Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-06-18

In the distance. The priest took tho Grip
pie by the hanl, and the two went, with.
out a word, into the shadows of the twi-
light.
1t was high noon next day, when a man
rang the door-bell of the clergy.house, and
asked for the rector.
II isnot ut home," said the servant.
~ wish to see him on business immedi-
ately," said the stranger.
HE will return in about fifteen minutes.
Can't you wait for him?" asked the serv-
ant.
The stranger handed his card to the
servant and entered the house. The card
bore the name of a prominent lawyer
in the city: the bearer was his Junior part
ner. The fifteen minutes elapsed, and the
rector appeared. His hearty good morn
ing" had a rue ring OF welcome in it.
which Impressed the visitor, although he
replied with the air of a man already pre-
occupied and intent upon one idea:
"lhav in my hand, sic, a letter from
Quebec, which informs NV partner, whom
! represent, that John Henry Merval, of
that citv. has recently died, leaving an es-
tate of $500, 900. There are only two heirs
of this estate, and one of them is a menu
Der of your congregation. His name is
John Henry Merval, a nephew of the de-
ceased" and the lawyer looked scrutiniz-
ingly into the face of the rector.
"There is a man by that name who is a
member of my congregation, and I have
heard that he had a rich uncle in Quebec"
said the pastor. The lawyer asked a few
more questions. with that mir of reticence
so characteristic of his fraternity, and re-
Piled to the ~clergyman's inquiries with q
dignified abstinence from every detail,
save such as bore directly upon the lie gal
aspect of the subject.
"John Henry Merval," continued the
Rector, "has been for many years the
organ-blower of the cathedral. When he
l "a mo t0 n htc condition IVA, AVA - -
IRENE necessity. If he has inherited a
large fortune it is but one Of the many
evidences l meet every day, that truth IS
stranger than fiction. You seem to know
something of his mental infirmities-of
his integrity of character, I can assure
"Where can I find him?" asked the law.
yer.
TIL rector produced a card and wrote on
it the desired address. ~ would accom-.
pany you. sir, but q previous engagement
demands my attention."
the lawyer, and taking leave, he started
out in quest of the unconscious heir.
A room In q garnet, a narrow bed, pine
table, a few we!l-worn garments against a
bare wall, and a miserable looking cripple
seated on a low chair before q few smol-
dering ashes in n dirty Fireplace, met the
gaze of the lawyer, after an uncomfortable
and uninteresting walk through dingy and
crooked streets. John had not entirely re-
covered from the previous days excite
mont. Violent emotion is e%xhausting. He
felt. strangely conscious Of a sort OF awak-
ening from the old lethargy which had
possessed him-a surer, better defined
trust for the future, and yet no Thought of
good luck entered his bewildered mind. He
had only begun to realize hat in all the
workings Of Gods Provid""c, there was
somehow or in some way u place for him;
1 ell, n kI~o <D>In,, Lr~I Ill, Z = ,.--
the child's head in the winlow-picture
would in some way be lifted in blessing
upon his own. The entrance of the stran.
ger into his poor chamber brought no
thought to his mind save that of a we'd
ding or funeral at the cathedral, for which
gan to make some automatic preparation
for his Departing, when a motion from the
visitor compelled him to resume his seat,
The lawyer looked into the pitiful face be.
fore him-he could see nothing in it es-
cept that pathetic detection which speaks
but a more sympathetic observer of physi.
ogomy would have readily detected the
hard struggle for cheerfulness and self.
mastery which had stamped its mark upor
every feature. With professional single.
ness of aim he told the cripple the burden
signs Of ecstatic joy, nor even a hint of tn,
previous expectations which had SO fire
quently favored his g~arrulity, and whe,
the LAWYER endeavored to render the Letter
and evidence which made his fortune
reality mere Ineligible to his mind, h,
gazsd slowly around the room, and said!
"Then poor John will AVE a decent bu
rial, and somebody will come to his fun,
eral."
The lawyer departed. John re
n3ined seated, his face buried il
his hands. How wonderful tina
a poor waif like himself should come into
possession of a fortune!. But a month agt
that was strange enough, bit this seemed
Incredible! Yet lie had thought and talk,
ed of his expectations! John felt as mos
men do who look back upon past folly-h'
could only see its absurdisy; Ho wis
the Old m who prayed that her fore
Yet how soon a startling event or expo.
rience shades itself into our lives and be
comes q part of us-wearing the face of NJ
old, familiar friend. The untried evil i:
the most terrible. Demosthenes woulc
have made a better soldier il his imagina'
~terrors of the battle field. Three times
that day John sought to communicate hi.
joyful news to the rector, but the GOOD
man was absent from home on his mission
of mercy. carrying comfort to those weary
sufferers for whom fate had no fortune il
SUOEcs IL!1Sbo SuiLO 1 u udpPy Aodkt.
and beautiful flowers Inc songs oftriumph
Rumor had Travelled as rapidly among st,
Paul's congregation as in the days that
Marc sang, and lost nothing Of its pro.
portions. although it journeyed upon &c.
clesiastical territory. The old sexton
grew surly from repeated q~uestionings,
and finally declared that he would
not "oper his head about
Johns forth agin." John made his
first appearance at the, eleven O'Clock SER
vice. How much of interest attaches to
a man who has just come into the
possession of a few hundred thousand
dollars! If the cripple had entered the
church that morning with the face OF
IN Apollo and a steady pair Of legs
there were people present who would MOI
have been astonished. And when he did
appear there was nothing remarkable in
his manner. The same suit and the same
button-hole bouquet he had worn for SO
many Easter mornings! Indeed, his self
cons 'i0usness seemed loss than ordinary,
and the sexton remarked: II do believe
comm into a fortin hev brought John
roun' to his senses. I never seen him so
stiddy."
Late in the afternoon John sought the
rector in the sacristy. Fortunately, the
good man was alone. "My good wishes,
john" said he, rising from his seat.
"This has been a busy day for both of us,
but I need not tell you that l nave re-
ioiced with you."
John trembled from agitation. "Sir.N