Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-10-21

deace il him, and never upbraiic,i him
upon the sui'ject. think he would
have said much mere to NE on this,
our last evening together, bDt, seeing
how lis words hurt ne, lie remained
moody and silent for while; then, tax
ing me tcnderly in his arms, he kissed
II 9 goodnight. and, murmuring some
excuse about leaving ne so early, was
gone. 1 never saw him afterward.
Next morning it was found that be
and the enticing beauty had gone to-
/ Relher--whither, no one knew, hot even
Freds parents, who were overcome
with grief at the conduct of their once
noble boy. Afterward I heard of bis
marriage and his mothers death.
Then l worked day and night and .ried
to forget my sorrow, and two years later
Daisy came to cheer my lonely life.
But "a sharp tinklipg of the bell
stopped ny revery, and fastened into
the shop, where was confronted by a
gentleman-a rather unusual cccnr-
rence--very tail and very broad; he
was dressed Ill suit of gray, wore u
gray hat, and his hair, mustache and
long beard were also tinged with gray
He asked for some trife. and, while
making his selection, watched me mar.
rowly; but he paid for the article with
out saying anything further, and pas ssed
! ont Just as two or three other custom
ers came III.
For some time | was occupied. When
again at leisure, l happened to think OF
the stranger-and Of Daisyl Ihastened
to the window to call the child, when
there stood the "gray gentleman"
talking pleasantly with her. l called
to her to come in. She obeyed, and the
gentleman followed her closely. met
them inside the store door.
pardon me, ms'am, but whose child
is this? inquired the stranger.
felt my cheeks burn painfully, but
promptly replied
Mine, sir" and. turning to Daisy,
l whispered: IRAN upstairs, dear,
until l call YOU
Your child ?" he questioned again.
Yes, sir; just the same as mine,'
said l. trembling violently, and busying
myself about the counter. "But YOU
are stranger to me. and have some
thing to attend to-" And / pointed
significantly toward the door.
"In one moment he returned,
quietly; "but | must know. Wasn't
the child left with you some eight years
ago."
| was looking steadily into his face;
something in his voice betrayed him,
and now the eyes grew strangely famil-
lar. l rceled forward, and would have
fallen at his feet, do believe, though
never tainted in my life, had not his
strong arm saved me.
"S!dney." he whispered. "have 1
grown SO old. ngly and gray. that you
have really and truly forgotten me ,"
Yes; it was indeed Fred como back
again! His wife had eloped with q
SpaDiard, aI,l died on her voyage to
Europe, less lhan three years after their
marriage.
And brought my little motherless
babe and lxid it at the door of the
woman who once loved me, knowing OF
no other IT, whom l would trust the
wee burden" explained Fred. at
may look like co oaardly thing to have
done, yet my motives were pure. /
knew your lonely life. and that, could
you learn to love the child. she would
save you many heart ache. Is it not
SO? My punishment has been almost
greater than could bear" continued
he. "And now, Sidney, you will
not deny me one look at my
child, and then. if you wish it, !
will go away and never return any
more. Bat listen, Sidney dearest" as
arose to call Daisy; ~ have not been
idle all these years. have home and
many comforts which 1 tffer you--you
and the child. Will you, can you, for
give the bitter past, and come and live
with me-be my little wife Just as we
planned in the days long past?"
couldn't mistake Fred's old manner
now. So just lsiG my head on his
shoulder, kissed his bearded cheek, and
said,-
Yes. Fred; we will go with you"
So We had quiet wedding in the old
church two months later, and every
body was surprised to See the little
shop closed and its mistress gone away
on her bridal tour; for they had all
given her up as an irretrievable old
maid Annie n Noland, in Waverley.
| He STOPPED HIS PAPER.-Thcre are
some oddities in newspaper life which
are illustrative Of character. Years ago