Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1898-07-29
THE RETURN
OF ULYSSES.

OSEpH BlNNS walked rapidly
away. Excitement Redeemed his
- cheeks. His eyes glirtered.
Gradually the mood worked Off. his
steps slackened, and he sighed hard
from time to time.
He and his Anne had married too
young. He acknowledged the wrong to
his wife, and when earning good wages
across the seas sent money home to her.
But his letter came back through the
dead letter office. He walked along the
winding lane. not needing his way. He
never thought of Anne rs an old wO-
man. nearly as old as himself. He could
see her in his minds eye rs she ap-
peared in their counting days. a pref
tier lass there had not been in the
whole country side. Fleet us deer,
timid as Il fawn, with soft blue eyes,
and such pretty fluffy hair. Sweethearts
had plagued her enough, but she nout-
ed them all for Joe's sake.
Then how pretty she had looked when
her baby came. He had taken Off his
boots and crept in on tiptoe to see them.
She was lying back OH her pillow, her
arm round little bundle Of clothes
Hsr face was white, but lighted with
such a beautiful smile. he could think
Of nothing but picture he had once
seen of the Mother Mary and the Holy
Child. The peevish moods, the fretful
baby were all later developments. and
he had not been patient. God forgive
him. the girl was only 70 when he left
her. What a fool he had been.
The night advanced. One by one the
stars came out and the glowwOrms
shone in the grass below the hawthorn
hedge. All nature seemed nearer to
the heart of God. The old man felt
himself drawn into the mystery Of that
magic stiffness. A soft. an Overwhelm
| ing sense Of something he had missed
through all his life took possession OF
| him. He lifted his white. lined face tC
the starlit sky of the summer night.
"Our Father" he whispered. "Oul
Father which art in heaven. so help me
l will find her and do my duty by hel
| till die" He went on talking to him
self under his breath for few minutes
then he gripped his stick, squared hi.
shoulders like an old soldier, ant
marched steadily ahead into the dark
ness.
A few days later Lucy Haws set on
to pay another visit to her uncle. Sh'
walked slowly as she approached ,
tiny cottage standing back from tn
lane behind low briar hedge. TIL,
diamond paned easements We're bare
the door nailed up. the garden gait
broken on it's hinges. An air of neglec
and desoation pervaded the littl
dwelling place. Peering over the hedg
with keen curiosity was man. whom
I.ucv at first glance took for a tramp.
She could have vowed he was crying
when she first looked at his side face
but when he turned at her approach
there was such eagerness and hope i
his whole mein that she thought sh
was mistaken.
"Can you tell me who lived here
miss?" he asked. touching his hat pc
ltely.
"Yes. certainly" said the girl: col
Widow Jones. Poor thing, she's in tn
Union now. and there's none to loo
after her bit of garden. Its in ba
state. She'd fret awful to See it..
rs it maybe the Widow Jones tina
was once known as Anne Binns?" h
asked. after quick look over the hedg
at the bit of garden.
"Yes, but that was years ago. befo:S
was born; but folks have been talkin
great deal about her lately
Again the man stared over the hedg
1rcv liked the look Of him. and waite
for him to speak again. But he SCENE
To have forgotten she was there, I
after a last specializing look at h
. white hair and tall figure she went G
her way.
Joseph Blnns walked up the path ar
ronnd the cottage. peeping in at II