Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-10-29

wealth of love that noble, lovable wo-
man could lavish upon her mate. After
time our little one came. 0! if could
only tell you of the great blessing that that
little, innocent child was to its doting
PARENTS of how bright the little one grew,
and how every action and look was watched
and every COO listened to- All! what
rich pleasures. He stopped, and looked
away down the little stream toward the
cattlo that were disporting in it. But he
did not see them, they remained
unnoticed. He was drinking in the pleas
ures of The memory of those gilded
young wife and babe were the glories of it.
"Aye, indeedw loved him-for our babe
was boy-and there were years of such
happiness that perhaps our thoughts lin
gered too close 10 earth, and maybe the
sting came to remind us that We were
mortal, and"
Gle died?" demanded his companion.
"That we were only human was too evil
dent" he went on, unheeding the inter
ruption. "When our curly-headed Edmund
was youth. early i'll his teens, he unwit-
| tingly fell into bad company; say I'M
| Willingly, for he was naturally a noble
| minded child, but he was young and could
not know how we loved him, and SO they
| enticed him away. Yes, yes-don't inter-
rupt me--they coaxed, and pleaded, and
held up the glittering tinsel of novelty and
| romance 10 his imagination and he went
| away. Mother, father, am going away.
You will please forgive me. After get
rich I will return. Do not worry, were
oh! please don't hurt my arm, sir
all the words from him, written on q scrap
of paper and left i'll his room"
The stranger was pale and trembling,
and in his nervousness had clasped the
old mans arm with his strong hand. His
tongue Glove to the roof of his mouth and
he was speechless.
Again the old man continues II shall
never forget the terrible look of despair
that was on the pale face of my angelic
companion when she handed me the paper.
Neither can I ever raise the great weight
that then pressed my heart down. Tt was
too cramped, too oppressed TO break, and
! knew that l must live, for yet had a
strong tie to earth. Then in about month
a letter came, written in strange hand,
saying our noble, fair-haired boy, the idol
OF our hearts, was-was dead! dead! killed
by the cars and buried by his comrades"
"For Gods sake, man. who are you?
Answer me quick" broke in the stranger
"Keep peace. my young friend, keep
peace; it is immateral to a stranger who
am. Listen: 1t killed her." his voice had
sank TO a whisper "In another month
laid my only tie to earth in the village
graveyard. She wasted away, and soon
the frail casket was unable TO hold so great
aspirit, and gave her up, gave her up"
He moaned forth the words as he repeated
them.
His companions face was hid in his
hands and his large frame was
heaying like ship at sea, but
the old man again began: aThe
misery Of the pleasant knowledge of the
great blessings I have had and lost, have
been the only reasons that have kept me
from demanding release in death. All my
earthly ties have been transplanted above;
MY means have all been exhausted in run
ming from grief, but I shall find an asylum
in the house on yonder farm"
"Leok! Tell me your name, quick!" de-
manded the young man, springing in front
of the elder as he ceased speaking.
Edward Dilson. But why do you ask,
my SOM"
"Ah, yes, son indeed! My father, my
father!"
The old man tottered to his feet, and
taking step forward peered into the others
face.
"My God! my boy has risen. o, Edward,
my son, my son!" His arms were raised
and outstretched, and he fell on the neck
of his lost son with his old, furrowed face
buried in that sons bosom.
Father. 1 had them write it, but was
not thinking of the terrible consequences.
Forgive me, o, forgive me, and he clasped
still closer the form that was growing heavy
in his clasp. "Father, look up and tell me
you forgive me: your hayward son." he
pleaded, but as the old mans head
fell back stony stare met his gaze. The
poor frame had become heavy and limp, and
the son knew he held nothing but lump
Va SAoJs w AeA eAdG AuOHlcOS0 Cdu0 O0rk.
ness, and the trials and troubles of part
ings and sorrows had faded from father
and son.
| 4
A little latter some men returning from
work had found two bodies, one of an ele-
gantly dressed young man, the other an
old man. dust-stained from travel, by the
roadside clasped in each others arms. One
was too strong to have the lamp of life
fully extinguished, but from the older
man all earthly trouble had forever fed.
Unutterable joy was depicted on the calm
old face, and what sorrows and troubles
could not do, great JOY had succeeded in
accomplishing.
The old man was tenderly put away in the
ground, and after the last tribute of respect
was paid to the aged father, the son quietly
disappeared, and our place knew him no
more. Whittier he went no one knows and
none inquired.
|