The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-10-01


able remains of n human body
wedged among the roots of a sub
merged tree. Had it not been TO
the scarlet shawl which Rosamon,
Foster had worn when she left tn
faI m-house, her remains could hard
~ have been identified.
But they brought her to the elt
Foster home, and Unrle Phineas
I'VE her decent burial. From tina
moment, however, be never held his
head up.
Il know they couldn't convict mt
in court of law" he said. "Bu
It's murder, all the same-it's mur
derI And l didn't never know
afore how fond I'll got to be of Ro-
samond. There amt no hired help
I've had sence as ever done as she
done. Poor Rosamond-poor little
girl! And it was me killed herI"
They sent for the doctor; but the
doctor shook his head.
sit is not case for medicine,
said he. "The man is not sick. He
has something on his mind"
"Ye don't keep no medicine to
make a man forget, do ye, squirer
SAID Uncle Phineas, with ghastly
sort of smile.
eff we did, our fortunes would be
made" said the doctor mo, my
friend, there's nothing in the phar-
macopeia to meet your case, worse
luckr'
So the solitary old man peaked
and pined as the days went by,
hanging mooiily over his handful
ot fire and refusing to speak to the
sympathetic neighbors who came
and went.
But one day, when the chestnut
trees were all in blossom, a carriage
drove up to the door, through weeds
that had grown knee keep.
"Company!' said Uncle Phineas,
with a side-long glance at the win
dow. "Tell 'em to go away; won't
see nobody"
"But you will see me, Uncle Phi
neas?" cried Gerry voice. "YOu
will see r ,samond?"
Rcsamond 1t was, aliYe and
blooming, with cheeks like her
name-fower and blue eyes shining.
Uncle Phineas looked at her with
troubled face.
"Rosamond was drowned" said
he. ''How is this? Are there two
Rosa monds?'
Dear uncle, am so sorryr' ex-
plated the girl. 'But l never
heard until yesterday Of the girl
who was buried in my name. |
met the poor thing shivering on the
road; she seemed to have lost her
way and l directed her as well as l
could, and gave her my little red
shawl to tie around her neck. |
took the train to Scranton and
went to Jared. l didn't know what
else to do. And, oh, uncle, my hun
dred dollars has more than quad
rupled itself, and Jared's patent
steam saw is a success! He is a
rich man and we can pay you now
for all your kindness to US when we
were children"
II reckon it won't take much to
do that" said Uncle Phineas, with
grim sarcasm. 'But, Rosamond,
ye've lifted thousand pound
weight off my heart this day! I've
missed you every hour and every
day! You'll come back to me, Ro-
samond, won't ye, dear?"
"For a little while if YOU want
me-" the girl said, blushing beauti-
fully. But / saw George Hand at
the depot when got off the Scran-
ton train. He was so rejolced that
1 was not dead-and l don't quite
know how it happened, but l have
promised to marry him in August"
So Uncle Phineas did not keep
his niece Rosamond very long after
all. But the fact that she was alive
and near him was enough to give
a new lease Of life. And On her
wedding day the old man actually
relen:ed so far as to give her anoth-
er hundred dollar bill out of the old
green chest that he kept back of
the cherrywood bedstead.
George Hand is a smart, fore
handed lad," said he. "And Rosa
mond is a good girl-a very good
girl !"-Helen Forest Graves.
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