Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-08-21
.My DEAR she remarked, in a pri

time, when we were living here, and
| had money that | was accustomed to
! spare, in little acts of kindness, have
| rendered some service to Walter which
has made deep impression on his
mind, while / had entirely forgotten
! it."
That" said Altrura, though ally.
"aifords partial explanation of one
of those half-hidden memories that has
been floating around my mind ever
since first met Walter. / could not
tell whether he simply looked like
some one had once seen, or whether
l had actually met him in early life;
but his face always had familiar look.
And as you know, | told you he adj
mitted that he had once seen me and
you also"
Well" said Mrs. Morrison. after a
few moments reflection, 1--WE are so
well acquainted with Walter now that
/ feel at liberty TO talk with him in
regard to that matter, and with your
permission, my dear, / will speak to
him although am sure he will
not wish me to conceal anything from
you.
To this proposition tho young wife
very readily agreed, and an oppor-
tunity for the desired interview soon
occurred.
"Well. my dear Mrs. Morrison. :"
said Walter, in reply to the lady's in
quiry, which had been made directly
or indirectly SO many times, but rever
answered. Il will tell you the whole
story. To you aud to others, it may
seem matter of slight Importance,
but to me it was of serious moment,
and the turning point of my life.
You are already familiar with my
history up to the time of the death Of
my parents-that of my father subse-
quent upon the train of calamities that
came upon him, aud that Of my mother
and only sister which followed soon
after, caused by the grief and distress
of his loss and our misfortunes-leav.
ing me at the age of 10 entirely alone.
Within a few months, however, l
began to gather strength and look
around to see what / could do. l had
no property to fall back upon. There
was a little / might have saved had
my mother lived, but after her death
creditors came in aud took everything.
II had a good education to start
with, but of business | knew nothing
at that time--in fact had never earned
dollar by any direct effort of my
own.
II realized, however, that | would
have to carve out my own fortune If |
ever had one, and in spite of my ig-
norance of any kind OF practical em-
ployment, it seemed to me as if
could certainly rush right in and do
something by which could more than
earn bare living.
II started out for a western city to
see what l could do there, but failed
at everything, and returned discour-
aged aud utterly destitute.
'While thinking over what to do |
recollected man whom my father had
befriended, aud remember also hav-
ing heard that he was cold and I'M
grateful. | determined, however, to
call on him at his place of business,
and did so one morning.
MY appearance was extre nelly
shabby, and, my health very much
impaired. stated my wants and cir
custances to the man, and asked him
for loan of s.. In reply. he threw
that amount on the counter before me,
and said: Here, take it, young man
not as a loan, for you will never be
able to repay it-but as gift, and the
next time you beg go to the overseer
of the poor
81 did not touch the money! could
not have lifted it from the counter.
The cruel taunt and sheer stung me to
the hearth
''Oh! OH" interposed Mrs. Morrison,
who had listened thus far with breath
less interest.
II remember it all now. / heard
every word of that conversation. But
your face was turned away from me at
the moment-in fact l scarcely saw
it. instantly, however, made up my
mind what | ought to do"
Yes" said Walter, in a tone fer
vent with gratitude, while tears started
to his fine eyes And you did it! As
l passed by you going out of the store
in whirl of perpleXity, distress. and
dependency, not knowing what to dc
next-where to turn to find friend
you slipped quietly into nv hand SIC
Dill, saying, in tone that only could
hear: Take this, not rs a gift, but as
a loan, to be repaid when you are able
to do So
AT your side on that never-to-be'
forgotten OCCASION" continued Walter
stood lovely little girl; and il
seemed to me that the sweetest and
most comforting feature of that kind
act was the look of genuine delight
which radiated her face and beamet
from her soft eyes when she saw you
hand me the money. In that instant
both your faces were photographed OF
my memory with fidelity TINT nc
lapse of time or change OF surround.
ings could ever efface.
II did not know who you were al
the moment, but soon learned, and
took fresh courage from that time
With that $40 in my pocket | found AT
employment that paid me from the
start, and from that time on / wa.
never out of money.
II was absent, however. from the
city on business that proved very sue
cessful; and when | returned, able a
last to repay that loan in-what seem
ed to my grateful heart-a fitting man
ner, / learned that you had left tn,
city, and was unable to gather AM
definite information regarding you
whereabouts.
But another purpose had beer
forming in my mind during that alb
sence-one that added zest to my de
sire and effort to find you. Tha
sweet young face. so full of earnes
sympathy, had been before me con
tinually, and it had become my dear
est wish that some day might ask t.
have its brightness shed over me fol
life.
so l followed up every clue could
discover, and at last, as yon know
my search was rewarded. And so
dear madam" he added, as smiling
and extending his hands he claspeC
hers, also outstretched, in earnes
pressure, You see how have proved
my gratitude, after all. have rcpaiC
that gift by asking and obtaining I
greater one."
But one which has been gladly an,
cordially given" replied Mrs. Morri
! SON rpturninU hiS warn, clnsn "A M