Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-12-07
wards Of memory, and a passionate lone.

is very little quartz in the mill, and the
books are up to date. I've got the
home fever, John, bad. l think I'll
start tomorrow"
So in a few days Tom Kilroy stood at
the loot OF Chambers Street, wondering
if he should go home without warning;
wondering, indeed, whether he had any
home. Yes, there it stood, just as he
had left it, the little red brick house
with its bright green blinds outside.
But inside there had been changes. His
father was dead, his elder brothers mar
ried, and the little sister he had left in
mort dresses just going to be. But love
IS always the same, and these simple
souls made a great festival over their
returned wanderer, without once asking
whether he had saved a respectable
sum-, or come home with empty pockets.
Sitting alone with his mother that
night, he at length ventured on an in.
quiry very near his heart.
Where is Alice Scott now, mother:?"
"l don't know. Tom. Things have
changed for her."
"She is married, then?"
"That is past my telling. I have
heard nothing at all about her for eight
y~ears-never since her father failed.
They went somewhere up the river to
live. l saw her mothers death in the
papers soon after"
It was a great tragedy in a few words
failure, poverty, death and isolation.
Toms reveries were not devoid of re-
morse that night, but the next day he
started out early to do what his heart
told! him ought to have been done years
ago.
It wa not hard to find Mr.. SCOTS re-
treat. and he anne upon it just at noon.
MIR. Scott was leaning over the little
WOODEN gate, looking listlessly down
the loagg, dusty lane, and he readily en-
tered into conversation. Tom was smit-
ten with pity at the change in his old
patron. He had sunk to very small in
terests. and talked now of his little patch
of corn, his couple of COWS, and his
eggs and chickens as he had once talked
OF richly laden barks, and bills of fading,
and checks, and balances. Then Tom
led him on to speak of his old business,
and he was glad to see that the mer-
chant instantly asserted himself. ..He
must be taken out Of this" thought
Tom, and he asked himself to dinner.
He entered the house with a beating
heart. Would Alice be thereq Would
she know him? Mr.. Scott had not sus-
pected who he was, but Alice ought to
have keener eyes. She was laying a
very humble table for two as they en-
tered, and after a glance and a move
ment of courtesy She went calmly on
with her household duties.
ION had a good opportunity for OBJ
serving how much changed she was, but
it was q change that soothed and pleased
him. Ter figure, her movements, her
sweet, quiet face, her neat dress
nothing escaped him; and she was fairer
in his eyes than she had been even in
that enchanted hour when she had first
driven him from the little Jersey depot.
They sat opposite to each other at
table, and when he answered her first
inquiry, she looked eagerly at him, but
Tom suddenly lowered his eyes. In a
moment, however, the truth flashed
across her heart, and in a scarcely ar
ticulate voice she cried out: ooh, Tom!
oh, my dear Toni"
Then Tom was by her side, kissing
her cheeks and lips and hands, and
whispering, nobody knew what, between
his kisses. Mr.. Scott had risen at once,
and was supporting himself on the back
of his chair, hardly able to understand
the good fortune that had come to him,
until Tom said:
"You promised me Alice, sir, when 1
had made fifty thousand dollars. I am
worth nearly nine hundred thousand to,
day; will that do"
"Good gracious, MI. Kilroy!" and
the old man sank into his chair, and
covered his eyes with his Drowned
hands.
There was only q beefsteak and some
potatoes and a cup Of coffee at that be-
trothal feast, but it was a wonderful
one, and after it there was q business
talk in the garden, which made a new
man OF Mr.. Scott. For Tom was bent
on refounding the old firm under the
name Of "Scott Il Kilroy," and though
there was necessarily some delay, a
million OF money a work miracles.
and before many months were over the
senior partner Of the new firm was ex-
ercising again all his old authority and
business acumen.
For Tom remembers his father-in-
laws claims, and has forgotten no word
Of that kindness which altered his whole
destiny when a mason lad, and which
for many years encouraged andreward-
ed his youthful efforts.
TOMS youngest brother occupies
Toms old position in the house now;
but it is not likely that he will follow
Toms footsteps Westward; for when
ever Tom hears him talking of his big
brothers ''good luck' in the mines, he
alwas says:
"Easy-easy, Harry; Good luck needs
good looking after; and gold is easier
made than Jouad. Weekly.
Miss Mary Houseworth, a three
year old mss Of OF Selinsgrove, Pa,
had the honor of purchasing the first
two-cent stamp sold in that village un-
der the new postal law. Her father,
wishing to preserve it as a momento
for the girl, conceived the idea of writ.
ing q letter to the poet Whittier, asking
for a reply. A few days ago he receiv.
ed the following: s'Danvers, Mass.