Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-02-10
EDNA,s TRUs1.


nv 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
i child. bent and kissed the lips already
growing cold, but about them, ~ she
did SO, crept Il 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, d 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 Xix years her brothers
senior, this tall, slender girl Of seven
teen. How could she hope to guild
him Ga strong, self-willed boyl, always
in the right way.
Mother will help me-" she would
SAY, softly, u herself, when sometimes
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
sho waited in vain for Rodneys home
coming, until III last, white and sick
with anxiety, they brought to her Il
hurriedly scrawled note, telling her that
Rodney had gone to sea.
II am tired of home and sister-cod-
de- he wrote II am going TO make
d man Of myself"
Oh, IN what had she failed she ask
cd herself If her mother had lived,
surely this would not have happened
though for two years Rodney had
threatened il.
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, rackin9
thought.
During the years that followed, letters
came to her now and then rom distant
ports letters that caused her heart to
grow sadder, heavier, rs 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 ut home with
folded hands, and pray and weep. II
was strange time for romance tC
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
Ii was only singular that some unde
fined attraction drew him to her. Fol
time she refused to admit that won
derful happiness into her hungering
yearning heart Ii almost seemed as
though in some way she were forget
ting her promise TO the dead She was
happy and secure. her brother, per
haps. III want perhaps in misery AND
despair. But youth and hope cried out
against this selfinllicted torture, ano
love gained the victory.
i want you, darling Dunton plead
ed For nearly forty years | have
lived NY life alone: for ten, until meet
ing you, have had no trust in woman
Ten years ago, was engaged to one
thought Ms pure and true rs you. AL
most nj the altar, | found that she
loved another, and was marrying ms
but for my gold Thank God it was no
too late for lis to draw back Thank
God life is once more full Of sweetnes.
to mel DO you wonder that | car
spare So little OF its full measure? p
Thus lie gained her promise that il
the spring she would become his wife
II was winter then, and one evening
after her lover had left her, and she So
before the fire, hrooding over her hap
piness. there came i sudden, quick pea
III the hell
She herself RI Z and opened the door
but started hack, rs 4 shivering, half
clad man burst abruptly in upon her
She uttered 4 slight scream when h
turned and laughed
IN that Your welcome?' lie said
well, don't wonder that YOU didn'
know me; but its Rodney all tn
same
Rodney les, she knew the voice
the laugh, though IN naught else eoul
she trace resemblance, III this tall man
e. her boy
One instant, She hesitated. then sh
sprang forward and caught him. sot
hing, in her arms. She drew him il
t. the tire and the light, that she Nigh
look At him through her fast-fallin
tears
II was not sight to gladden. he
heart. There were traces of dissips
ton On the young face, look Of pre-
mature age, and lines az hardness
almost Of wickedness about tn
mouth
who was the fellow just wen
away IL asked I've been waitin
two hours ior him 70 50. He came i
just rs | was about Is come
He is gentleman to whom l an
engaged, Rodney"
Hobo, So that is the tide of a
fairs. Has he money! hope so.
might lind ! rich hrether-in-law cor
venient.'
"oh, Roaaey, hush entreated EC
ma.
Again he laughed. coarse, lou
laugh.
Moneys not such bad thing" Ii
said. Which reminds me, by-the-wa,
I'm in need of some to-night-two hun
dred dollars, Edna-and l must hay
it, too. It's money that owe.''
Tive hundred dollars, Rodney
Yes, dear. There are fifteen hundre
lying to you credit in the bank. II
your own, Rodney. It's what yo
would have had, had you been .
home. There are five hundred beside
that have saved up from my expense
Together, Rodney, it might quite 8,
you up in business"
mo business for me-" he answere,
But it's snug windfal for all ths
AND, glad enough / am TO get it. Her
give me your check for the amour
I'll draw what i need, and leave Il
rest. And l say, Edna, the less VI