Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-04-17

Father aud son had long been conf
dental friends; and on the evening fol.
lowing the presentation the latter opened
his heart and told all his doubts and
fears. Mr. Rodman listened quietly.
Yet you love Elem he said.
j love her replied Walter, but |
could never be happy with a miserly
wife.
Poor Ellen, how little she deserves
that reproachI said Mr.. Rodman. i
shall violate a confidence reposed in me,
Walter, when | tell you how you mis-
judge her, but | think | can trust YOU.
Has she told you her secret?
No; ! heard the story from the cler-
gyman of Lemwood, her native village.
who wrote to me before she came here.
He is an old friend Of mine, and knew
he could confdc in me. Six years ago
Ellen mother died, leaving in her care
a sickly step-brother, then about eleven
years old. Her own father had left
Ellen pretty cottage, and she had a
small income from the fruit and poultry
on the place, while she made sufficient
living by teaching music and playing
the organ in the church When her
mother died, leaving Stephen Grady, her
step-brother,an orphan and penniless (for
her step-father before his death squan-
dered all her mothers fortune) Ellen
promised to care for the boy Remem.
Der, she was but sixteen, though early
care had tf,atursd her far beyond her
actual years. The boy grew up like his
father. reckless of expenditure, loose in
principle, yet tender to his step-mother,
and one Of those loving scrapegraces who
always win some good woman devotion.
He won Ellen's. She thought herself
bound by her promise to her mother to
make every sacrifice for Stephen. and
she faithfully tried to lead him away
from the companions and evil influences
that were running his life. Three years
ago friend of Mrs.Grady's took Stephen
into his counting house Here he was to
learn bookkeeping and for a time he
worked steadily Then the bad company
that had ruined his b0yiiood again ex-
erted an evil influence, and he learned
to gamble One of his accomplishments
was the power to initiate any hand writ
ing, and by the persuasion of some older
heads he forged check of $1,000 from
the firm he was with. The check passed
the bank undetected, for the cashier was
in the habit ofpaying over large sums to
Grady. But when it was returned to the
firm the forgery was discovered and traced
to Stephen. Then the truth came out
that he had gambled away the entire
and the two men who had urged
the crime and pocketed the money had
fled, leaving the lad TO bear the conse-
quences. He was arrested, and repent
ance came when he saw the full conse-
quence of his act. 1t was then that
Ellen proved herself the noble woman
that | believe her to be. She was
suffering already for her brothers crime,
having lost her place as organist, and
most of her pupils having left her.
Despite all this, she went to the firm
and pleaded for the lad. Her eloquence
gained him something They agreed
not to prosecute, but to allow the boy
to leave the town and go to an uncle
who was willing to give him another
trial in a western city, if Ellen would
pay the $4,000 and interest within two
years. She undertook the task Ste
phen was released and sent to his faith
er's brother, where he is doing well, and
Ellen left her home and came here, hop
ing for higher wages than she could
earn in her own town. [, Knowing all,
advanced her interests in every way.
Month after month, denying herself
everything but the barest necessaries of
life, she has sent her earnings to wipe
off her brothers debt With the rent of
the house and what she saves here she
has paid it all, the last installment be-
ing acknowledged in a letter which |
handed to her yesterday. You can I'M
derstand why she could not even take
a few dollars to subscribe for present to
me when tell you the two years expired
on the very day when the last hundred
dollars was received Now Walter.
you know Ellen's secret. Judge for
yourself if she is a miser.
She is as good and noble and self-sac-
rifcing as my heart always told me she
was, in spite of Appearances said Wal
ter warmly. Tomorrow | will see if
she can ever return my love
Not tomorrow, said Mr.. Rodman.
Ellen went home this afternoon, her
task finished. Out of the sum | paid for
the last week of her toll here, she begged
my acceptance of the copy of Long
fellow upon the table beside you, asking
me to believe she was grateful for all
my kindness to her. Let her rest little
from her long strain of elf-sacrifce and
toll. ] will gladly give her daughters
place in my heart.
Winter had come and gone, and spring
sunshine was making all nature glad,
when one CHEEKY morning, the train
through Lenwood left single passenger
At the village station. He was tall.
handsome man, dressed well, without fop-
pishness, and he inquired of man at
The station for the residence of Miss
Churchill.
The first white cottage as you turn
The second street from here, was the
reply. 1t was soon found, and at the
gate the traveller halted The windows
shaded by wide veranda, were open,
and he could see the tasteful parlor.
Near the window stood handsome wo-
Inan, trailing vine over d nctwurh OF
string. Her face was partly averted;
but the stranger could see that all the
pallor and sadness of the past were
gone
Upon the graceful figure was dress of
tastefully made, and trimmed
with soft lace ruffies at throat and wrist
and few well chosen ornaments Sud
denly some inner sense seemed to tell
Ellen she was watched. She turned,
and saw Walter Rodman, looking earn
estly, wistfully, at her 4 quick
flush swept across her cheek, and her
ewes lighted as she came forward to
meet him.
May | come in?' he asked, opening
the little gate.