The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-04-12

"
of brown paper, were these words: II
shall return ten years from yesterday.
My hair may change, but my heart
never. shall think of you every hour
and pray for you each night. Freckles."
He found man who was shipping a
blooded horse to Chicago, and BY tax
ing care of the animal Henry was al
lowed free passage to that city. When
he arrived in Chicago he had only ten
cents left. He spent five cents in u
stamp and stationery and wrote to his
mother. There was no dependency in
that letter. He got job in livery
stable that day at good wages.
Within a few DAYS horse was stolen
from the stable and Henry was led
on suspicion of being an accomplice. He
layin ailfor ten days, when he was liber-
ate for lack of evidence just as he was
coming down with brain fever. He
was sent to the city hospital, where for
two weeks he was delirious. His at
tendant noticed strong cord about his
neck, to which was attached pewter
locket, in which was bunch of dried
| forget-me-n He was mere shadow
of his former self when he regained
consciousness. A kind-hearted clergy
man became an interested and frequent
visitor to him, loaned him books to read
and when he became strong enough
took Henry to his home. The red hair
of Henry all came out, and when it
grew again it was a dark auburn color,
and the freckles never returned.
The clergyman needed man about
] Ia.. nd n. ca. h; h<xysc
and gave Henry the situation at good
wages. must be brief in this romance
from real life. In less than two years
| Henry Martin, thanks to the benevolent
clergyman. was in Harvard College. In
six years from the time he left Albany
he was minister of the Gospel.
At the end of eight years he was the
pastor of fashionable church in Chica-
go at a salary of $4,000 a year, and he
had 5000 to his credit in the bank.
Nine years and eleven months from
the tine he left Albany he started on
his annual vacation. As he kissed his
white-haired mother goodbye, he said:
1.-The ten years are nearly gone. can
surely find her, and will telegraph you
the result. God help me.n Five years
after Henry had left Albany there came
a great financial panic aud Louise Rob-
bins father became bankrupt.
Almost penniless, he and his daugh-
ter removed to New York, where he be-
came Dook-keeper for gentleman
whom he once employed in his store in
Albany. The father and daughter lived
in a modest way in an uptown flat.
! Mr.. Robbins never reproached Louise
for anything, except that she was such
recluse from society and would allow
no attention from any gentlemen. He
could see no beauty in an old, dried
bouquet which Louise ALWAYS kept in
her room, which she brought with her
from Albany He sometimes had fears
lest she was losing her mind, for in her
sleep she was continually muttering
something that sounded like Henry
Martin. One day he said to her:
"W no is Henry Martin? / never knew
any Henry Martin, except the vaga-
bond who insulted you in an Albany
horse-car." Louise turned pale, but
made no reply.
Can the reader guess why, as the ten
years had nearly passed since she wrote
that note to the car-driver, she appeared
absent-minded. was startled by any
noise; that she took extra pains in
crimping her hair and making herself
as attractive as possible.
/ She had not had one word from Hen
ry Martin since he left Albany, and did
not know whether he was dead or alive.
She had frequently read notices of the
talented young preacher of the same
name who had created such furore in
Chicago, but she never mistrusted that
he was the one whose return she longed
and prayed for. One afternoon there
came knock at her door, which she
answered. and ushered him into their
little parlor as he inquired for her IA
ther, who would be in shortly. Louise
is startled by something in this stran-
ger which reminds her of Henry Mar
| tin.
She almost stares at him to see if it is
possible that he is relative of the car
driver. No, she says to herself. it can
not be. What magnificent bearing
this gentleman has. He is the picture
of health. His dark auburn hair is
brushed back from high. classical
forehead. He is tall and thin, but is
very erect. and has square shoulders.
His voice is deep and mellow,
and though his eyes are pierre
ing there is an expression on his face as
tender as woman's. In calm, dig
nified way, the stranger inquiries: "Did
you ever know car-driver by the
name of Henry Mart mp Before she
could answer the tears Involuntary
filled her eyes.
With trembling voice he interrupts
her and says: at is now four o'clock;
ten years ago at this very hour Henry
Martin received very precious note
Are you willing to receive me to-day,
Or" Before he can finish the
sentence she has her arms about his
neck, and says: 81 knew you WOULD
return to me!''
When Rev. DIR. Martin returned from
his vacation he brought his wife with
him, and to-day, in a city still further
West. where he is the leading clergy.
man. he shows me pretty locket con
tanning some dried flowers, which hf
/