The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-01-22

4
suppose this young grocer will be a
| very big man now and may take it into
his head to want to marry Armida." He
| was talking to Mrs. Dclaro when he
said this She quickly replied:
.'0h. no, l do not think matters arc
quite as serious as that. But how Is 1t
about the woman's supposed husband?
Has she forgotten him amid the new
excitement
mo. indeed, she has not. On the con-
trary she promises to spend her money
when she gets it for the purpose Of try
ing to find her husband"
That reminds me to ask II yon have
yet heard any thing from Percy was
Mrs Delaro's next question.
mo. have not and 1t is causing me
much concern. have sent message
after message, but no reply comes and
tomorrow have made up my mind to
cable the American Consul at Bucnos
Ayres and ask him to investigate 1t Is
getting serious and steps must be taken
at once to find out where no Is" Sec
ond later tho aged friend OF the Delaro
family spoke up suddenly and asked:
| Did you hear that Mr.. Howe, part
ncr OF Mr. Emcrick's. Is dead?'
| No, did not, replied Mrs Delaro.
| 1T occurred some time ago" said Mr.
Wilcox. and heard down town that this
limerick is returning from Buenos
| Ayres. having closed out his business
there. Also that he is going to sell out
altogether. lie Is rather queer fish. /
am told. some OF his business transac-
tions not being quite as square as they
might be. The consequence Is that he
is not spoken Of very we'll among BUSH
ness men and has few friends"
Then / hope that you will en-
deavor to see him as soon as he arrives.
for Percy was very anxious that you
should. lie seemed TO have some idea
that you will know the man." said Mrs.
Delaro.
You may depend upon it shall do
my best to see him when he gets here.
! for am as much interested as anybody
in knowing who he really is
| For the next week or two there were
| no new Developments either in regard
to Percy Lowell or the Bregys' fortune.
Eugene and his mother. acting on the
advice OF Mr.. Blodger. made rapid
preparations to leave for France, and
had even taken passage on the LA Cas-
coigne" for the early part of May.
Mr.. Wilcox was suffering intense
anxiety on account of not hearing from
Percy. and longed for the time to come
when he would receive some Informal
ton by mail from the American Consul.
to whom he had telegraphed asking him
to make inquiries. In fact SO great
was the old fellows anxiety that he
began to show signs of 1t in his feat
ures. The old gentleman was very ro-
bust. and could have combatted success
fully any severe physical trial, but the
stress of worry on his mind owing to the
halo Of uncertainty which surrounded
the fate OF his chosen friend and COM
panion were too much for him. He
grew restless, sometimes even irritable,
| and finally was told by his medical
adviser that he must cease to trouble
himself SO much or he would be very
sick man. Still nothing could divert
his thoughts, and on the day that Mr.
limerick landed in New York from the
Rio steamer, Mr.. Wilcox was compelled
to take to his bed. The strain on his
mind had been TOO much and he had to
succumb. Mrs. Delaro and Armida had
done their utmost 10 cheer him. and had
endeavored to force him to cat and
drink, and take amusement to divert
his thoughts. but their efforts were OF
no avail.
| Jnli., .ol, farp;chal -
the house near Gramercy Park was
gathered small company, wistfully
gazing upon a bed wherein Law the
quiet form OF an old man. The little
group consisted Of Mrs. Delaro and her
daughter, Mr.. Blodger and physician.
and they were sadly watching their
good friend, Mr.. Wilcox, tie tide OF
whose life was fast ebbing away
Joel Wilcox was an old man who had
long since passed the three-score-and-
ten milestone on lifc's highway. and a
slight cold. added to intense anxiety,
on account OF the man whom he had
grown to love as son, had produced a
fever which proved too much for his
vitality. The old fellow had outlived
his day and generation, though, indeed,
he had in his younger days cut adrif,
from all his relations and early asso
Citations. In the latter days of his
prosperity he had not made many
friends Though he could count &C
quaintances by the hundreds) as his re
served and simple nature rendered hin
fearful lest mon should only like hin
for his wealth and tho influence which
, wealth brought with it. For Mario
Delaro he had conceived hearty lik
| ing, and how we'll he had proved thu
, genuineness Of that friendship these
pages have told. Besides the Delart
family, Percy Lowell was the only per
son who had found the way to Joe
!, Wilcox's heart, though the old-tim,
friendship with Blodgcr had been cor
; daily renewed Of late.
Although SO few were the persona
friencs OF the kind hearted old million
!, ARE, very many were those among tn
! poor and needy. tho tried and tn,
tenpted-those who fought on tn
losing side in the battle Of life-wh
had known what it was to have tn
!. friendly help, material and moral, Q
!, Joel Wilcox. Truly Of this old man
: might be said, as it was said of On
greater than he--'he went about doin
, good And now the end was near. !
was late in tho afternoon of a Lowell
: day in mid.winter, such day as is onl
: known in tho northern attitudes O
|. North America. Away in tho wester
!, sky the crimson sun was fast sinking
: lighting all the horizon with goldel
radiance and, for the nonce, gliding tn
closely-built streets of the great he
tropolis until its spires and roofs shon
resplendent as the palaces Of fair
: : I.,,..A!.,..IiI!II u.