Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1893-01-05
LED BY FATE.

go directly across the field over the |
hill yonder and you will strike the Dun
das highway" said the conductor, has |
tilv, in reply to the gentleman's inquiry.
The gentleman addressed stood for
a while watching the receding train, and
then set out ms directed. He reached
narrow. dustyro and turned estward,
casting his eyes over the country as he
walked.
No rain had fallen for weeks and the
dust Law in deep drifts along the high
way, and the withered grass by the side
of the road had taken on pale, sickly
hue. From time to time an eddying
gust of wind carried clouds of powdered
earth across the fields and into the faces
of the passers-by.
THE same desolatc region, only grown
worse with age" muttered the stranger;
at was an insane impulse that prompted
me to leave my desk and seek the God
forsaken country. must have been led
on by fate"
With manifest discomfort written upon
his grave features he pursued his rumlna-
tions. Finally he halted and hcsitated
whether he had not better rctrace his
sters and signal the next train to Dun
das.
For some time nc stood evidently alb
sorbed in bitter recollections. There IS
the old tree from which Uncle Zeke tore
many switch to beat me, " he muttered,
"and it has grown large and thrifty.
There is the. old house where spent an
unhappy childhood. The fields where |
drove the oxen still lie waiting for the
plow, and wonder what slave now holds
the handles for the old tyrant. | have
returned to the home of my boyhood, yet
feel no sentiments but those OF bitter
ness. Uncle Zeke must be either dead
or broken with age by this time, but |
owe him nothing. The scars ! wear on
nv shoulders make me almost hate INN,
even now. Yeti have come here"
lie sat down by the roadside and
pressed his head between his hands ana
unused. And as he unused there rose be-
fore him one kind face, the only face
that ever inspired his boyish mind with
o reverence. 1t was the face OF young
s Girl. Uncle Zeke's bound girl, Mile. II
II was she who used to sympathize with
: him in his affection; it was she who used
= TO caress his smarting wounds and pro
o cure healing ointments, and now as ht
u sat the face of this poor girl, more TREND
D less in her youth than himself, seemed tt
smile upon him as OF yore. Her voice
resounded again in his ears, Gliding hin
for his bitter resentment and urging hin
= to forgive his uncle's harshness.
!. After he became a prosperous man Il
= n great city he sometimes wished that h
6. might learn of her whereabouts, and,
n necessary. render pecuniary assistance
en- but the letters which he wrote am
re stamped were always on second though
at torn up, and the project postponed In
'y definitely.
re So the years ran by and he forgot hi
good intentions altogether, but this he
summers day, against his incllnation'
n with feelings of revulsion at his SUI
he roundings, he sits and gazes across tn
It fields which many years before h
ed weary feet have trodden.
'as Even the thought that Millie migf
loi still reside in the old farmhouse did M
lily lead him to rise and hurry forward. q
ne the other hand, he was about to tul
back toward the railroad when the sue
den shrek of a locomotive and a fyir
The train more than half mile distant to
lad him that his delay had decided othe
az wise. ABdlu he inulISiSu'e 1850 ''N
lie been led by fate" :,
lrt lie rose and pursued his way until
came in front of an old, dingy farmhou
which stood back little distance TIC
ma the rad. The dwelling and the 0,
an houses in the rear looked bare and IL
uo sakcn. lie pushed open the ricke
~ gate and followed the wagon track
the side entrance of the house.
As he was about to knock upon
door he caught the loud, complain
voice of an old man. There was
Is installing those hoarse, raspng ton
IS s.Then Uncle Zeke is still alive, thous
20 the stranger, as he dropped his suspend
"A knucklcs against the warped panels
's 81 the door and waited for an answer.
80 no answer came. Again he knock
'2Sh hut there was no response. Nv
Uncle Zeke, guess you have not gro
rs sociable with age muttered the gen
us man. as, with look of determination
90 his face. he dealt the door. vigor
.ss blow.
Thfs time savage voice growl
80 "Come inr' and he pushed open
81 door. In the middle of the room sat
STA bent form of an old man, about as
81. 81 crepit and broken in appearance rs
incidentals of his environments.
SSS The old man riised his head, I
S.25 which the hair hung in white snarls
So his ears, and darteda fierce lock FRO
80 pair of bloodshot eyes upon his visitc
80 "Uncle Zekc. guess you have Tor
$50 ten me-" said the stranger.
ESQ The old man tottered to his feet.
' ~ am no uncle Of yours, you puppy
.a2,1 are your"
'So's The gentleman flushed angrily..
"a am sorry to confess the relationshi
AZ am sure" said he, ''but my nam
.5s Adolph Griffis."
The old mans eyes blazed more fir
Zoo fully than ever, atrd he shook from
80 to foot. $50 We ran away becal
''s's whaIed We when ye deserved it, die
.esh Right in the busy season, too, and
$50 Of hay got spoilt. oh, We scoun
IS I've not forgo ten yc, and If yc were
90 under me agin I'd whale we with
'i0" inch of yer life. We comes back
$50 with yer fine clothes and yer .pock
s.Ss empty as an old boot; bot yell hav
10 times here. No, sir" he roared;
80 never get ceut-not CENT?