Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-08-10
f airy'6 Secret.

"A trip to the Yellowstone. You are
too good to me, papa"
| took her i'll my arms, my only
child, from whose cheek the rose had
faded, and in whose deep-brOWn eyes
sad shadows had grown. She was of a
nature peculiar to those whose child
hood days have been spent with elderly
people. She felt deeply. Events that
merely rutI1ed lighter natures left last
ing effects upon nGr. L had watched
her tenderly since her mother had put
her in my arms and left me alone.
When she grew lstless and the sweet
eyes dropped L laid aside all cares and
took her away. She looked SO like her
mother the day we took the train ut
Chicago. Her brown dress just match
ing her eyes, lent Il deeper shade to
her chestnut hair. AS we neared a
city in Northern Illinois Fairy eXclaim-
ed: "Oh, papa, is this another Rome?
Surely it is city built on seven hills"
''Galena" shouted the brakesman.
What climbers the people must be
here she continued, looking at some
of the long rows Of stairs ascending the
steep hills.
The city seemed to be laid out in ter
races. We stood ut the foot Of Main
street and looked up at two of these
terraces, with trees of immense height
apparently on each.
NO wonder Grant was 50 good on
the tramp, after living in Galena.' y
Fairy said, with Il touch of her old
time humOr that cneered my heart
We did not stop i'll Iowa, with it's
pretty rivers and woody knobs. But
the brakeman, calling Boone, awakened
me from my day dreams. Fairy" [
said, this is the bridge Kate Shelly
crossed
BY hero Worshipper flushed with
pleasure, and as she looked down 800
feet into the raging torrent her cheek
paled. /, too, felt Il thrill of admiration
for that brave woman who crossed
that structure alone, in Il fearful
storm, risking her life for humanity S
sake. | settled myself comfortably and
prepared to go to sleep Fairy read
II while, but soon drew Il loclet from
her dress. She touched the spring and
the sad look came again to her sweet
eyes. | had tried to learn her secret.
Was she signing for mothers love?
Perhaps / had better get married, !
thought. | resolved TO give the matter
serious thought at some future time.
Unknown to Fairy, | resolved to stop
over at Cheyenne, where she was born,
and ELLA, my wife, was called away.
off tp
visit the old fort. 1t would be like old
times to see the boys again.
do you remember Capt. Story
Fairy?" | asked her. He is an Old
fellow like me, but a nobler soul never
inhabited Il human body"
| did not think then that Fairy heard
She turned her head quickly and caught
her breath You wish to stop to see
him, papa" she asked. sweely.
How well | remember the morning
he came two years agO-yOu were 10
grille. He asked for you as if yOl
were a 2-year-old. We saw you kneel
in over flower bed, your white dress
and flowing hair making a prett!
picture. Do you remember L told yOl
to come and kiss papa's friend? How
Hal went to kiss you and you drew
back so proudly! He rated me SOundl.
for not telling him you were lad.
grown. Why, Fairy, it seems bu
yesterday that you played upon on
knees at the old fort. You were sucl
good friends after that. Why, Hal Wa
like second father" And SO | rat
tied Gu lost in old memories.
Hal had stayed at our house for 81.
months, and had left suddenly,
thought He smiled strangely,
thought, when L, with a father
alteration, was charging upon Fairy
charms.
NO, BERTHE" he said, L don't wan
a daughter"
While L had been dreaming we ha,
passed over the great plains, with thei
huge herds of cattle and pretty western
cities. Cheyenne was reached at last
How changed it seemed! Some of tn
dear faces We're the same. They GRASP
ed my hands, these old comrades, an
l was young again. l was surprised
when, turning suddenly, [ saw a tai
slender lady put her arms aroun
Fairy and kiss her sadly. l knew hel
Elinor, my wife's friend and the widoN
of our loved commander. She, too, wa
visiting the fort. At the hop mex
evening it dawned upon me that Fair
was no longer Il child, and that sh
was as lovely as Ella (my wife) wa
when I first saw her and gave her m
heart. But why did the girl look $
wistful. l went to where she stood.
Fairy, Capt. Story left last nigh
for California. [ am so sorry"
Elinor Aloe's arm tightened abou
Fairy's waist. Although the dear gil
never fiinched, yet her cheek palet
Elinor knew then, [ think, what Fairy
secret was.
Are you blind, captain?" she aske
me one day. To save my soul
couldn't see what she meant She wa
lovely woman of about So, with
face sweet and sympathetic and cal
riage like a queen. She suggested tina
we pay visit to her home i'm SAINT
Barbara and see the Yellowstone O.
our way back. We readily consented