The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1895-10-03

came walking down, little under the
influence of liquor, l guess, for his
legs seemed to be tangled. He was
looking toward the city for a boat,
suppose, when suddenly he reeled to
one side and went plumb over into the
lake. The water was 10 or Is feet
deep where he went in, but 25 feet
nearer shore man could touch bot
tom. I was sitting close to where he
went over, and without a thought l
just slid ill., grabbing a loose board on
the pier as 1 went, and when he came
up pushed the board under him and
towed him into shallow water. 1t was
all done in two or three minutes, and
didn't attract much attention from the
people, though maybe hundred gath
cred round as he came out. He asked
me- to get him chair and have him
wheeled to the nearest exit, and hur-
ried up, and when I got it I wheeled
it out myself. Then 1 got him Il car
riage and as he got in he asked me
my name and address, and, handing
me $40, told the driver to go to the
Auditorium Hotel A few days after
ward Il man came and requested me
to call on the gentleman. l went
there, and he asked me Il lot of ques-
TONS, and finally said he would like
to have me go with him to California.
l didn't hesitate long. When we got
to San Francisco I found he was a
big gun-nOt like Mackey and that
class, you know, but worth a lot OF
money. He was preparing to build a
row of houses, and he put me in
charge. In Il week he took me off, and
said he was going away for his health
and l must go with him, and in three
days more we were on our way to
Honolulu. He was strange man, and
as he got worse he would have no one
but NE near him. He had no family
but plenty of other relatives. After a
while we returned to San Francisco.
| and a few weeks later he died. l felt
| blue and lonesome enough then, but
what do you think when his wilt
| was opened he had left me $4,000. 1t
couldn't be paid to me just then. and
| was so afraid that there might be
some slip about it that I never wrote
home a word of my good luck, but just
said l was coming back. Ten days
ago they paid me the money-clean
stuff, you know; I've got three drafts
for it in my pocket-and then 1 thought
I'll just wait and surprise her. And
so my wife don't know a thing about
it, and won't till I tell her to-day.
But, ''good heavens!' he exclaimed,
''it has seemed as though we'd never
get there. I've been afraid the ears
would run off the track and kill me,
but then I says, ''Well, if I think I'm
not going to get through safe that's a
sure sign I WILL" and so here 1 am.
I got a letter from her in Chicago, and
telegraphed her to meet me-
And is she well?' queried the lady.
"Oh, yes! but good Lord! you don't
know what she's been through! She's
| been darning clothes and scrimping
herself to send the little girl to school,
and taking in washing to get along
Even the money l sent her she has
boarded for fear Of sickness. I know
how it is! She'll come down to the de-
pot shivering in clothes made for last
summer, but not thinking anything
about that-only thanking God that
I'm back at last. tell you what it
is boys" he continued, looking round
at those who listened, there's moth
ing on earth like faithful wife!'' and
some of the passengers turned away
their heads while their lips trembled
And the train sped en-! Newark was
left behind, and then amid changing
bells the train entered the depot al
Jersey City. The stranger was sitting
at the window silent and rigid. He
was looking for the familiar face, bu
the train was too far down the track
to recognize people in the waiting
. crowd, and he grasped his bags ant
; bundles and was at the door when thu
car stopped. The passengers who ha(
heard his story followed him with Gag
) err eyes. They saw him go stalking III
the platform looking right and left
, Away up at the head of the train a!
if pushed and shouldered back b,
d. }I<