Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-10-26

solemnly that the whole story is an in
famous falsehooj! That your wife is as
true to you to-day as she was the day
you left her."
"What do you mean, Robert"
cried frantically, ovetwhelmed by the
earnestness of his manner and words.
"What / say, Ralph, Ga, there has
been a great mistake! Hear my story.
After you left US, struggled on with
the business, though not succeeding
very we'll. Susy dropped at first, but
soon grew cheerful, and, after while,
began to plan for your return"
These words brought the dear little
creature so plain before my eyes that |
sank to the ground and covered my
face.
GAS weeks and months and years
passed on" he went on slowly, ''her
cheeks grew so thin and pale, and a
hungry look came into her eyes.
saw she was pining, and wrote letter
to you, but no word could we hear
There ceme to me in little letter d.
rected 20 both OF us, draft for s. 900,
with not word to tell how or from
whom it came. OF course we knew it
came from you, but whether gift or
legacy, who could tell 7 We instituted
new inquiries. Nothing that love
could suggest WAS left undone. At last
we we're forcsi to conclude that you
were dead. BY my advice the money
lance from San Francisco, and Susy
went out to live on it, while l started
out on wandering, vagabond sort of
a life in the hope of at least finding
your grave, for We never believed you
were alive all these long years and
never let US hear from you. That life
| have lived for fifteen years, returning
once in three or four years to see to
the comfort of Susy; and now ] have
found you"
"You have found me" I interrupted,
80 wreck--s miserable wretch. who
has blasted three lives by his criminal
weakness, his childish Gre dulity in be-
lieving evil, and who will soon rid the
earth OF his presence"
l started to 90, for, verify, despair
had seized upon me. That l should
have believed that horror for SO many
years, and find it q stupid mistake {;
that | should have thrown my life
away, tho blessed love of my true wife,
the warm affection of my brother, for
an idle scandal? 1! was too much for
me to endure.
Robert laid OBTAINING hand on my
arm as / moved away.
''But Susy, Ralph; what shall say
to the loving little woman who has
suffered 80 many long years for you p
Let her still believe rue dead, Rob
ert," replied gloomily.
"Nay, brother, let me rather restore
you to her. Ralph, go home, and let
us be so happy together as to partly
make up for these years of mistake
and grief"
WE'LL he teased me, and soon I was
eager enough myself. Now the gold
had despised was valuable, as it could
add to Susy's comfort. l gathered i,
up, and we started for home. Home
| had not spoken tho word for fifteen
years.
AS we went, Robert tried to prepare
me for change in Susy.
"She has had life of sorrow as well
as you, my dear brother, and you
must remember she isn't the girl OF
eighteen you lett She i, nearly forty
years old"
As | drew near l seemed to grow
young again, and | wanted to rush
through without stopping minute.
But Robert refused; he wanted to get
me into civilized clothes and under the
hands Of barber. He wouldn't take
such a wild man of the woods to a lit
tie waiting wife.
So We stopped few hours in San
Francisco. | had my long white hair
| and beard trimmed, and my dress ar
ranged to suit Robert, and fastened on
| toward home.
AS we approached the blessed spot
where my darling lived | could scarce
ly breathe, and dreaded to Tighten
her to death. In sight of the house, |
sent Robert ahead to tell her, and |
basely hid in the shrusbery where |
could look through the open window.
There she was The same dainty
figure-the same lovely face; but dress
ed, oh, my God in widows weeds,
and her bonny brown hair sprirkled
with silver. | saw the rapid CONVERSE
ton. | saw the color come quickly to
her face, then leave it pale as death. l
saw her turn to the door and fly; l
sprang to meet her, and-and-
Well, | shouldn't like to tell about
that. And what said the little woman
when she knew that | had remained
away all these long years, had blaste 4
her life love, made deep misery for all
by my stupid belief of piece of gos-
sip that even to her repeated she sarank
from as though it would wither her
life9 With quiverlng lips she said
Dear Ralph, let us forget the past.
This dread suspicion has wrought It's
work OF sorrow upon us both. 1t has
been fearful mistake, but we may be
happy again in each others love"
800 -