Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-01-08


Mrs. Hawkins left the room, and after she
had cleared away her breakfast dishes and
| finished her usual work, she again return
ed to the chamber and found that Lena had
eaten heartily of the food placed before her
ana was sleeping soundly
Poor child. | will let her sIeep," said
Mrs. Hawkins to herself; "she is IN need OF
it, . and lifting the tray she stepped softly
out of the room.
In the afternoon Lena awoke, and on
hearing the clock in the parlor strike three
she was astonished to find that she hid
slept 50 long. Hurriedly dressing herself.
she soon made her appearance in the
kitchen, where she found Mrs. Hawkins
darning her husbands socks, and the far
mer taking lis accustomed afternoon nap
in the rocking chair by the fire. At the
sound Of footsteps the farmer awoke with
a start, and Strengthening himself up in
quired of the girl if she was better Much
! better, thank you, sir, and will not in
trude upon your hospitality any longer, -
replied the girl, holding her bonnet in
her hands 81 am afraid you will have to
contend yourself here another night, said
| the farmer, for the roads are impassiable
The snow has drifted so high in some
| places that it would cover little body like
you; but won It your friends be alarmed by
your absence?" my friends, " repliel the
! girl, sadly. 81 am trying to find them,
and if you will allow me to tell You my
| story, perhaps you can assist ne, as they
| live somewhere in this region" Placing
a chair near her own, Mrs. Hawkins re-
quested the girl 70 be seated, while they
listened to her story.
My mother,' said she, p" was the only
daugher of wealthy farmer, who was
left widower at her birth, leaving him
with two children-rly mother and son
ten years of age. When she was sixteen
years old my father secretly welded her
against my grandfather's wishes, and al
though she wrote to that relative repeat
edly begging for forgiveness, her letters
were returned unopened. After two years
of unalloyed happiness l was born, and
for ten years my parents union was a
happy one until the fatal day came which
deprived my mother of one of the most in
dulgent of fathers. One day a large sum
of money was found missing from the safe
in the office in which my father was en-
ployed as bookkeeper, and he being the
one who lad access to the safe and some
of the stolen money being found in his
desk he was arrested, tried convicted and
sentenced to ten years imprisonment.
My mother, firmly believing him inno-
cent, converted everything of any value
into money to obtain lawyers hoping to
save him. She appealed to ner father,
but he would not listen to her, and her let
tiers we're again returned unopened. She
wrote to her brother, but with the same
result, and she was finally obliged to see
my father sent to prison, strongly pro-
testing his innocence to the last. For
four years my mother managed to exc out
a scanty subsistence with her needle, with
what little assistance | could give her, but
at last care and sorrow did their work;
and she was finally forced to give up in
despair. and eventually became victim
to quick consumption. For nine long
weeks she was confined to her bed. gradu-
ally wasting away. A little while before
he- death she called me to her bedside, and,
placing letter in my hands, exacted IL
promise from me that Immediately after
her death would sell what little furni-
ture we had, go to my grandfather and
deliver the proceeds into his hands AS
tie tears streamed down my cheeks she
took my hands in hers, and, with a
heavenly smile on her countenance, babe
me good-by and asked me to meet her in
heaven. Her last moments were spent in
breathing words of affection for the nus
band she still loved so dearly.
with the assistance of some kind
neighbors and the sale of what little fur
niture we had | procured enough money
to pay for decent burial, and three days
after her funeral started on M journey
to find my grandfather. had only suffi-
cient money to buy my railroad ticket and
little more, but the andady with whom
we lived and to whom | had sold the fur
niture prepared little lunch for me and
saw me safely on the cars. After jour
ney of six hours | reached my destination
As soon as | alighted inquired of the
man at the station the way to the Brin-
wood farm.
You will have to take the stage,
miss, replied the man. / don't see any
of their folks down to-day and here it
comes now Assisting me to get in, he
babe me good night leaving me to wonder
what sort Of people | should meet and how
they would treat me.
"A half hours ride brought me to a
large old-fashioned house, standing in the
center of lonely lawn, with an abund-
ance of trees and carriage drive on
both sides of the house. Handing my fare
to the driver, he helped me to dismount,
and few moments brought me to the
house. In answer to my ring at the bell
the door opened, and a good -natured color
ed girl inquired who | wanted.
q Your master, | replied Will you
walk in and be seated and | will call
him, said she ushering me into a large
comfortably furnished room on one side
of the spacious hall. In a few moments
an elderly gentleman appeared and asked
me my business with him. | drew the
letter from my pocket, and handed it to
him: told him that was for my grandfath-
er. Adjusting his spectacles, he read the
envelope carefully, and in tone of surprise
exclaimed: my dear miss, the gentleman
to whom this letter is addressed has been
dead for thirteen years. They say he
died of a broken heart, caused by the dis
appearance of his only daughter, who ran
away and got married. At all events he
never forgave her, ard forbade her name
to be mentioned, and finally died leaving
everything to his only son, with the pro-
vision that if he should seek out his sister
the property should go to an institution.
| The son never caring to live in the old
house sold it to me. and moved away three
or four miles from the village of Oakdale,
impossible for you to get there tonight, as
there are no more trains, but | will call
my daughter and she will find you bed
for the night.
"A few minutes later he returned with a
very progressing young lady, whom he
introduced as his daughter After | had
joined them at supper she desired me tc
follow her into the hall up stairs into the
prettiest room had ever seen. The pale