River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-02-16
EDNA'S TRUST.

"Rember, Edna, it is a sacred charge,
my child. You must be mother and
sister to my poor boy. Whatever may
be his future, let your breast be his
shield, my darling, as mine would have
been, had God so willed it."
They were sacred, solemn words, the
more so that she who uttered them was
dying. The girl to whom they were
addressed, herself scarcely more than
child. bent and kissed the lips already
growing cold, but about them, as she
did so, crept a smile. Something In the
silent, worthless touch assured the moth
er-heart that the burden had been
already lifted upon these DER young
shoulders.
Ere the day dawned, yet heavier
one was laid there, the burden of
orphanage. Her father had died when
Rodney was an infant. Now they two
were alone in the world.
she was but six years her brothers
senior, this tall, slender girl of seven
teen. How could she hope to guild
him Ia strong, self-willed boy), always
in the right way.
'Mother will help me-" she would
say, softly, to herself, when sometimes
less, and the very utterance of the
words brought courage.
She had need of all her courage, all
her bravery, when, three years later,
she waited in vain for Rodney's home
coming, until at last, white and sick
with anxiety, they brought to her
hurriedly scrawled note, telling her that
Rodney had gone to sea.
g. Il TOW NJ
de-" he wrote. 81 am going to make
a man of myself"
Oh, in what had she failed she ask
ed herself. If her mother had lived,
surely this would not have happened,
though for two years Rodney had
threatened 1t.
Desolate indeed was the little home
now Her income, though small, was
sufficient for her needs. She need IN
no way exert herself to live, so that she
had more time for wearying, racking
thought.
During the years that followed, letters
came to her now and then from distant
ports-letters that caused her heart to
grow sadder, heavier, as they marked
his growth into dissipation and lawless-
ness. Then they ceased altogether.
For four years she heard no word.
Her boy would be eighteen now, did he
live. She woman of twenty-four-a
woman who could not sit at home with
folded hands, and pray and weep. 1t
was a strange time for romance to
creep into her life. Perhaps it took the
stronger hold for that yet it was not
strange that she should learn to love
Dunton Dare.
He was man of the world, rich and
handsome, cultivated and courteous.
It was only singular that some unde-
fined attraction drew him to her. For
a time she refused 10 admit that won
derful happiness into her hungering.
warming heart. 1t almost seemed as
though in some way she we're forget
ting her promise to the dead. She was
happy and secure, her brother, per-
haps, in want-perhaps in misery and
despair. But youth and hope cried out
against this selfinficted torture, and
love gained the victory.
az want you, darling" Dunton plead
ed. "For nearly forty years | have
lived my life alone; for ten, until meet
ing YOU, have had no trust in woman.
Ten years ago, was engaged to one L
thought as pure and true as you. AL
most at the altar, l found that she
loved another, and was marrying me
but for my gold. Thank God it was not
too late for us to draw back Thank
God life is once more full of sweetness
to mel Do you wonder that | can
spare so little of its full measure?"
Thus he gained her promise that in
the spring she would become his wife.
1t was winter then, and one evening,
after her lover had left her, and she sat
before the fire, brooding over her hap
piness, there came sudden, quick peal
at the bell.
She herself roe and opened the door,
but started back, as shivering, half
clad man burst abruptly in upon her.
She uttered slight scream when he
turned and laughed.
''is that your welcomeY he said.
"Well, don't wonder that you didn't
know me; but it's Rodney all the
same"
Rodney? Yes, she knew the voice,
the laugh, though in naught else could
she trace resemblance, in this tall man.
to her boy.
One instant, she hesitated, then she
sprang forward and caught him, sob
bling. in her arms. She drew him III
to the fire and the light, that she might
look at him through her fast-falllng
tears.
1t was not sight to gladden. heI
heart. There were traces of dissipa
ton on the young face, a look of pre-
mature age, and lines of hardness
almost of wickedness = about the
mouth.
"Who was the fellow just wen
awav ?" he asked. 1--WE been waiting
two hours for him to go. He came il
Just as was about to come
'.He is a gentleman to whom | an
engaged, Rodney"
aHo-ho! So that is the tide of af
fairs. Has he money? I hope SO.
might find rich brother-in-law con
venient."
'0h, RodEey, hush," entreated Ed
ma.
Again he laughed, a coarse, loud
laugh.
"Money's not such bad thing" he
said. Which reminds me, by-the-way
I'm in need of some to-night-two hun
dred dollars, Edna-and | must have
it, too. It's money that owe"
1.-TWO hundred dollars, Rodney
Yes, dear. There are fifteen hundred
living to your credit in the bank. III
your own, Rodney. It's what yol
would have had, had you been a
home. There are five hundred besides
that have saved up from my expenses
Together, Rodney, 1t might quite Sc
you up in business
''No business for me, i" ne answered
But it's a snug windfall for all that
and glad enough am to get 1t. Here
give me your check for the. amount
Tn draw what l need, and leave tn
rest. And | say. Edna, the less 70
saw about my return yet awhile the bet
ter. I've no fancy to having my orotnel
in-law begin by looking down on me
and when / do return, I've got a nc
tion TO return like a gentleman. L
oct what / need with this money, an