Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-08-19

ing for any woman. / always intended
to go home and see the old folks, but
they died of fever within two days of
each other, and a stranger sent me the
news.
Lawyer Dredger saw to the estate, and
did what asked him to do with the money.
/ did not need it then, but it would keep
me from being beggar IN my old age.
And still I sailed the sea, until 40 years
old an accident happened to me which
came near being my death. 1t did not
kill me or cripple ME, but I was no longer
fit for a sailors life, and there was moth
ing left for me but to settle down on land
and live on my money; and so I went
home at last to talk to Lawyar Dredgers,
and get his advice.
I felt very sad as walked through the
village. My parents were dead, no one
remembered me; had not friend in the
place.
The lawyer had done his best to make
my money profitable to me, and [ was
richer than [ dreamed. When all the
stroll through the street. It was 10 wears
since the night I kissed Sally Gray, and
lost my love by it; but nothing had al
OOI ON Ill Viz OuUWC do pSCG VI JIG
People were sitting on their porches as
of yore; the same flowers seemed to bloom
in the gardens; the same loungers to
stand about the tavern door; the same
young men and girls to hang upon the
garden gates. It was odd to think that
the girls might be the daughters of those
[ knew.
There stood the church; there the par
r MI
dows of the sitting room were open. I
drew softly near and peeped in.
The old clock licked in the corner.
The old rag carpet was either the same or
another just like it. There was only one
blue vase on the mantle. [ suppose the
other had been broken; but there were
the profiIes of grandpa and grandma
Wheeler over the escritoire.
There was Dominic Wheeler, looking
very much older, sitting exactly as he
used to sit beside the table, his red hand
kerchief over his knees, a cup of tea in
his hands.
Dolly" he said.
And from an inner room came woman,
large, handsome and high-colsred, who
said:
''Well, father?"
Could it be my slim young Dolly.
Yes, it was. She was very fne-looking
now, and she looked so matronly that /
Immediately concluded that she was Mrs.
Isaac Robins.
Still [ could not leave the window.
''It was my one glimpse of her." | said
to myself, 'for years past and years to
come"
swell, father?" she said.
And turned smiling toward him.
1--we been thinking it over, Dolly" he
said. II think it would be best for you to
marry. [ am eighty. [ cannot live long.
You had better marry Mr.. Braham. He
is very fond of you, You like him, am
sure. Is it for my sake you say no?'
She bent over him and put her hands
on his shoulders.
Father" she said, IT am going to tell
the truth, thing a woman seldom does
in these matters. I should not have to
leave you; so it is not for your sake, much
as [ love you. But do not care for Mr.
Braham. [ have only cared for one man
in my life-my first love, James Gardner.
L sent him away from me, and he had
done very wrong; but [ think now that
we both loved each other. I know that,
even now, [ cannot forget him, and that I
never shall forget him while [ live.'
There were tears in her eyes; she
brushed them away. In another moment
[ was at the door; she opened it I held
out both my hands. Those were DoIly's
girlish eyes that looked at me, and [
caught her in my arms.
Il have come back to be forgiven,
Dolly" [ said, and I saw that had not
come in vain.