Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-01-15

At first Conner could not even be-
lieve It lost. He searched every corner
of the room, shook his quilt and blank
cts, and begged those about him to
"quit joking, and give it back"
But at last he realized the truth.
as any man that bad that it's thaved
from me?" he asked, in a breathless
way. "Boys, is any man that bad ?"
And some one answered: "No doubt
of it, Conner it's sthole."
Then Connor put his head down on
his hands and lifted up his voice and
wept. 1t was one.of those sights which
men never forget. 1t seemed more
than he could bear to have Nora and
his child "put," as he expressed it,
months away from him again"
But when he went to work that day
it seemed to all who saw him that he
had picked up new determination.
His hands were never idle. His face
seemed to say, t'Tll have Nora with me
yet"
At noon he scratched cut letter,
blotted and very strangely scrawled,
telling Nora what had happened and
those who observed him noticed thathe
had no meat with his dinner. Indeed,
from that moment he lived on bread,
potatoes, and cold water, and worked as
few men ever worked before. 1t grew
to be the talk of the shop, and, now that
sympathy was excited, every one want
ed to help Connor. Jobs were thrown
in lis way, kind words and friendly
wishes helped him nightly but no
power could make him share the food
or drink of any other workman. 1t
seemed sort of charity with him.
Still he was helped along. A present
from Mr.. Bawne at payday, set Nora
as he said, zone week nearer" and this
and that added to the little hoard. 1t
grew faster than the first, and Connor's
burden was not SO heavy. AT last, he
had hoped it, he was oEce more able to
say, II am going to bring them over"
and to show his handkerchief, in which,
as before, he tied up his earnings; this
time, however, only to his friends. eau
tious among strangers, he hid the treas
ure, and kept his vest buttoned over it
night and day until the tickets were
bought and sent. Then every man,
woman and child, capable of hearing or
understanding, knew that Nora and her
baby were coming.
There was John Jones, who had more
of the brute in his composition than
usually falls to the lot of man, would
spend ten minutes of the noon hour in
reading the Irish news to Conner.
There was Tom Barker, the meanest
man in the number, who had never
been known to give anything to any one
before, absolutely bartered an Old jacket
for a pair of gilt vases, which an old ped
der brought in his basket to the shop,
and presented them to Conner for his
Nora's mantel-piece. And here was idle
Dick, the apprentice, who actually
worked two hours on Connor's work,
when illness kept the Irishman home
one day. Conner felt this Kindness and
returned it whenever it was in his pow.
er, and the days flew by and brought at
last letter from his wife.
"She would start as he desired, and
she was we'll and so was the boy, and
might the Lord bring them safely to
each others arms, and bless them who
had been so kind to him." That was
the substance of the epistle which Con-
nor proudly assured his fellow workmen
Nora wrote herself. She had lived at
service, as girl, with a certain good
old lady, who had given her the items
of an education, which Conner told upon
his fingers: "The radin', that's one, the
writin', that's three, and, moreover, she
knows all that a woman cam" Then he
looked up with tears in his eyes, and
asked, "Do you wondher the time
seems longxbetween me an her, boys"
So it was, Nora at the dawn of day.
Nora at noon,-Nora at night,-until
the news came that the Stormy Petrol
had come to port, and Conner, breath
less and pale with excitement, flung
up his cap in the air and shouted.
1t happened on holiday afternoon,
and half dozen men were ready to go
with Conner to the steamer and give
his wife a greeting. Her little home
was ready; Mr.. Bawne's own servants
had put it in order, and Connor took
one peep in at it before he started.
"She hadn't the like Of that in the ould
counthry," he said, ''but she'll know
how to keep them tidy"
Then he led the Way towards the dock
where the steamer lay, and at pace
that made it hard for the rest to follow
him. The spot was reached at last;
crowd of vehicles blockaded the street;
a troop Of emigrants came throDging
up; fine cabin passengers were stepping
into cabs; and drivers, porters, and all
manner of employees were yelling and
shouting in the usual manner. Nora
would wait on board for her husband;
he knew that.
The little group made their way into
the vessel at last, and there. among
those who sat watching for coming
friends, Conner searched for the two so
dear to him; patiently at first-eagerly
but patiently-but by and by growing
anxious and excited.
''She would never 60 alone" he said,
/ "she'd be lost entirely; I babe her wait,
but don't see her boys; l think she's
not in it."
"Why don't you see the captain ?"
asked oue, and Common jumped at the
suggestion. In few minutes he stood
before a portly, rubicand man, who nod
ded to him kindly.
81 am looking for my wife, yer hon.
or" said Conner, land can't find her"
perhaps she's gone ashore" said the
captain.
81 babe her watt" said Conner.
"Women don't always do as they are
bid, you know" said the captain.
''Nora would" said Connor; but
maybe she was left behind. Maybe she
didn't come. 1 somehow think she
didn't"
At the name of Nora the captain
started. In a moment he asked, "What