Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1883-02-10


school as soon as he was old enough to
go, and after giving him good educa-
tatiOn, brought him home to live on the
ranch and learn to manage it.
Father" said Bob SANDY never called
him kid unless they were by lhemselves)
there's party down there on the road
and the stage has broken down. told
then I'd ride up here and send a wagon
down to bring them up. | said you'd be
glad to have them as long as they'd
stay" Vygi tkf NJ
That's right. my boy; of course we're
glad to have 'em. Here you, Pedro,
harness up and go down to the road.
Bring up all the passengers on the
coach. How many is there of them
BOb?" G1.Nt !
"Five in all. There's the prettiest
girl, father, you ever saw, an old lady
who kept looking at me, and three gen.
tlemen,"
well, my boy, We'll try and make 'em
comfortable. You better go and see
about rooms being got ready for 'em
and I'll ride down to bring 'em up"
Bob .dismOunted, and throwing the
bride rein over the hitching post, walk
ed into the house.
Sanky looked after him, and mutter-
ing to himself, 81 declar' that boy gets
better every day." prepared to ride down
to the rescue of the passengers. 1t was
not very long before the whole party
reached the house, glad enough for
the chance of staying there until they
could go on with their journey. 1t con-
sisted of Mrs. BarnstOn and Mr.. Barns
ton, his niece, Miss Edith HOvee, and
two friends of theirs, Messrs. James and
Flynn. Sandy's welcome was so cordial,
and he was so unaffectedly glad to see
them, that all idea of fOrmality vanish
ed. and before supper time the whole
party had become as familiar as old
friends. Bob seemed to get along very
well with Miss Edith, and while Sandy
and the other gentlemen chatted tOgeth-
er, the young people talked about any
thing and everything that could furnish
topic of conversation. Both Sandy
and Bob noticed that Mrs. BarnstOn was
very silent, and that she did not seem to
be able to keep her eyes off the young
maa's face. She wOuld look atIhim with
half puzzled and most anxious express
sion until she saw that she was noticed
by the others. when, with an effort she
would join in the general conversation.
After supper the whole party went out
upon the piazza, when the men lit their
cigars and all talked. AT length Sandy,
who never missed a chance Of showing
his boy off, called upon Bob to sing, and
he at once began, i'm beautiful tenor
voice, some simple melody. As he sang,
Mrs. BarnstOn became more and more
nervous, until suddenly starting ND,
she hastily left the piazzi. Her hus-
band followed her and after short alb
sense returned. Turning to Sandy he
said: 1884 |-H .HI7 -JE IfH'
You must excuse my wife, Mr.. Me-
Govern; but she lost her first husband
and her boy many years ago uRder Pc
culiar distressing circumstances, and
your SOD 3 singing has reminded her 80
of her first husbands voice that she was
unable to stay with u.s." ..,tu. s.l.,
Sandy paused for minute before re-
plying, and then in deep tone said;
bob amt my SON. i7i ". ! tolE h.
F. "NOt your son! Why, thought
l beg your pardon" said Mr.. BarstOn. q
"PardOn's granted" said Sandy, sem
tentiOusly. "What mean is, | amt
BOb's real father. He's my son in affec-
ton and in love, but he amt my natural
SON."
Well, il you'll excuse nay curiosity,
where did you get himy"
'Its 16 years ago nOw,' said Sandy,
slowly, that l was riding the South
Platte. One day came across place
whar the red devils had been fighting
train. When come thar Their weren't
no man alive nor no horses nor nOthin.'
l rode along an L hearn kind O. wall,
feeble like. l stopped an listened, an
then ] looked whar the sound come from
and found Bob thar, nOthin' but kid
he were then, in :"
you found him in the wagOn-bOx
Oh, for Gods sake, say you found him
there!' and Mrs. BarnstOn fairly ran
from the door in which she had been
standing, and threw her arms about
BobS neck, turning her head towards
Sandy as she spoke. vFs ~
Sandy started and half rose from his
chair. Then looking at Bob with an eye
full of affection for a moment. he allew-
ed his gaze to rest upon the eager face
of the woman. Then he said, slowly: =
"Thar wer' sOmethin' as found along
side o. the little one"
81 know" said Mrs. BarnstOn, "the
half of a bracelet 81KE t..U
Sandy nodded, aud ina wild, inarticu
late cry of delight, Mrs. BarnstOn fell
fainting on the floor. The spectators of
this intensely dramatic scene fastened
to her assistance, and when she recover
ed it was to find the arms of her som
around her. She Rugged him, Kissed
him, laughed and cried at the same
time over him. She called him her boy,
her Willie, her darling--every term of
eyer heard she lavished up-
nm him 7 Rob or Willie ThOrndika as
his name really was, behaved very we'll.
While it was impossible for him to
realize that he had found a new name