Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-01

money, Virginia."
Charley Melton stood wistfully gaz-
ing into the fair oval face of the young
girl who stood on the bank above him,
her pure complexion rendered purer
and more delicate still by the moving
shadows of the leaves overhead.
"No Charley, I do not!''
''Yet your father has turned me out
of the house, and your mother has
called me a thief!''
He shuddered as he pronounced the
words.
''It's some mistake, Charley-I'm
sure it is" she said earnestly.
''And he struck me, Virginia." The
boys face grew scarlet, and his eyes
blazed. eyes, he struck me, Virginia!
I shall live to be revenged some day!"
Charley, don't talk son
He turned away, the old hard look
which she SO dreaded to see creeping
over his features like stormy veil.
"You'llsay goodbye to me, Charley?n
the farmers daughter pleaded.
Eyes, I'll say goodbye, Virginia"
"Where are you going. She
questioned.
81 don't know"
''You will starver'
''And what then? Who will carer"
81 shall care, Charley"
'sShali vou?" He turned away with
a sad smile, and the memory of that
smile haunted Virginia Hartford for
years.
4 Farmer Fairford was sitting by the
Wireless hearthstone when Virginia
came in, flushed and rosy with her
walk.
Where have you been, grip" he de-
manded austerely.
ITO look for the COWS, father"
Did YOU find emp"
mo, father
"pIl 90 myself"
AS Mi, Fairford pushed back his old
rocking-chair, the red moreen cushion,
loosened fromits strings, slipped to the
floor. Virginia sprang forward with a
low cry.
A crumpled five-pound bank-note lay
where it had Slipped down under the
cushion, probably dropped by some
careless hand.
Virginia caught it up.
Father, see there"
Il see," said the farmer, moving one
foot uneasily over the floor,
Father, Charley never took the
money"
mo; I s'pose he didn't"
''And you called him thief. You
you struck him.
''What else could I doP What else
did s'pose had come of the money? I
amt to blame," muttered the, farmer
sullenly.
"And he was innocent all the time!
Oh. father, father! let me run after him
let me call him back!"
81 don't care what you do" said the
| old man cOuscience-stricken, and yet
not willing to own that he had done
| wrong.
So Virginia sped forth into the twi-
light, swift andlight-footed as young
| deer.
IF I could only bring him back
she gasped.
But all search was vain. The hour
of grace was past, and Virginia re-
turned weary, and pale, and heavy,
| eyed.
Didn't find him, ehP" questioned
| the farmer.
mo, father"
"a good radiance, I say. I never
fancied the boy. A workhouse tramp
never wouldn't ha' come to no good.
So Farmer Hartford dismissed the
matter from his mind.
And so when Alfred Fairford, com
ing home to the old farm for his holi
| day, a month or so subsequently
lamented the absence of Charley Mel
ton, who was such a gay, Cheerful
| companion, no one ever mentioned hi!
name. Virginia alone remembered
him and mourned over his absence.
mo one knew Charley as Ibid, sh,
said to herself. There was much gooC
in him. Oh, Heaven grant that som,
friendly sunshine may foster the robl
impulses-poor Charley!'
And perhaps Virginia Fairford'
prayers were heard.
The slow years crept by-she grew
from fair girlhood into the full ma
turity of a woman, and still she re
membered Charley:
cit can't be possible" said Mr.
Fairford, staring with dim horror
glazed eyes into the chill autumn twi
light. mol tell YOU not can't b
possible"
But, father, it is possible-it is ever
so. urged Virginia, who sat beside hin
with an open letter in her hand and
face as white rs the wall. Father
you must try and realise it. You mus
help me think what is best to be done.
My Alfred-a robert" faltered tn
old man. Tell it to me over again
daughter Virginia
He has taken four hundred pound
from the bank safe" said Virginia il