Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-12-29


terrible life that l led those two years
that he lived. It is dreadful to say it,
but his death was actually relief"
"And they never answered your let
ters!' said her husband, Indignantly.
81 cannot understand such vindictive-
ness"
"The first one was returned un-
opened" she answered; "of the others
I never had any tidings. But I am
sure they would have forgiven me had
they known all. 1t may be that the
letters were intercepted. The suspi-
cion has occurred to me lately that
they fell into my husbands hands,
and that heremailed and stamped the
first one to deceive me and prevent
my writing Others"
Don't call that man y our husband,
Kate. 1t makes me shiver. He was
capable of anything, and have no
doubt your suspicion is correct. But
surely you wrote after his death ?"
81 did not" she replied. 81 was SO
utterly heart broken by all that had
occurred, as to believe myself an out
cast from love and kindness forever
more, You know what suffered, and
how 1 went from place to place. All
can | ever forget from what a life you
have rescued me"
"But, remember, you said it was
from love, not gratitude, that you be-
came my wife. For | an old enough
to be your father, Kate, and had ycu
refused me, / would have adopted you
as my daughter"
"Old in years but young in heart"
she answered. "If my first marriage
was q wretched mistake, my second
was indeed blest, and crowned with
such happiness SIS never hoped to en-
JOY"
The carriage had reached the sub
urbs of the city by this time, and now
stopped before g. large house, with an
old-fashioned, hospitable aspect, very
inviting.
"Home at last!" said the gentle
man, jumping out as nimbly as if he
had been younger. "Come Kate"
Shefollowed, and leaning on his arm
went up the steps and into the house.
No further allusion was made by
either to the subject of their converse
ton during the drive. But the
thoughts of one kept continually re-
curing to the child she had seen In
front of the cOnfectioner s, and when
Kate Hilliard closed her eyes to sleep
that night, it was with the firm resolve
to see Noran's father early the next
day, and find out who he was and
whence he came. For Norah's words,
Norah's looks, seemed like an echo
from the past, and had in them some
thing of the spirit she remembered.
Norah's thoughts were as full of her
as hers of Norah. ''Such lovely
lady" unused the child, as she hur-
ried home. "I don't think papa
would have minded my taking the
money. If he could have heard all she
said, aud seen exactly howshe looked.
1t is New Years Eve, and what if she
were not q real lady BIT all, but just
some fairy going around doing good
saw nice old gentleman inside her
carriage, though, and a live coachman
on top. Iguess she's flesh and blood
like the rest, only kinder and more
thoughtful"
1t was toward q wretched quarter
of the city that Norah bent her steps,
and the tenement where she stopped
was old and dilapidated, and crowded
with human beings. She assembled the
stairs and found her way to q room
dimly lighted by tallow candle. The
door stood open and she entered SOFT
ly. Then, shading her eyes with her
hand, she looked around. There was
bed in one corner, and upon that
lay a man asleep.
"Poor papa" she thought, she is
tired out. The doctors say he ought
not to work, but he will, and l can't
nelp it. I almost wish | had taken
the money. | would have bought a
chicken, and l could have made him
some broth tomorrow. But he
wouldn't have eaten it il he knew how
1 got it. Oh, dearl Oh, dearl It is
SO hard to be poor and have a sick
father"
She hustled about q little, setting
the rooms to rights, and tried to look
cheerful, though shefelt down-hearted
But the tears came in spite of
her when she went to the cupboard
and looked in to see what there was
for breakfast. Only g. few dry crusts
and a small piece of bacon. If it had
not been New Years Eve, their power
ty would not have seemed so bitter
hehad gone hungry before, and never
complained, but now, looking at her
pale. worn father, and remembering
the sad Christmas they had spent,
her heart rebelled. Then her mothers
sweet face rose up before her as if in
reproach, AID she folded her hands
together and breathed prayer for
health and comfort. Poor Norah q
child i'll years, but weighed down with
6, woman cares, old in trouble and the
wisdom born of it, it was well that she
had early learned where to look for
guidance when sore and distressed
and buffeted by the world.
Her father did not awake, and she
finally took up the bit OF candle and
retired to an inner room, hardly
larger than closet. It's only furniture
was q little cot-bed. Into that she
crept, and soon fell asleep. She
dreamed Of an angel with the face of
her mother, and of the beautiful lady
who in some magical way had been
changed into @ fairy, all gold spangles