Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-26

II told you he wouldn't be here, PAUL y
exultanty exclaimed Mrs. Parker, pro-
jecting ner keen gray eyes into every nook
and corner around the dull street IN front
of the West Landel! house of Entertain
ment of Man and Beast. y Il knowed it!
Now what do you think Of your fine fonest
| boy?''
Paul Parker's contenance fell visibly.
''1'm sorry for it wife-s0rry from the very
bottom of my heart, somehow thought
be was different from TIE common lot OF
EN-; but pose hadn't ought to expect
mnch from lad brought up In the streets.
Well. we'll. let's drive on.
| The slow passing gears had sprinkled
| their silver blossoms more plentitully on
| Paul Parker's head, and ploughed deeper
lines in his wife's face; the little girl at
their hreside had grown into tall, hand
some young oman; and once more We en-
! ter the inner sanctum OF their lies.
Its fathers step. mother" said Lucy
Pa, ker, jumping up to open the door
well, father. what luck ?"
bad enough. darter," said old Paul.
meekly shaking the powdery FIRING of snow
from overcoat ''Melton's down again
VIII iSVtI Ii dSSi, MS WIG pOoiiy, dhu
Bruce has had stroke; so he can't work
no more.
"And they didn't pay you the monev :?
shrieked the wife, shrilly. And what
are we to do, with the lawyer Martin
wrltin for the money we owe him?''
I'VE can do nothing, wife.
1--WE shall be sold out at auction, and
die in poor house yet! Oh, Paul, why
didn't you pay more heed to what ! al
| ways kept tellin' you?"
Not SO bad as that, nope, said the
old man, cheerily, though the muscles of
nls lip and brow quivered.
Father, is it St. John Martin. the
Leeds streets lawyer, to whom You owe
this money!"
Yes, what do you know about him ?"
Not much, father, but II think if
you were to 20 there with me and tell him
Just how it was, or write, even
mo use.' croaked Mrs. Baker, des-
pairingly; 'other folks amt SO ready 10
let go O. their money as Your father is,
Lucy
Still, it's worth tryin'," said old Paul,
hopefully. We'll write this very night,
my girl, ard next week we'll 60 up to Bos-
ton an See what answer he makes US.
And Luck Parker, blushing like sweet
pea, ran to get the paper and pen and ink
bottle, Jlmidiy trusting in the efficiency of
her plan.
For his father can't be so very hard.
hearted" she thought; land they are so
very rich that surely the paltry $500 can't
be much to tnem.'
The elegantly furnished little Office on
Leeds street did not often have such outre
equipages drawn before it as Paul
Parker's mud besplashed box wagon and
shappy cid pony; and the elegantly attired
young lawyer, who sat at the desk exam
lining some papers, glanced up in surprise
as the coming girl and bent old man
entered together, like May and December.
Lucy
''Ninian! | thought Your father did
not know that"
MY father is detained at his country
seat, and | am acting member of the firm,
Lucy. He took me into partnership last
week and this is"
He turned inquiringly, and with some
thing of a start, to the brown-faced old
man, who stood modestly in the back
ground. Lucy introduce her father and
stated their business, not without profu-
sion of very becoming bushes; she had
not expected to find her gallant cavalier
of the past fall in the Office Of St. John
Martin.
I'VE are very poor, Ninian," continued
Lucy, land my father can not at present
hope to discha1 &c this debt; but am soon
to have very good situation in Madame
Etvaln' s school as music teacher, and we
Can all save; so, II your father would
be so kind as t. wait a little while
we"
Lucy stopped short; her voice was Civ
ing way, and she was far too proud to
yield to the fast coming tears in Ntnian
Martini presence. The young man had
listened in silence, but now he took down a
tin box from its shelf in the safe, ano un.
locked it, disclosing sundry packages of
neatly labelled receipts and notes
Let me see," he said, running his eye
over them; lit was note for $500. / be-
lieve''
Yes, sir, answered the old man; for
$780,"
us this your note2"
Yes sir
Nlnian Martin tore it in two, ard laid
the fragments on the ire. Paul Parker
and Lucy gazed in astoni> hment as the
handsome young lawyer lifted his dark
eyes calmly toward them.
Then, Mr.. Parker, you may consider
that to-day you have received payment
for a very old debt. We have balanced
accounts"
''S.r. don't understand you" said the
bewlldered old man. II don't remem-
ber-''
But do. 1t is rather more than tea
years, Mr. Parker, since you put money at
IN crest.
Sir"
al will be more plain with you," said
The young man, smiling. Perhaps Miss
Parker Is not aware that am only tue
adopted son of my more than father. Ny
real name is Nino Beatant. | am an
Italian by birth. Just ten years ago was
begging on the street of L,ndhlil, starved
and pennlless. A kind hand-you know
whose, Mr.. Park-r-exlended itself to
me In the hour of need.
The old mans face lighted up.
81 do rem mber now. lie was fifty
cent piece; and l told you 10 come back
Just week from that time and
And di / not come. No; bat | tried
my vely best 10 come, but was prevented
by the brutality of the man whose slave
and drudge | was. For weeks atteruard
every Thursday Was on the spot at 3
o clock. watching and waiting for you,
Tut y0u never Came.
No. We moved away from 1andhill.
"N ell. l begged my way TO Boston,
having run away from my tyIant. S..
John Marin found me one night in the
streets, perishing from cold anu Starvation
He had Just lost his only child. Il boy Of
about my own age, aid not unlike ME In
personal appearance, and somehow |