Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-11-28

q MISS NluSSiVN. sue WAS SOENrlSNN To
find that she took a lively interest in
I the preparations for the dinner. and
! when Thanksgiving day dawned, with
a frosty and ntpptng air, she was in
! rlined TO be proud of the success ot
/ her undertaking. in one respect, 1t
! had proved To her that there WAS a
+ p}eas&nter way Of passing her time
/ than i'll hrooding over her sorrow An
day she was strangely huoyant and
/ cheerful, AS ii possessed by a presenti-
ment that something very pleasant
was about to happen.
And that afternoon something did
happen something that was not down
on Miss ktngslCys programme. The
| busy young woman had entered the
kitchen to give some final directiou
to the cook, when she observed that n
! strange man was sitting quietly in a
chair on the opposite side of the room
She paused abruptly aud stared NJ him
With flash of startled recognition IN
her eyes.
"A poor tramp, mum, what asked
for bite to eat" explained the cook
apologetcally.
But Miss Kingsley did not hear. The
color was coming and going In her
cheeks, and she grasped the back of a
chair as If to steady herself
Maurice CRANKY" she said, In low
but distinct voice, IN It be possi-
BILE"
The recognition was evidently mt
tual. The stranger rose to his feet, II
picture Of astonishment and confusion
lie was strikingly handsome man.
tall and straight MS an arrow. with u
dropping brown mustache lie GER
tainly had not the appearance Of n
tramp, except that his clothing was
! threadbare, and even ragged in places,
and he wore no o>ercoat.
II beg pardonr he stammercd
Il did not know"
But Miss Kingsley seemed to sud
denly recover her self-posscsson
Turning to the cook she said:
Never mind Hannah; | will see
this gentleman myself He Is an old
friend of the family" Then, address
ing the man: win you please come
with me, Mr. Granhy?"
lie looked as If he would have pre-
ferred to sink through the floor. but
she had turned and was leaving the
kitchen before he could reply. He fol
! lowed her hesitatingly, mechanically,
! like one in a dream, She led the way
to small room adjoining the library.
There she turned and faced him.
Mr.. CRANKY. will YOU kindly tell
tell me what this means?'
He stood before hor fumhling his
hat in his hands Her question
seemed to increase his confusion. aud
he had to clear his throat several
times before he could find his voice
1T is all an unfortunate blundcr,"
he exclaimed at last, Il did not know
that this was your home. | CHANGED
10 be passing, and thought well,
was hungry, and no, | will not sit
down" as she waved her hand toward
n chair "If you will be good enough
to let me 20 now Will be careful not
to intrude upon you again.
You mistake my meaning" said
Miss Kingsley, with look of distress
II am not asking why you are here
God knows | am glad TO see YOU
What | want to know IL what has
brought you to this-thts condition?
| cannot believe that you have volun~
tarily adopted the life of a"
"Of tramp2" he said, finishing her
sentence with bitter smile
Pardon me, she added, hastily; II
have no right to question you, Pray,
don't misjudge my motive | know
that you are not to blame for the
change In your fortunes; | know that
you are incapable of n wrong act"
He gave her a sharp look, as II he
would read her thoughts
THAT Is n remarkable statement, +"
he said. slowly. Can It be that you
have forgotten why ! ran away from
bone five years ago."
i have not forgotten the miserable
story that was told at that time" she
replied, firmly; but | have heard a
different story since. Mr.. Cranky, my
unhappy brother has told me every
thing"
The man started.
Gle has told AInc," continued the
woman, her face white with suppress d
excitement that II was he and not
yon who forged the check for SIS, 00or
lie told you that? Good heavens!
does your father know"
My father and mother have both
gone 10 another world, Mr. Granny.
Robert and have been orphans for
three years. II was not until after
! their death that he made his confess
sion TO me lie told me Of his youth
full infatuation for gambling and horse
races. how he became so deeply in
yolyed that In moment Of despcra-
tion, TO avert the disgrace lie saw
staring him in the face. he forged the
signature Of depositor In fathers
hank Ipnipu fhIa IN rat rIg Itu 1nugng