Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-11-03

is answered by country maid.
Il beg your pardon" commences Della,
| in her sweet, low voice, which even ex-
element is poweress to render coarse or
common, "but is there an old beggar man
anywhere on your premises-an old
Scotchman, with a pack upon his back!'
The girls stares at her.
II think you'd better see the sister"
she replies.
She ushers Della into the sitting room,
where in few moments she is Joined by
a lady in the garb of a Sister of Mercy
a lady in every sense of the word, from
the calm yet respectful manner in which
she receives her visitor to the courtesy
with which she enters the room and de-
mands the strangers business.
II hope am not taking great liberty
says Della, ''but I have been told that
you have a poor old man under your roof
one whom you saw being stoned by
some rough little urchin-and as l have
come to Winchester solely in search of
such person, / considered myself entl-
tied to make inquiries of you"
''Your end justifes the means returns
! the sister, gravely, bowling her head. lit
is true taat we have offered shelter to
such poor old creature as you describe,
| but must know more before L can lden-
| tify him with the person Of whom you are
in search"
"The man I mean is Scotchman-very
old and decrepit-not quite right, more
over, in his mind. He has white hair and
a freckled skin-wears velveteen suit,
and had large parcel on his back con-
tanning books of great value
'It has not been our province to exam
inc the contents of his luggage, madam,
| but as far as the remainder Of your de-
scrption goes, think may say it TALES
| with the stranger at present under our
roof But pardon me for asking if this
poor creatures condition is of any mo-
ment to you?"
Della bushes.
II will be frank with you. His personal
safety is of no more moment to me than
of any other old man; but the contents OF
the parcel he has carried away with
him."
II see! Then I need have no hesitation
in telling you that he is in very critical
condition. He had a fit outside our house,
which was the reason / had him carried
liz, and the doctor, who is with him now,
thinks very badly of him"
go! how wish Mr.. LIE Mesurier were
| herew cries Della, impulsively.
The sister starts and looks at her earn
| estly The action causes Della to regard
her in return. She is very pretty wom-
an, Notwithstanding her unbecoming
dress. and cannot have seen more than
five-and- thirty years. But there are
traces of past pain or sorrow upon her
! face which no comfort arising from the
knowledge that she is leading pure and
religious life has had the power to efface.
+ho al 10
/ is unconscious, but it may be satisfac-
ton to you," says the sister after pause.
"No, thank you. / would rather wait.
But it would be comfort to me to ex-
plain the reason of my presence to you"
And whereupon Della discloses as much
of her past history as is necessary to &C
count for her present interest in old
| Strother, and the sister listens, as it is her
mission to do, with all woman's sympa-
| thy.
:"There is no doubt that, under the cir
| cumstances, we shall be justified in
searching the contents of this parcel she
replies: "and how sincerely hope it may
prove to contain what you are looking
| for! You must have suffered greatly.
Heaven send you the reward of your pa
thence and affection"
Delia's eyes fill with tears.
At this moment the servant thrusts her
head into the opened doorway.
eff you please, sister, there's strange
gentleman wants to see yer.
| "Perhaps it is my friend,' suggested
| Della: and at the sound of her voice Mr..
LIE Mesurier steps forward, saying:
According to your directions, Mrs.
! Manners, l.
But as he has got so far a low cry from
| the Sister of Mercy arrests his sentence,
and he turns hastily to confront her star
tied face. At that sight all composure de-
SORTS him. Della, watching his counte
nance. sees it change with the rapidity of
lightning, as dozen conflicting feelings
mass over it in quick succession; then he
darts forward, as though to clasp the
| stranger in his arms, but checks himself
suddenly, to exclaim in a low voice of be-
wildereG surprise:
"Adela, is it YOU"
"Yes, yes, it is l." cries the woman.
"But this meeting, as you must suppose,
was completely unprecedented. Now let
me go without further questioning.
She attempts to leave the room, but he
bars her exit.
81 cannot let you go without an expla-
nation. For fourteen years we have been
separated, and my existence has been
living grave without you. have tried to
overcome my love for you without sue
cess, and now that we have met again, If
the past can never be renewed. at least let
me have the privilege of counting you
among my friends.
at cannot be. You ask what is lmpos-
sibe / am not worthy.
"Haye our miserable, separated lives.
then. had no power to wash out unworthi-
ness? You know how mine has been
spent. / see now how you have employed
yours. 1 have forgiven. Let us both
strive to forget"
NO forgetflness can wash out crime,
she answers.
ssMr. LIE Mesurier, had l not better
leave the room 90 asks Della, to whom this