The Van Buren press., 1895-07-13

horse thief ON the eve Of his capture.
he was known TO have started for Mau-
villa, and was supposed to be hiding
some where in the near town. The po-
lice had been notified the evening be-
fore, and had placed . watch at the
station and whsrves No one suspect
ed my share In the transaction, but, OF
course, made an enemy of Mr.. SEM
pie. He now used his influence and
authority to hamper and annoy me In
20 many ways that l clearly saw he In
tended to make me resign my position,
and only waited for the coming enter
tainment to be over. had bought .
new supply Of the articles l had taken
for the boys disguise, and often won
dered what had become of him, not
daring to have any inquiries made
among the sea captains
had lived In Mauvils many years,
but had come there perfectly unknown
after my parents death. I had some
stanch friends. but none as influential
as Mr.. Semple, and feared should
find it difficult to maintain q school In
opposition to the one he favored.
Away back In the long ago Of my
youth had had my romance-had loved
and been beloved. We had, however,
parted about a question Of duty. I re-
fused to marry at the age of sixteen
and leave my parents to seek better
health and fortune in Oregon. So my
y. 4 q tv ko<
shortly afterward we moved west.
My father failed in business there,
and felt the sting Of failure 50 keenly
that he forbade me holding any corre-
spondence with our former friends. We
wandered about for some years, always
growing poorer. until he died, aud soon
mother followed him. was penni-
less orphan, and, more, a broken
hearted woman, for had heard that
my lover, the idol Of my heart in spite
of his injustice to me, had been lost at
sea. Sc did not care to return to our
old home, or let anyone know Of my
destitution. tried my luck in several
places with varying success; finally
drifted south again, and settled In
MauvilA-
Thus Il came to pass that month
after this adventure l was sitting In
my room one evening very blue over
my prospects, when the servant an
nounced: 1.-TWO gentlemen to see you,
miss"
"Didn't they give their names?"
ssNo'm."
j hurried downstairs, and there, as
suspected, was my boy, who rushed
out of the parlor to greet me.
"What must you have thought of me,
Miss Emma, for not writing to let you
know how easily your thief escaped
Indeed, it was not ingratitude. I'll re-
member it forever, but l didn't know
your surname, though came near ad-
dressing a letter to Miss Emma the
Good WhenI got back, two days after
we parted, found the people of the
house where boarded somewhat un-
easy about my prolonged absence, but !
easily accounted for 1t to them. There
were two letters awaiting ME from ia
ther and the president Of the college.
Father wrote for me to join him dur.
ing the rest Of my vacation, and tho
president had consented.
As soon as could muster courage to
do SO told father all about it. He
didn't scold, but shook his head sadly,
saying that had inherited from him
my hasty, impulsive disposition. He
proposed our returning together to
Mauvila in order to thank you person.
ally. Some unexpected business de-.
layed him, but here we are. By the
way, what is your other name?"
"Wilder," / murmured, rs we en-.
tered.
.Father, here's the kind preserver Of
the honor Of the name of Brooke, Miss
Emma"
but my name was lost in the cry that
burst from the lips of the man who had
risen to meet us.
"Emmal Thank God! have found
You at last"
George! is it you come back from
the dead?'' tried to say, but mist
swan before my eyes, and 1t was some
moments before could see or speak
For it was the lover of my youth
silvered, bronzed and furrowed by
times plowshare, but still unmistak
ably he to whose memory my life had
been cohsecrated.
In the meantime George the Second
(as / henceforth called my boy) hat
disappeared, and George the First wa
holding my hand tenderly, but firmly
as ifit belonged to him.
II heard you were dead. and hav,
mourned for you ever SINCE"
mo, dearest, was not lost at sea
though I had q narrow escape, ant
every one thought had perished. Or
my return to my native land I heard o.
your departure for the west and sub
sequently of your marriage -rumol
lied that time. At any rate, the old
place without you was hateful to me
SO settled in the north, where 'soor
afterward married Georges mother
She was a sweet, good woman and .
true wife, and did my duty by hel
faithfully for the few brief years o.
our married life, but have loved only
one woman. Can you forgive the past;
May hope that you still care for me
since you have remained single?'
II have ever been faithful to the old
love, George, butt am too old now tc
think Of marrying"
Yet I did not feel at all old as said
30. II seemed to me as II my youth
with all its hope and enthusiasm, had
been borne back to me on this food
tide of joy