Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1893-11-16

sleep.
Spreading the hay over him, SO that
TO n casual glance his presence would
not be detected, Miriam FASTENED back
TO the house. lt was not until after her
adopted mother was In bed that she
found an opportunity 10 steal 0 again,
and then a found him conscious, but
too weak TO speak. With her help, how
ever, he was able to eat a little more,
and then making him understand as
| Wen as she could that She would come
again in the morning, and leaving
water where he could get 1t, and q lamp
securely fastened in a bracket, close by,
she returned to the house.
But the next moring on visiting her
patient, to her grief and disnsay she
found him delirious-raying about some
one or some place he was trying TO
~find-which seemed TO dance mockinSly
ahead of him and inst elude his grasp.
To nov him now was Impossible; 10
get medical aid under the circum-
stances seemed equally difficult, and
she finally concluded 70 administer sGch
simple remedies as We're at hand in the
house for that day, and IL that did NOT
avail. TO risk everything end procure a
doctor for him. Every moment she
could steal away she sat by his side
bathing his hot head and hands and
listening. while the tears poured down
| her cheeks, to his piteous appeals for
help, for shelter, for food-for some
thing that seemed more urgent than all
| these, but which was expressed In
| words that made it utterly unintelligi-
BILE to her. BY evening he seemed so
/ Is~&ln 80 n~ hnftn. fhnf Che 4lp1Dr~
mined to watch hira all night, and with
| the first dawn to go for a q. tor, get
him TO keep her secret, II he would,
until the patient could be moyed-Dut
at any cost to bring aid.
She had returned to the house after
one of these visits to make such prep
aratbns as her plans required, when
, the rattle OF wheels was heard before
the door, and a moment later Mr.. Mel
son came in.
What brings you back home so very
soon?' his wife exclaimed, springing
to meet him, And what makes you
look so strange? Have You bad, news?'
God only knows IL it be good or
bad" he answered huskily. at is either
the best or the worst Of news, Molie-
for it tells us that our boy, whom we
have mourned as dead all these years,
is alive and actually on his way to US,
or that he has persisted almost at our
very door. / cannot tell you the story
now; / can hardly credit it myself; but
our boy, stolen By tramps so many
years ago. learned in some way that HE
parents were living here, and according
TO the letter i have from AN old friend
out West, was known to have come on
here I try and find us. / have traced
him almost, If not quite, to this very
town, and there the clew Is lost. Who
knows but he may have been turned
from some door, just as so many have
been turned from ours, and so be loE
to us forever? He may have falle
sick on the way, be poor, destitute a.
well as homeless-only a tramp, poor
fellow; who would believe or take pity
on himT' F.
"Oh. husband-no, mop began Mrs
Nelson in an agony of agitation, bu,
Miriam glanced at him ms he threw
back his hair from his forehead with q
quick, nervous gesture, sprung forward
and grasped his arm.
Come with me-" she exclaimed
Quick, q~uick--for Gods sake!"
Still clutching his arm, she hurried
him out of the house and to the barn,
never stopping until she reaches the
side Of the poor stranger, once more
tossing in delirium. One look Mr.. Mel.
son cast at him, then started back with
a groan, which was answered by q
woman's shrek as his wife sprung past
him and fell on her knees by the sick
man, and, clasping his head in her
arms, rained tears and kisses upon it.
My Herbert-my boy-my very
own!" she exclaimed. "Oh, thank God
thank God!" then suddenly compre-
hending the situation, she sprung up
and caught Miriam to her heart.
This is what you have done" she
cried. Saved my bcy-my Herbert,
who must have died but for you. Oh,
bless you-bless your and then sunk In
a swoon at her feet.
When she recovered she was lying In
her own bed, and Miriam seated beside
her. her face bathed in a rain OF happy
tears.
where is be-my boyY' she gasped,
sitting mp right. is 1t really true, or
only Il dream!
Really true, mother" was the low
response. HE is in his own room once
I more, anu Tie ucStOI says dlt1odsh sc
is very low, he has strong hopes"
And those hopes were realized when,
a month later, Herbert was able to sit
ND and tell a story that sounded like a
| fairy tale, and how, in following the
faint clew, hs had become utterly des-
titute, then LII and half-craZed.
But this good angel found and had
compassion on me-" he said, clasping
| the hand that rested on the arm of the
chair and holding Ii close. ITO her, to
whom / owe under Providence my life
and restoration to you, thct life belongs
while it lasts"
'tAnd most willingly do / grant It,"
| said Mr.. Nelson, casting q fond glance
at Miriam's radiant face that had told
it's own sweet story ere now. 1T was
the very essence of love that gave her
courage to aid and bcfriend a nameless
tramp at the risk of her own welfare,
and that enabled her TO trace the like,
ness that gave me back my boy. With
al! my heart | welcome her as a daugh-
ter-nearer, but not more dear than
she has been to us all these years"
All hearts were too fun TO say more
| just then. but a few months later, lean
inc IN rho arm of Harhprt Nelson