Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-05-05

was sleeping in corner and sssT on
was sitting up in bed. In two days
more Molly came back TO town and
Boston, pale aud very weak, was walk
ing about the cabin. lie had heard Of
Bills death, and turned down another
somber leaf in his book of memories.
The terrible storm had swept down the
telegraph wires. and among tho de-
layed messages received by the operator
about week after Bills death was the
following:
Boston. Feb. s. lsls,-Ba Raesdale. Dad.
rood. George Payson's father is dead. Ali
bills will be paid. Will como In tho spring.
HENRY SCRANTON.
All the operator could do was to re-
turn word to Mr.. Scranton at Bill
Ragsdale was dead. In the mea n tim o
George Payson recovered from his con-
valescence and began a more earnest
and systematic life. lie left tho town
and secured q position in stamp-mill
short distance away. and the spring
found him there, graver. with few
premature gray threads In his beard.
Some secret hope seemed to buoy him
up, and some recollection. which could
not have been all pain. lived with him
aud kept fro in his eye and vivacity
in his speech.
One raw April day. when the snow
lay in irregular patches over tho ground
and the mist rolled slowly up the sides
of the mountains, the stage. numbering
along the muddy street, had in it two
travellers of an unwonted type. The
loafers smoking on the verauda of the
hotel held their breaths with amaze
ment as they saw stately old gentle
man descend and hand out, with all
the unctuous grace of the old school, q
lady so beautiful, so pensivo and young.
that she seemed like one of the pale
flowers pushing its head up through the
snow in the barren woods. But the
rabid inquiries as to their identity left
the natives no wiser. and they were
obliged to sleep on the mystery. The
next morning, however, the keeper OF
the hotel came on the veranda with q
piece of gossip. Tho old gentleman
had sent for him and made special In
quiries after one George Payson, who
had died IN February.
No one knew of such man, and this
information, or rather lack of it, was
conveyed to the old stranger. who gave
his name as Henry Scranton. He
seemed greatly astonished and disap-
pointed, and later in the day hired q
team Of mountain ponies and tho only
wagon there was in the place and drove
out towards the mining camps. On the
way he removed his inquiries without
success. At last, however, he hap
penod to mention that Payson came
from Boston.
"Thar's chap at Stevens Mill they
call Boston, =" said the man he ad-
addressed. II reckon he'll know about
the man you're after"
The wagon was driven to Stevens
stamp-mill. and just as the old gentle
man was assisting the young lady Ia
alight his eye caught sight Of familiar
figure directing some wurkmen hun
dred feet away. He started little,
took long look at tho nau who had
attracted his attention and then turned
to the young lady with an assumed ex'
prpseiOn IF nonch alancc
my dear" he said. "I'm afraid we
haven't been rightly informed about
this man."
"WhyP" she said, dcjectedly. "What
makes you think SOP"
"Well, the fact is" he replied, ii,
has just occurred to me that there
might be some mistake about those
kilograms VIC received last winter"
DO you mean about the datcP" she
asked, "or the place."
The old man was trembling and he
moved so that his tall form shielded hcr
from the group Of workingmen.
Not the date nor the place." he 70.
turned. laying ono hand impresively
on her shoulder, "but the man"
She let her cheek fall OH the hand
upon her shoulder with the quiet pa
ticnco of dumb animal
Pm sorry, father. if you have had
all this trip for nothing. but as for the
rest l don't know that il matters much.
We might as well go back TO the
hotel"
''Well, no" said the old gentleman,
II don't think that would be the best
thing to do" He drew her mantle
about her and held it closed in ca.
ressing manner. Nov, II you will just
try to remember. Eunice, how every
thing works together far good. md how
apt sorrow is to turn into joy"
She burst the mantle spart and laid her
hands upon his arms.
''Father!' she cried, what JOY
could come TO mo nowp"
He stepped aside aud pointed to the
central figure of the group Of m0
Whatever the emotion she experienced,
il swept over her like d flood aud car
Rod away on its tide the detection and
tho misery that had made her face ~
markablc She made no sound, but
stood like one entranced. while her
mind and her heart adjusted themselves
to fresh circumstances. Then she
walked quietly up to the group of men
and laiS her hand against the arm OF
the talk fair one who was directing tic
Others
you see, I've found you, George, ="
she said, softly.
Then, as he turned toward her and
showed his recognition III a quick flush
Of Joyous incrcdulity, the cry that could
be restrained no longer broke from heI
lip, and throwing herself upon heap
&c I,;<sl 1,,.o rI,no On fbc srrTupd shc