St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-27
GLOBEPRIZESTORY
JOHN OTTENBERG'S MISTAKE
BY ERNEST G. WINTER.

Its curiss tibet boy will be sot on goin
to furrin parts" unused Daniel Gutenberg
as he sat watching Tabatha, his wife, as
she busted herself about the room. ''Spose
he's gittin ashamed on us md wants ter git
off Whar nobody II know he's old Dan Of
tenberg's boy; whar he kin sosherate with
hisekals; whar he kin find-kin tind-what
wasstne name of them sperets he was
lookin arter, Tabatha? Wonder eff he don't
think its enuff fer you md me to slave md
dig to git money ter send him ter college?
I'm gittin bout old @uff ter
quit workin' md I'd sort O. depended on
him's gittin married md take the old place
here md let you md me rest the balance O.
our days; md now CONS letter md he
wants two thousan' dollars! Think on it.
Tabatha, more money than we've got!
Wants us ter mortgage the old farm, s'pose!
1t all comes o. you wantin' ter give the boy
edieashun; film his head with noshens
above his stationw said Daniel getting up
and pacing back and forth. He amt 10
better nor we be, consarn him." he con-
tinued, when Tabatha interrupted him
with:
''NOw Dan'l don't, what's the use in
calm your own born son names like that;
eff you don't want ter send him the money,
tell him SO md let him come home. He
alters done as you wanted him to, didn't
hep"
Yes, but what's he want ter go md
leave us now for?" demanded the angry
Daniel, ''I'lI write himI I'll tell him ter
come home l willr'
He drew out small table, got writing
material, and after haIf-hours patient
a.. abor read the following:
PLYMOUTH, VT, June So 1856
My Dear Son John: havn't got no money
10 spend in furrin parts, cum home You r
Father D. GUTENBERG.
There was silent listener to this CONVEX
sation, a silent witness of this scene, who,
apparently deeply absorbed in some sew
ng, drank in every word. The listener
was young girl just budding into woman
mood. Clad i'll homespun, yet the perfect
fullness of her figure revealed itself in every
motion. Great braids of golden hair reached
far below her waist. The thick masses
drawn back from her forehead in the simple
style of country people. revealed a
broad and intellectual brow, which,
with her large blue eyes-at this
moment filled with tears - and
beautiful face with such fair complexion,
made her conspicuous wherever she Went.
She had been an inmate of Daniel Often
berg's home for fifteen years. lie found
her in an orphan asylum in Western New
York. and attracted by her winning ways
and beautiful face had taken her and
adopted her as his own daughter. In a
little trunk-her entire worldly possess
sion-he found papers stating that she was
the daughter of an English officer, and that
her name was Lillian Weston. This name
was not changed.
When Lillian Weston came to her new
home, she found playmate in John Often
berg, then I years of age. Her innocent
ways and lOvable disposition soon made
her great favorite with him. And Daniel,
too, loved the little orphan as he would
have loved his own daughter, but Tabatha
never felt for her the love she did for John.
If one of the children must stay out of
school for day, she always selected Lii
liam, and when john declared he would not
go to school unless Lily did. she scolded
him because he thought so much of one
Il don't care John would say. II love
Lilly mote than if she was lny.own sister.
and if she can't go | wont.'
Together they attended the High school,
but when John went to college, Lillian had
to stay at home. Lillian wanted to teach,
but Tabatha needed her at home, she said,
and it cost so much to keep John in college
Lillian must lay aside her school dresses and
wear homeSpun.
So the four years had passed. Lonely in
deed to Lillian, but for the few weeks of
vacation which John spent at home and the
occasional letter that he wrote her. During
the last vacation they were much together.
Lillian never tried to check the love grow
ing in her heart for John. Not until he
had gone did she feel that it was more than
a sisters love. Then when the truth came
to her she resolved to live, devoting her life
to him, and that he and the world should
never know how much she loved him.
But how was it with John? He had al
ways loved his sister and he looked forward
with pleasurable anticipations to his days at
home in her society. His last vacation had
been so full of pleasure. He could hardly
realize that the time had come when he
must return to college. Lillian had taken
him to the depot, and as he was bidding
her goodbye he said. IF could only take
you with me, little sister, my days in col
lege would not seem so long,
But all John you did not then know
how much longer the days would seem to
you!
His last year in college did not require a
great effort on his part to keep up with the
class. He found ample time for reflection.
and sitting alone in his room bordering
over his loneliness, the truth slowly re-
vealed itself. The society of Lillian was
necessary to his happiness. He knew he
loved her more than man loves a sister.
''And ohI'' he cried in anguish. ''she
loves me only as a sister. | can never hope
to make her my wife. Oh! cruel fate! |
would were never born"
He resolved to stay away. He would
join company of fellows who were going
to Europe. He would forget. He would
stay away a2fsil Lillian married some one
else. She must never know how much he
loved her. He wrote his father that some
congenial spirits were going to make the
tour of Europe Immediately after the close
of their course in college. and that if he
went his education would be enough better
to justify the additional expense incurred
MY opportunities to study and perfect my
self in my chosen profession are so much
better there than here. feel sure you will
be willing to advance the necessary
sum, only 50. O00,' he wrote
Daniel Gutenberg had never restricted his
son to any limit in his expenditures at col
lege.
Remember he would say, Dan Often
berg never does things by halves. When
ever We want any money Just drop a line ter