The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1897-05-27

No, it's only little past 8. Father g
and her dark eyes grew very WistfMI.
tell me all about it once more, won't
you, before we see her? Well never
say anything about it after that, viii
we, father ~
The car dragged slowly along. The
cold grew more intense. The passen
GERS were dividing their time between
3reviHng the weather, the conductor and
the street car company, and listening
to- the only conversation that enliyened
sthe+ downtown trip. But all discom
forts and annoyances were unheeded
by the man in the rough coat and the
little girl in gray, for whom the world
held nothing that afternoon except
themselves and the woman who was
to come in at the Polk street depot at
half past A.
@4 IT'S been ten years since + saw er, :
he said. You was a little teenty thing
then, only q year old. She went away
one night, Feb. IL it was. remember
that Just as well as anything. She Feft
me because I didn't know much; be-
cause was ign'rnt-that was what she,
VIZ SAAS A1OA5AD1I0-g INV ~ We1&'
so, because she had often said the same
thing to me. I couldn't write nor even
read, an she ought to have knowed
better'n to marry me, she said. I was
good to her an kind an tried to- make
up for it in other ways, but she couldn't
stand my ign'r'nce any longer-that
was what she told the neighbo an
guess it's about right. An I don't
knows / blame 'er much. The neigh
bors did, but never said anything
about it. It must be pretty hard for
a bright, well-read woman to be tied
to an ugly old man like me. The on
" thing I ever blamed 'er for was for
leavin' you, bein' IS you was such
teenty thing. But I brought you up
alone the best could. n amt done bad
by you, have I, Rachel?''
/ The little girl was crying softly, and
her only answer was to press his
hand, which she held in both her own.
Il never heard from 'er after that.
4 They went south-her an the music
teacher who boarded next door-at
least, that's what the neighbors said.
About six years ago the blacksmith on
Il IAAC III Lei I'LL C1C1 OoS GILL OA1C 0oJ uoW1A
i in Florida. But l1nowed she'd come
back. felt it in my bones. The day
after she went away commenced to
1 get ready for 'er. made up my mind
she should find things improved when
she come back. couldn't make much
change in myself-it's hard work to
teach an old dog new tricks, you know
so turned my whole attention to
/ you. I've tried to bring you up SO she
wouldn't be ashamed of you when she
got back. And she won't be. Any
body'd be proud of you, Rachel. You
know good deal, don't you, my dear?
3 You know readin' an writin' an his
try an geography, don't you, Rachel =
i "And algebra supplemented the lit
tie girl.
Eyes, and algebry. An you en- play
an sing, too, can't you Rachel?'
Eyes, and say six words in French.
y Her father looked at her.sin Devil
derment for moment, as though stu
\ pefied by the contemplation Of so many
d accomplishments. Then: She'll be-
proud Of you, Rachel, my girl. A king
couldn't have brought you up better. :
he Sdiu, lOuuly.
The little girl seemed thoughtful.
Father" she said edo you suppose
mother has thought Of how hard you
have worked, in the house and out of
it, and how you have pinched and sayedi
end worried along, that L might leaf..t :
4 Do you suppose she will be surprised
at my knowing so much? Do you sup
pose she knows how lonesome I have
n been sometimes without a mother, and
how lonely you have been with nobody
but me to love you? Do you suppose
she knows all we have gone through to-
gether, father, and do you suppose she
loves us now?"
The man regarded her in fright
ened manner, as though struggling
with some latent doubt that had been
called into life by the perplexing ques-
/ ton. But the conflict with suspicion
was brief.
sOf course she does,' he said, stout
ly. elise why does she come back to
Eus ?''
s.Polk street," called out the con-
ductor. depot two blocks west"
The little girl clutched the letter
tightly. They drew their wraps more
! closely about them and hurried out of
: the car and toward the depot, where
the penitent wanderer was to meet
them at 4:30.
al NMAHNETIc MnIJNTAJN S