Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 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
a child. bent and kissed the lips already
growing cold, but about them, as she
did so, crept 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, a yet heavier
one was laid there, the burden OIL
Orphanage. Her father had died when
Rodney was an infant. Now they two
were alone in the world.
She was but six years her broth er's
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 sometim es
her weary efforts seemed almost hope.
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 a
hurriedly scrawled note, telling her that
Rodney had gone to sea.
Il am tired of home and sister cod
die" he wrote. 81 am going to make
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 it.
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.
Fol 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 Ger life. Perhaps it took the
stronger holG for that yet it was not
strange that she lhould learn to love
DuntOn Dare.
He was man Of the world, rich and
handsome, cultivated and courteous.
1t was only singular that some unde-
fined attraction drew him 70 her. For
a time she refused TO admit that won
derful happiness into her hungering,
yearning heart. 1t almost seemed as
though III some way she were 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
Il 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
thought as pure and true as you. AL
most at the altar, [ 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 me! Do you wonder that I 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 a sudden, quick peal
at the bell.
She herself rose and opened the door,
but started back, as a shivering, half
clad man burst abruptly in upon her.
She uttered q slight scream when he
turned and laughed.
is that your welcome?" he said.
"Well, don't wonder that you didn't
know me; but it's Rodney all the
same"
rooney! 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
bing, in her arms. She drew him in
to the fire and the light, that she might
look at him through her fast-falling
tears.
1t was not sight to gladden. her
heart. There were traces of dissipa-
ton on the young face, look of pre-
mature age, and lines of hardness
almost of wickedness = about the
mouth.
"Who was the fellow Just went
away?" he asked. 1--WE been waiting
two hours for him to go. He came in
just as was about to come
He is q gentleman to whom I am
engaged, Rodney"
"Ho-ho! So that is the tide of af-