Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-03-28

ard Oldacre was pronounced out OF
danger.
One morning he had been lying
awake for long time with many
thoughts busy in his brain.
Allan was using his knapsack for q
writing desk, Dicks eyes followed the
swift moving pen with languid inter-
est.
Allan glanced up and saw that his
charge was awake.
81 am writing good news to Nellie,
Dick. | am telling her you are out OF
danger"
For moment the young man was
silent. His face was working with
some strong emotion. Then he said
suddenly
"Why did you not let me die, cap
F! tain? 1t is strange thing you have
done. A dead man is in no ones
way"
do you think know it not-that I
am in your way because of Nellie's
loving meP" asked Dick, his voice
trembling with emotion. "You are
strangely unselish!"
mo, am intensely and thoroughly
| selfish. | want to see all those | love
happy, and love your mother and lit
| tie Nellie. 1t is to make their hearts
light again that | have tried SO hard to
keep the breath of life in your body;
and, then, Dick, we have been COM
rades in play when children, and now
we are comrades in war. We must be
warm friends" and Allan reached out
and took Dicks pale fingers in his
warm, strong clasp. There was no
mistaking that he fully meant all that
| he said.
"Noble! noble!" murmured Dick.
Then his eyes closed again, and he
drifted off into refreshing slumber.
Two years later had brought great
| changes into Richard Oldacre's life.
He had served his time in the army,
and had received his discharge. Upon
his broad breast hung the Victoria
Cross, placed there by the Queens
own hand for an act of special bravery.
His wedding day was set, and prepar-
atoms had been made to emigrate to
America Immediately after the festivi-
ties connected with that happy event
Allan had claimed the right to give
| handsome dover to the bride of his
| foster-mother's son, and with the sum
| which Dick had husbanded from his
pay while in the army it was to make
| capital to set him up in business.
Nellie's father had objected strongly
| at first; but he was a man without
means, and really glad to have her off
his hands, so he yielded with much
ostentatious reluctance to what he con-
sidered maesaLliance, and let her go.
Mrs Oldacre had seemed quite unlike
4 l, ha fnr
departure progressed, and at last her
nervous uneasiness eliminated in
startling revelation to her son.
''Dick," she said mysteriously, after
she had called him into a room and
shut the door upon any possible in
truder, II can keep silent no longer. /
have done wrong not to speak before,
but I was weak. | dared not face alone
the anger and surprise of the proud
family. Dick, my own boy, Richard
Oldacre was not your father"
Not my father?' The young man
uttered the words like one in dream.
No"
..Who thenp" There was a fierce
ring in his voice, and his mother cow
cred before him.
Richard Hartford, the Squirrels elder
| brother, who was drowned. was his
wife, Dick; have my marriage lines.
You are the rightful head of the
house, Dick-the heir of the old name. )"
Dick stood like one dazed, trying to
realize the import of his mothers
words.
Il had been married but a few
weeks, she went on, when your
father was summoned away on urgent
business; but he left me with sufficient
to make me comfortable in circum-
stances, although pledged to keep the
fact of our union secret until he should
return. have never heard one word
from him since that morning when he
held me in his arms, and pressed his
farewell kiss upon my lips. You re-
member how long the present holder
of the property remained in uncer-
tainty, thinking his brothers absence
to be a temporary one. But at last all
hopes of his being alive vanished, they
had proof that he was drowned, and
then, Dick, you see how unhappy |
must have been. But was weak, also.
l dared not present my claim. But
you are strong and determined. You
can fight for Your rights, if you like,
and win the day, too. What will you
do, my sonP"
81 cannot TELL" her son said slowly.
81 must have time to think. l shall
know my mind tomorrow"
A struggle had already commenced
in his grateful heart. He had already
won the love of Nellie, while Allan
: had been the loser of his hearts dear
est wish. Now, should he, the peas
ant-educated, whom his friend had
: nursed back to life so tenderly-
should he also take from him his posi-
ton?
The tempter whispered: s'Nellie will
then be a grand lady. You can deck
her with silks and gems"
That was bewitching prospect in
deed. But gratitude won.
Mother" he said, "Ishall not claim
my rights. Bring me the marriage
: certificate and [ will burn it. Allan
has been educated to his high posi-
ton, and it would hurt him to dsplace
him from it. / am used to mine, and
Nellie loves me just as well as though
| were in loftier place in the world.
3 We will 60 to America, and there
every honest man is a noble. I will
win fortune, and we will be happy"
but, Dick, / cannot obey you in
one thing; in all else it shall be as you
say, for you are sensible, and are old
enough to judge. But l will not burn
the certificate. / should then have
nothing TO prove to myself that my
marriage to my darling was not 8
dream. Oh, no! | will not burn it,
!. but no one shall be the wiser about it.
y I tbo &c in I'd