Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-09-29

EVeline?' gently asked the Quakeress
'Oh, yes-yes!' cried the girl
Then L would tear the thing up and
cast it in the fire.
Eveline glance at the ticket, then at
| Friend Mary. and then she tore thu
ticket in two and flung it on the floor
Three thousand and three" said she
L dreamed one night that it drew Il
thousand dollars, but it is gone now"
Thee will feel thy conscience light
er," said Friend Mary consolingly as
she put her hand on that of the girl
Art thee sick, Eveline? Thy hand is
very cold.''
Eveline burst into passion of tears.
''Sick!' she gasped. Yes. No.
don't know. He has gone away, Mrs.
Minton. He never came to tell me
goodby."
Does thee mean my son Ezra
child?"
Whom else should l mean?"
Did thee expect him, Eveline?'
Il didn't know. l thought perhaps
oh, have been trying so hard to be
worthy of him! l have left off going
with those girls. I've refused the fore
mans invitation to drive with him.
I've been reading 'Macaulay's History
of England and 'Gibben's Rome of
evenings, and l loved him, Mrs Miu-
ton-oh, I did indeed-and he never
came to tell me goodby! 1 suppose I
oughtn't to tell you this, but 1 cannot
! help it,
! Friend Mary moved uneasily in her
seat. Her heart warmed toward the
! impulsive young girl. She began to
: think that perhaps she had been too
precipitate in her decision. Suddenly
Eveline started. SO did Friend Mary.
There is some one coming up the
steps," said she; several people. Dry
thy eyes, my childr'
! 1t was two of the factory girls, eager
and breathless. They could scarcely
snatch time TO salute Friend Mary Min
ton before they addressed Eveline
! Calverly:
'sEvy! Evy! your ticket has won a
prize. No. 3,003! A hundred dollars!
They read out the list tonight. Oh,
aren't you a lucky girl, though! We
only WISH 1t was us.
Eveline' glance involuntarily sought
the floor, where lay the two torn pieces
of the ticket. Jane Chertsey made a
grasp at them.
''Why, what has happened?" exclaim-
, ed she. But the number is all right.
We can paste it together again"
! Eveline looked at Friend Mary Min
ton.
Give me the pieces, Jane" said sue,
and in another second they were bla:-
, ing in the fire. 81 will have nothing to
, do with the lottery, good or bad" she
added. I'm sorry 1 ever bought the
ticket"
But Evy, you've burned up a hun
dred dOllarsr' screamed Lucy Lane.
1--WE burned up a temptation" cried
! the girl. DO you think 1 would sell my
soul for a hundred dOllars?''
And once more she burst out crying
Friend Mary sat late that night by
the kitchen fire. She was thinking
Early the next morning she rose and
dressed herself and trOtted down TO
the railway station in time for the {
o'clock train.
81 was never on the cars before" she
murmured, ''and it's just like riding
behind a flying dragon; but for Ezra's
sake I must risk it. He won't leave
Edgefield before night. l must see hin.
first!'
Great was Ezra MintOn's amazement
! that afternoon when the quiet Qual1-
ereSs, in her dove cOlOred gown AMI
and poke bonnet, came into the house
of her sister, Friend Ruhamah Sim
mons, where he was stopping while he
made sundry preparations for his
journey.
Mother, what has happened?' ne
cried.
Nothing has happened, Ezra" said
Friend Mary, her cheeks very pink,
her blue eyes sparkling 81 have
travelled on the railway train. The
Lord has been very good to me, and
have not been dashed to destruction,
and think, Ezra, that thee had better
change thy plans"
Change my plans, mOther"
'Eveline has been with me, Ezra.
She loves thee, think, and I am far on
the way to loving her. There is good
metal in the child. Thee must come
back home with me, Ezra"
DO you mean it. mother-that she
loves me?''
Come and put the question to her
myself, Ezra" cooed Friend Mary. II
feel that I have done her some in
justice. Thee must set that right. Oh,
my boy! my boy! I always felt that
[ Should be jealous of thy wife, be she
whom she might. But, Ezra, don
feel so any more"
She stopped and kissed his forehead.
'"Thee must make haste, Ezra, The
flying dragon goes back at Z. do not
know that Eveline expects thee, but
Ezra Minton went back with Frien1
Mary. And though she had lost her
hundred dollars, poor, lonely little Eve
line had gained a double recompense-
loving husband and a mother-in-lav
who helped her in all weak places and !
fully appreciated her strong points.
For" softly spoke Friend Mary, !
81 am always willing to confess when |
I have been altogether in the wrong"