The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-05-05

lie opeycu, somewhat surprlseu; sne
drew him into deep recess of stained
glass window, and standing there with
! the rosy and amber shadows PLAYING
about her lovely brow. like some fair
pictured saint. she told linn how twenty
years ago n wcaried child aud its moth
or were fed and sheltered by kind
hearted stranger; how he chad given
them money and kind wishes, when they
were utterly alone and desolate in the
wide world.
"But. my love. what has all this to do
| with my business mattcrs"'
"Much. Walter! am that little
childw
"You, my dearest?"
al, my husband. and the noble man
who, am persuaded, saved my life that
night, stands yonder. with gray, bowed
head and sinking hcart!'
"Mary, you must surely ba mistaken"
81 cannot be mistaken. Walter,
should know him among thousand.
You said you loved me, t. morning
now grant me one little bo?a?"
What is it, dearesty'
"Givc me that note he s,,Os; Of
Mr.. Everieigh silently W ,Et To asmall
ebony cabinet, unlocked It, and drew
out folded paper. which he placed in
her hands. She glided up to the old
man, who had been gazing out of a win
dow in q sort of revcrie, and laid her
soft hand on his arm.
"Do you remember the little golden
haired Mary whom you found with her
mother, wearied out on the roadside,
twenty years aGo?"
ado remember her, lssiy? 1t was
but this very morning l vas recalling
the whole scene"
"And don't you recognize me?'' she
said, smiling up into his face, as she
drew back the dropping cur!s. Il am
little March,
He stood in bewildercd silence. All
Of a sudden the truth seemed to break
upon him, and he laid his hand upon her
head with n fearful blessing.
'And your mother. my child?"
"She has been dead fo- years; but il
Is my dearest task to be the instrument
Of her gratitude. Here is the note you
indorsed; my husband has given it to
me. Sect
A small lamp was burning in one of
the inches; she held the bit of paper over
the flame until it fell cloud of light
ashes upon the floor.
"Wellm
Mrs. Raynesford met her husband at
the door the instant his orutches sound
ed on the little graveled path.
"Why don't You speak? Of course /
know you've nothing but bad news to
tell, but may as well hear it at once.
Have you seen the gentleman What
did he sayp"
Hannah" said old Job Raynesford,
slowly folding up his gloves, '.do you
remember the $40 I gave that poor
young wandcrer score years ago to-
day?"
"Why, of course I do. Didn't re-
mind you of it not twelve hours ago?
What has that to do with our troubles,
pray?"
"Just this-to-day Ireceived payment,
principal and INTEREST,"
What do you mean, Job Raynes-
ford?'
This little golden-hairnd child that
sat beside our bearthstone that June
evening is Lawyer Everlc:gh's wife, and
I have seen her burn the note that has
hung like milestone around my neck
for many years. She said it was paying
sacred debt of gratitude; but heaven
knows looked for no such reward"
There was q moments silence. The
old man was bordering over the past,
and Mrs. Raynesford was so taken by
surprise that she really could not say
anything.
"And now, wife, what have you to
say about my financial mistakes?" said
Job, archly.
Mrs. Raynesford had no argument
suited to the emergencies of the case,
and she wisely said-nothing, -Netc
York World.