River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-05-11

encouragement to Mary Trefoil, he rode
away.
On Thanksgiving day, nearly a month
later, he came back.
"Helloln said Doctor Fitch. "Why
Mary, you look like different crea-
ture.
Mrs. Glover mad gone to church with
I her so1 Daniel and Father" all un-
dismayed by the occasional fakes OF
snow, which were beginning to hutter
through the air, and the bowling of the
wind down the glen.
Mary Trefoil was tripping around
the kitchen, with an unwonted tinge of
color in her cheeks, and her soft,
brown hair parted from her forehead,
and red ribbon tied at the side. She
stopped, with a milking in her hand,
and looked at Doctor Fitch, brightly.
81 am like different creature, sir, y
said she; "thanks to you"
$50 it's all going right, eh ?" said the
doctor. "You like The place."
81 am perfectly happy here" said
Mary. "But, oh, doctor, | have no
one to consult, and I've asked myself
the question so many times over that
everything seems distorted in my eyesl
/ wonder if / might dare to speak out
my mind 10 you ?"
what on earth is the girl talkiNg
aboutY' said Doctor Fitch.
'IfI could only see the prison chap
lain"
"Come, I'll officiate as prison chap
lain, for the time being" said Doctor
Fitch, good humoredly. "Out with
your troubled What is it?"
"Well, tit isn't exactly a trouble, !"
confessed Mary, busying herself with
polishing the great red apples which
were to be the browning glory of the
dessert. "But / think am almost
certain-that Daniel Glover is getting
fond Of me?'
"Hal-lol" said the doctor.
ooh, DOCTOR" faltered poor Mary,
fought to tell him all p
"Hold your tongue" said the doctor,
brusquely. ga close mouth makes a
wise head! You say you are innocent
of all those charged
az was Innocent" cried Mary. 81 am
innocent p
every WE'LL" said DR.. Fitch; "then
you are as good as he is"
And, with few kindly words, he rode
on.
But as Mr.. and Mrs. Glover we're COM
ing leisurely home from church, with
Daniel sauntering behind, sullen-eyed
tramp slouched up to the former,
touching his cap.
"Be you the grist- mill mani" said
he.
II am the miller, FRIEND" said MFR.
Glover"
"Well, then" said the dusty footed
stranger, sit is my bounden duty to tell
you that you're harboring prison-bird
in your home"
"Whats' cried old Mrs. Glover.
II knows it, blamed WE'LL" asserted
the man, "'cos / was in quod at the
same time she was. Theft for she, and
drunk and disorderly for me. And |
wouldn't have bowed on her, but she
refused me drink of cider, and would
not let me in to warm my feet. l amt
no tale bearer; but there's some things
as flesh and blood won't bear"
"He stalked on, muttering to himself,
while Mr. and Mrs. Glover and Daniel
stared at each other in Mortified amaze
ment.
"Mother, is it truef" said Daniel.
"It can't be-" said the old lady
"Ask herself" said the miller,
grimly.
Mary met them at the door, with
radiant smile. The dinner was all
ready; the humble array of silver and
china sparkled on the board; the fire
blazed upon the clean-swept hearth.
81 am so glad you have come back"
said she. mot that was afraid to be
alone, but there was an Unlocking man
along Just now Oh, why do you
look at me so strangely? Is anything
the matter"
"There is much the matter" said
the old miller, sternly. "Answer me,
girl"
Gather, you shall not be harsh to
her." said Daniel Glover. Come
here, Mary. Lean on me. Nay, do
not tremble so. What is there to be
afraid off We all know that the brute
spoke hes!'
sis it lie," faltered Mrs. Glover,
"that you-you were in PRISON."
cit is no lie," said May, tn ming
deadly white. II served a sentence in
Exmouth prison; but-but l never was
guilty. Circumstances were against
me. /"
''Then," sternly uttered the old man,
"you must leave this house."
eff she goes, father" said Daniel
Glover, firmly. II go with her. For
| I trust her. | believe in her."
"Daniel, are you crazy? said his
| mother.
At that moment, Doctor Fitch rode
up, looking flushed and excited, yet
pleased withal He sprung of his
horse and walked into the house, look
ing keenly about him.
"Good people," said he, what is all
this about?"
"We have just heard" walled Mrs.
Glover, 4" that our Mary is a convict"
"Pshaw" said Doctor Fitch. $50 it
has got around to your ears, has it
Well, have just heard that she isn't.
have come from the hospital ward.
A man was brought in, fatally wound
ed in liquor saloon ARRAY. | exam
ined his hurts. MY man, said I, if
you have any fairs to settle, they had
better be settled at once, tor you have
not six hou1s to live Said he, IF l
am dying, there's one or two things |
would like to say And then, in sol
emn confession, he said, among other
black and wicked revelations, that he
was one of the burglars in the famous
Chartens case that he hid the silver
in Mary Trefoirs trunk, when, at last,
he found himself unable to carry it all
away, she being seamstress in the Char
tens family, and entirely ignorant of
the whole thing-that he was too close
| ly tracked to contrive to return, and so
she was convicted through circumstan-
tial evidence, being, to use the wretch's
own words, 'a5 innocent as a baby all
the time. He is dying man now, I'M
der the chaplain's care, but he does his
best to right you, Mary Trefoil, in the
sight of the world"
MARY" said the miller, 81 was wrong
Just now when spoke up so sudden,
4 81 II