years old"
As [ drew near, | seemed to grow
young again, and | wanted to rush
through without stopping moment. But
Robert refused; and he wanted to get
me into civilized clothes, and under the
hands Of a barber. He wouldn't take
such q wild man of the woods home to
little wife.
So we stopped few hours in San
Francisco. | had my long white hair
and beard trimmed, and my dress ar
ranged to suit Robert, and fastened on
toward home
As we approached the blessed spot
where my darling lived, | could scarce
ly breathe, and dreaded to brighten her
to death. In sight of the house, | sent
Robert ahead to tell her, and | basely
hid in the shrubbery, where l could look
into the window.
There she was. the same dainty figure
the same lovely face; but dressed, oh,
my Godl in widows weeds, and her
bonny brown hair thickly sprinkled with
silver.
saw the rapid, eager conversation. |
saw the color come quickly to her face,
then leave it pale as death. saw her
turn to the door, and fly. And / sprang
to meet her, and-and-
Well, | can't tell about that.
And what said the little women, when
she knew that had staid away all these
long years, had blasted her life, disap-
pointed our brothers life love, made
deep misery for four, by my stupid belief
of a piece of gossip that even to hear re-
peated she shrank from as though it
would wither her life. With guivering
lips she said:
"Dear Ralph, let us forget the past.
This dread suspicion has wrought its
work of sorrow upon US both. 1t has
been fearful mistake, but we may again
be happy in each others love-"