Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-12-12


the hostess, after the reception, returning
| to his side.
Miss Burdenott, permit me to intro
duce to your acquaintance my fiend-re-
Gently from California Clifford, -
said Mrs. Rexford, presenting the latter.
| '.Miss-Miss Burdenott, unused Henry
| Clifford. IF Mrs. Rexford had said Mrs.
Burdenott, I should say she was the once
Alice Thornton
Miss Burdenott took Mr.. Clifford arm.
Miss Burdenott, = said the latter, by
way Of opening the conversation, you
remind me of friend had some years
| ago, and, were it not for the name,
should believe you were the same, allow
ing for changes wrought by time
| He felt slight quivering Of the hand
resting on his arm, but did not attribute
its origin to what he said Without wait
ing a reply, he continued. However, in
features the likeness is complete; but in
| the expression | can see some differ
/ ence.
/ He ceased speaking, and, receiving no
! answer, he cast his eyes towards her coun-
/ tenance, and noticed that it was pale
| Surprised. he changed the subject. Soon
| after he surrendered her arm to an ac-
quaintance; but his eye still wandered In
| her direction, and his mind required to
| the effect of his observation. Once or
twice her eyes met his, but she would in
stantly drop them, or turn some other
way.
He retired from Mrs. Rexford's house,
bewildered. During all his years of alb
sense he had not heard from Alice Thorn
ton, and he supposed that she had long
sinse become the wife of another. Miss
Burdenotts resemblance to his early love
recalled the past, and, but for the NAME
he would have addressed her as his yet
loved Alice
Moved by conflicting thoughts, he en-
tered his own room and threw himself in
chair.
What if Alice repented of the course
she was pursuing when I left? What if
she has waited all these years, hoping for
my return? But no; it cannot be. Ten
years is long time. The thought is a
chimera, and | will dismisessit as such .
were the reflections that coursed through
his brain
The next day snow was falling Accus-
toned to exposure and tired OF his con-
finement, after dinner he sauntered forth.
Everywhere enterprise had prouced change.
Dwellings had been changed into huge
warehouses.
He was thinking of a change when a
little hand was put before him and a
childish voice said: please give me
something to buy some Goals and some
thing to eat MA hasn't had anything to
eat since yesterday
Casting down his eyes he beheld slight,
frail figure scantily clothed. Having a
taste for adventure he inquired: ''Where
does ma live?"
Being informed, he told the little one
he would accompany her. Pleased with
his readiness, she moved off briskly He
was conducted to narrow street, through
short alley, up two flights of stairs, and
ushered into room. Scanning 1t hastily
he saw that the meagre furniture was tidy,
and that a woman, wasted by disease, was
| lying on bed In one corner. No fire was
burning, and the room was cold and cheer
less.
Taking out piece of money, he asked
his little guide if she could go to the near
| est shop and order some wood and coal,
and something to eat, and have them send
IN Immediately. Waiting few moments,
the needed articles arrived and taking the
wood, with his own hands, he soon had a
| cheerful fire blazing In the CRATE. He was
| physician when the door opened, and an
other girl, evidently couple of years older
than the one with him, entered, accom-
panied by a muffied lady bearing basket
The lady, on beholding a man bending in
front of the CRATE, at first drew back; but
as he rose, she recognized him, moved for
ward and, throwing off the hood of her
cloak, exclaimed, 'Mr. Cliford!'
Miss Burdenott!" was the response.
! A few words sufficed to explain that the
sick woman was one with whose circum-
stances Miss Burdenott had become
| familiar, and had employed as a seam
stress. Miss Burdenott having been away
from the town some time, and having re-
turned only the day before, had not
learned until that morning of the woman s
! helpless condition.
| Mr.. Clifford, with alacrity. procured a
physician, and when he returned the sick
woman was drinking cup Of tea.
After the departure of the physician,
and when the woman was comfortable they
took two of the four rickety chairs, sat
| down by the fire and talked as familiarly
as if they had been acquainted for years,
instead of having met only the night
previous.
Two hourse glided away, and at last
darkness began to set in. Miss Burdenott
rose hastily, saying that she must return
home or search would be made for her.
Mr. Clifford proposed himself as escort
and was accepted. He offered to obtain
a fly, but, as the snow had ceased to fall,
the lady said she preferred walking. Ar
irving at her residence, she invited him to
enter. Passing to her own room a few
moments. on her return he was struck
more than ever with her resemblance to
Alice
Alice-for Miss Burdenott was no other
than Alice Thornton-noticedh his perplexed
gaze, and rendered an explanation. Her
mothers only brother, an eccentric bachel-
or, had been opposed to his sisters mar
riage with her father, and at his death,
her mother and father both being dead,
| had made a will leaving his wealth to her,
with a provso that she should adopt the
maiden name of her mother She told him
of the note she had forwarded the day she
| started for California; her surprise, morti-
| fcation and sorrow when she learned he
| had gone; her hope that he would return
at some subsequent time; her patient wait
ing, determined to live single until he
| either heard of his death or that her
place in his heart had been filled by an
other.
Our experience in the past, he said,
folding her in his arms, will qualify
us the better for enjoyment in the future. >
! Her eyes, beaming with love and happi-
ness, were raised toward his. and his lips
touched hers as she softly whispered,
Lost and won New York World