Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-04-15


not be for him. He got it, however, and
gave it into the trembling hands.
Yes, yes" said the old fellow, " It's
her writing, l know like her mothers
oh, how long it has been coming-but
now" and his poor, weak, shaking
hands vainly strove to open it.
Let me" said Georgia, kindly.
The old man let him take the letter,
and then said suddenly, but in a low,
even tone: "Hold on, Georgia"
Georgia paused.
Georgia" said the old fellow, look
ing him steadily in the eye, you've
been kind to me--very kind-and I've
got nothing to show for it--nothlng but
confidence. I'm going to tell you some
thing, Georgia, and then-then you can
read that letter and you'll understand
all the good news 1t contains"
He paused moment and closed his
eyes. Then he continued:
Georgia, l was a likely sort of
young chap years ago--not such good
for-nothing galoot az | am now, and /
married, Georgla-married the best girl
IN old Pennsylvania. Twas mighty hap
py-too happy, partner-that's what
made it go 50 hard when she died. We
had one child-a girl-and we called her
Alchemy wife's name. She was a wee
little thing when her mother died, and
80 very, very pretty. 1t was hard lines
on me, Georgia, and somehow | got to
drinking. | know it did ne no good and
| know it wasn't right, but a man doesn't
reason much when he's desperate like,
and so l drank and drank. l sold out
everything and put my little girl-my
little Alice--with my wifes brother. He
had a family of his own, and what could
a lonely, broken-hearted man like me do
for dear little girl? Georgia, if they'd
coined to me and talked good and gentle
| they could have made man out Of nee,
but they didn't. They wouldn't let me
come into their house, and they said
that I'd killed my wife by drinking.
Georgia, it was liza damnable lie.
| never drank drop till she died, and /
wouldn't have done it then if I'd had any
| one to sympathize with me. But /
hadn't; / was alone in the world-alone
With my great grief, and -" and the
old mans voice broke, and his poor thin
hands went nervously over the blanket,
while two tears stole from his hot
ed cheeks, lost themselves in the gray
hairs of his beard.
"Well, Georgia., he said presently,
they got an order from the court Civ
ing the guardianship of my child my
Alice, to her uncle, because they said
was unfit to take care of her. Georgia,
if but one kind word had been said-only
one--I wouldn't have been the fool L
was. Well, l left and came west. 1
stopped drinking. l have never touched |
a drop since Alicewas taken from me.
You believe me, Georgia.
'Yes," said Georgia.
CATER while / wrote to her uncle, |
and l told him of my new life, and asked |
him if | couldn't at Last write to my lit
tie girl. That was in 81, and she was
ten years old. He took no notice of my
letter.
"He's a." broke in Georgia, but |
suddenly checked himself before con-
GLIDING.
"Then | thought perhaps he hadn't |
got 1t, so l got my money together and !
went east But he had Georgia; he had. |
1t was no use, though. He wouldn't be-
heve in me, and wouldn't let me see my
little girl He said she wouldn't never
know but what he was her father, at |
least until she was of age l tried the !
c, urts, but / spent all my money with |
ont changing the decree. Then | gave
it up and came back west again. gain
ed one thing, though. The Judge said
that when Alice was twenty-one, she !
should be offered the choice of coming
to me, her father, or remaining with her
guardian | had to rest satisfied, and |
worked and worked to get money for my
little girl | scrimped some, Georgia,
but there's nearly $4,000 III The bank |
Ior her now, and the old mans voice |
and manner were full of pride.
''She was twenty-one last June, and
I've been waiting for her letter knew |
it would come. oh, Georgia, if she only /
knew how | have worked for her; how [
have waited, all alone, but still working
and waiting; but she has written now,
and tomorrow, Georgia-to-m morrow, or
next day, l must start east. We will
be very, very happy together, and-but
read her letter-you know all Row" and
tie lids closed again over the feyered
eyes, and the poor old man softly muir
INJURED, Little Alice, little Alice"
Georgia tore open the envelope aud un-
folded the letter, and the old man feebly
drew nearer in joyful, happy eagerness.
any uncle" read Georgia, unsteadily, "has
informed me of your relationship to me-
have only to sag that / regret that the man
whose habits killed my mother should also lear
the title of my father. 1slncerey hope that the
Almighty vii pardon where we cannot.
ALICE HARMER."
Georgia turned towards the old man.