Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-07
FROM THAT DAY TO THIS.
BY MRS. E. LURKE COLLINS.

| was standing on the steps of the
Sea Breeze House when was present
ed to Violet MeIberne.
Tall, fair, and stately, with a strange
" expression in the deep blue eyes,
which set me to wondering as to her
history.
| am a little given to watching and
observing my neighbors, specializing
in regard to that which is not my bus
mess
But nobody minds me; on the con-
trary, I find myself the receptacle of
many stray condolences from young
maidens and matrons, who would as
soon think it improper to conide IN g
sister as in me.
Yet am a man, with mans big,
tender heart throbbing in my breast;
with mans natural aspirations to-
ward happiness; with (ah, no one
ever seemed to think of thatD a mans
earnest longing and desire for love and
sympathy.
Not that those young, happy, care
less creatures were so much to be cen
sured for looking upon me as one
without the pale of human affections;
for am set apart from others; ana
one with whom the Almighty has
dealt very harshly. At least, in my
hours of suffering and anguish, SO it
loc to me.
But, away down in the depths of
my heart, recognize his ehastisement
and ''whOm the Lord loveth, He chas-
teneth, and scourgeth every son who n
He receiveth."
Yet, it is hard to bear, and there are
times when human nature bends be-
meath the burden.
For-I am lame, helpless cripple.
I, who once gloried in my manly
strength, and never dreamed that the
day would come when I would be like
a sick girl upon a couch, no longer
able to walk, with one limb crushed
and mangled-a hopeless wreck.
I had gone forth one morning from
my rooms at the hotel where ruade
nay home-for I had no ties of kind
red upon earth-and vending my way
toward the office where I was employ
ed, went straight TO my room.
a carriage dashing by-a pair Of
Raddened, Infatuated horS ss-a face
like star gazing at me from the car
riage window-and almost beneath
the iroh-shod hoofs, the bent form of
an old woman fastening onward, not
conscious of her danger.
The scene called up by memory's
wand flashes before my mind now,
like a panorama.
One brief pause, the next instant [
had dartea forward, caught the old
woman from beneath the dead deal
ing hoofs, and bad seized the brides,
holding the maddened beasts by sheer
force of determination, knowing all
the time that it was sapping the life
within me. Then [ knew no more.
When | came back to the world
again, / found that the old woman
whose life [ had saved Gas I would
have saved any stray life, of man or
beast-we 1t IN my poWer) had taken
me away to the seashore.
She was not the poor creature whom
[ had fancied, from her plain attire
md unprepossessing appearance, but
very W ealthy old woman-a widow,
and childless.
Shg found that [ was quite alone in
the world, and said that I should be
her son, and should never leave her
again.
She took nae to Europe as soon as
was able to travel, to seek the great
German PHYSICIAN.
But alas! all the efforts Of my kind
benefactress were powerless.
The physicians all agreed that | was
doomed to the fate of cripple.
Itnearly broke her old gentle heart,
but she tried In every way TO atone
for my affection by love and kind
attentions; and everything that money
could buy was mine. All: if money
could only purchase happiness!
We spent two years wandering over
Europe, and there my friend died.
Died, and left me sole heir to her great
fortune.
/ accepted the gift with bitterness
mingled in my rejoicing, for all the
wealth of the world could not make
me happy.
l was alone now and, I decided al
length to return to America.
My absence had prevented my know
ing the fact that the newspapers had
been filed with notices addressed te
the s young man who had saved &
lady's life at the risk of his own" anC
begging me if still living, to revea
my name and let her know nay fate
or if | had suffered seriously.
When / saw these notices in the ole
copies of the papers, shown me on my
return, 1 smiled little sadly to my
self, for reed between the lines anc
saw the generous, kindly heart of the
grateful girl, who longed to recon
pense the poor wretch whose life hao
beer laid waste for her sake
But / knew not who she was, and
felt a strange-perhaps morbid shrink
ing from the subject; therefore I made
no inquiries.