Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-08-31

ih' pN"Ni' NV wy hN h'"ii"6oN"
her has always made me think that
there must be something in magnet
ism or hypnotism. She seemed to
have lost her senses, or to have
grow mentally blind, and he led
her just where he would.
Just about this time | fell very
i'll, and when ! grew better, the
squire, knowing | was good at my
needle, made q seamstress of me.
| am ashamed to say why; but it
is because | looked rather stylish,
and was called pretty, and so many
questions were asked me by guests.
As seamstress | could stay in my
upper room and work. was so
thankful for the change. ! made
the finery for the young ladies of
the family, and no one troubled me.
Once, indeed, a rich old gentle
man, having somehow got my story
from good old cook, sought me out
and made me proposition of mar
riage, saying it was a shame that
such an elegant woman should live
as did. But | thanked him, and
declined his offer. | was not UNI
happy now, except that pinned for
news of Harold, for in all these
years no word had come from him
hone of those letters he had pro-
missed.
felt sure he was not dead, and
it was very natural he should for
get to write; but my heart had no
rest. He was twenty-six years old
by this time, and in. all that time
much might have happened.
My pillow was often wet with
tears from thoughts of him-f ancies
of what he had suffered, and long
ing to meet him, or only see him
from afar but once again.
At last news came. Mrs. Halsted
came running into my room wild
with joy.
News of my boyT she said,
holding "A letter toward me.
81 thought you had forgotten all
about him, madam" said.
| was sorry the next moment,
for she burst into tears and falter-
ed:
"You don't know what it is to be
the wife of man who dominates
your will. | never have forgotten
or ceased to regret other things"
Then she wiped her eyes and said:
"But as far as Harold goes, it is all
over. He has written to me. He
is rich-really rich! He has made
"a fortune in California, and he is
coming home to see me. He will
be here tomorrow. The squire is
pleased; the girls are wild to see
him. His little brother is delight
ed"
She ran out of the room again,
looking young and happy, and |
sat down to my machine, swallow
ing a great lump that had risen in
my throat.
He had not written to me. Well,
| was only servant, and he was a
rich man now. They were rejoic-
ing in his coming for that reason
the squire and his children. He
was a very different person from
the poor Harold Robling who went
away.
81 expect he will give us lots of
presents" | heard one of the girls
say. IAN older brother who is rich
is great thing to have. We must
pet him, and make him good-natur-
ed"
"Oh, yes, said the other. "When
girls have as stingy a father as we
have, a generous elder brother is a |
godsend.
And oh! if he returned i'm
rags, begging his bread, l should
have welcomed him. cared for
him not his money; and if he had
returned poor, it was | to whom he
would have written, ! knew we'll. |
But ! tried to put the selfish |
thoughts away and rejoice for his
sake that he had prospered, even if |
he had forgotten his little sister
Dora. The morrow came.
As | sat at my machine ! heard
the sound below that told |
me he had arrived. | heard
his mother cry out and the squire
say heartily, Welcome home, my
boy!' and his sisters squeal and
giggle after a way they had.