River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-09-16

shoulder He seated himself close to
the fire. so that the little ones feet
might keep warm. Meantime Sally
was with her mother, urging a request
which the old woman Ct first Obstinately
refused.
IF she's got anything to say let her
come to me-
You owe it to Jacob ma. to do
what she's asked you. For his sake
come"
Then she rose. and disdaining Sallv's
arm entered the room with firm step,
closed the door between the death
chamber and her neighbOrs, who were
sadly disappointed that they should
miss this moving spectacle, and sat
down beside her son. not uncovering
his face TO look at him, but allowing
her ewes to follow the CHASTITY outline
figure beneath the sheet. 20 nv son.
my son." she moaned, lis this ali that
is left to me in my old age?''
At that moment silently and almost
unnoticed, the Captains widow Joined
the group and stood at the feet of her
husband, placing one hand on the table
as if 10 steady herself. Her face was
perfectly cOlorless. her eyes circled
with purple rings, and her abundant
golden hair pushed back from her fore
head.
i've asked you to meet me here
she said in low faltering voice, be
cause | wish to beg your forgiveness be-
fore | leave the house. PauSing, she
let her eyes rest for a moment upon
Al
fearing people, and such as have no
right here. | want to tell YOU how it
happened. that you may have no hard
thoughts of him"
why don't you set DOWN." asked
Sally in loud whisper.
Thanks; Twill stand until I've said
what have to say; it won't take me
long. Five years ago this man met me
IN ballroom where men were free of
speech and women listened unblushIng-
IL to their words. | was young and
pretty and there for the first time; but
soon grew afraid of the rough COM
pany and refused TO dance with some
of the men. This gave Offense and L
was insulted. Jacob Norton stepped
forward and announced that was I'M
der MS protection, though had never
seen him before. There were oaths
and pistol-shots, but we managed TO
leave the place unhurt. He and new
er parted afterward until now She
paused moment TO overcome her emo
ton, then continues: He deceived
you, his old parents, but he did it for
love of me. God knows why he should
have wrOnged himself for such as am.
| never deserved it. | allowed him to
marry m, as people get married in
those wild parts, and then after weeks
Of what we called happiness-pOor fel-
low, he knew little enough of i'll re-
membered my baby"
Mrs. Norton half rose from her chair
as il She would put the audacieus wo-
an ont of the room, but the old man
said, .Cimanthy," in a tone to which
she was unused, and she dropped into
her seat with a grOan. Yes, contin-
ued the widow. Il had a baby left at a
miners hut in charge of his wife. |
never intended 10 20 back for her. but
the yearning came on me and | set Off
without letting Jacob know where |
had gone. 1t was night when l came
back again. with the child in my arms.
| looked through the window and saw
the poor fellow sitting by the fire.
Something in his face told me that |
needn't be afraid, so | went straight to
him and said: Jacob. this is my
baby He turned awfully white, and
fSr q moment | thought he was going
to kill me, but he only said. in a voice
hardly would have known as his. Mel
lie. we must try and take care of her
between US. He took the child from
me and | fell down at his feet and
cried as | never cried in all my life be-
fore. He never went back on me or
her. God knows he didn't. and he
brought me here against my will. [
pever wanted to come. O, indeed |
didn't! And now I'm going away with
Lillian"
''You,-yOu shan't leave this house.
while | have peck Of meal left,
cried Mr.. Norton, rising and placing
his hand upon her arm. Stephen
Norton shan't be outdone by his own
son. Cimanthy Norton. this woman
and this child belonged to our son
Jacob. His great heart took 'em in,
and mines big enough to hold 'em
too.
The old mother stood looking at her
dead son, and then sank down on her
knees weeping aloud. Sally had taken
the child from her fathers arms, aud
the poor. homeless Nellie knew that
she had found out now why Jacob had
brought her home. They had taken
her and Lillian as heir own for his sake.
ID. IN Near Orleans Iinees-DeDaOcrdi.