The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-06-16
The Return of ULYSSES.


He acknowledged the wrong 10 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 as an old woman, nearly as old
as himself He could see her in his mind 5
eye as she appeared in their counting days.
A prettier lass there had not been in the
whole country side.
Then, how pretty she had looked when
her baby came. He had taken off his
boots and cTept in on tiptoe to see them.
She was lying back on her pillow with
such a beautiful smile. The peevish
moods, the fretfuI baby were all later de-
velopments. and he had not been patient.
God forgive him! The girl was only 20
when he left her! What a fool he had
beeni
The night advanced. One by one the
stars came out and the glowworms shone
in the grass below the hawthorne hedge.
softness, an overwhelming sense of
something he had missed through all his
life took possession of him. He lifted
his white, lined face to the starlit sky Of
the summer night.
"Our Father" he whispered, "our
Father which art in heaven, so help me
l will find her and do my duty by her
till die" He gripped his stick, squared
his shoulders like an old soldier, and
marched steadily into the darkness.
A few days later Lucy Haws set out
to pay another visit to her unce. She
walked slowly as she approached a tiny
cottage standing back from the lane be-
| hind low briar hedge. An air of neglect
and desolation pervaded the little dwelling
place. Peering over the hedge with keen
curiosity was man, whom Lucy at first
glance took for 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 in his whole
mien that she thought she was mista-
ken.
Can you tell me who lived here. miss?"
| he asked, touching his hat politely.
Yes, certainly" said the girl; cold
Widow Jones. Poor thing. she's in the
| Union now, and there's none to look after
her bit of garden. It's IN a bad state.
| She'd fret awful to see it."
us it maybe the Widow Jones that was
once known as Anne Binns?" he asked,
after quick look over the hedge at the
bit Of garden.
Yes, but that was years ago, before L
was born; but folks have been talking
great deal about her lately
Again the man stared over the hedge.
Lucy liked the looks of him, and waited
for him to speak again. But he seemed
to have forgotten she was there, so after
a last specializing look at his white hair
and tall figure she went on her way.
Joseph Binns walked up the path and
round the cottage, peeping in at the Win
dow back and front. He surveyed the
neglected garden, and thought hard for
some time Then he proceeded to the viii
lage and hired a small bedroom for
week When he was going to bed that
night he pulled his blind down, and look
ed carefully to see there was no chink or
crack through which his movements could
be observed. Then he began to undress.
He wore moleskin waistcoat, bare with
age, but still warm and thick. He put the
garment across his knee and ripped the
lining up the center. After this he thrust
in his hand and drew out some rustling
papers, which he fiattened out and fin
gered separately with tender care. Jo-
seph Binns had been wise in his genera
ton.
My poor old girI-she shall have 'em
ALL he muttered. "TH do the thing
proper and pretty. My word, little An
ne won't know herself"
1t was pathetic how he still cherished
the idea of youth in respect to the wo-
man he was seeking.
The village had delightful food for COS
sip during the next week.
A stranger took possession of Widow
Jones empty cottage, and each day
brought with ii some wonderful transfer
nation. The garden was laid out, the
window cleaned and decorated, the CRATE
mended, the rooms scrubbed and colored
The climax was reached when a big cart
of pied-up furniture drew up in the lane
Then the neighbors came ffocking with
offers of help, but Joseph Binns admitted
no one into his house but Lucy Haws He
had TO make a cOnfidant of some one and |
Lucy had taken his fancy.
At last all was ready. The cottage was |
fit for a bride TO enter. Lucy cIapped !
her hands with delight. Joes heart swell |
ed with proud exultation and anticfpa- |
ton. a haven of rest for the waning
years of his life with the old sweetheart |
OF his youth. Not a cloud should mar
their happiness.
And now go right away, as quick as
ever you can, and fetch her home" said
the girl, with a catch in her voice, as
she helped the old man into his coat and
gave him his hat
The old man was trembling with emo
ton. A pony and cart were waiting in
the lane. He got in and drove quietly
away IN the direction of a large gray
building standing against the hill some |
The porter came out from the lodge.
This isn't visiting day." was the gra-
tultous remark before Joseph Binns in
MS excited mood could frame a request
We come TO fetch some one''-he
brought out the words with difficultv-
some one who doesn't need to have To !
stop here any longer. I'm her lawful bus-
band and want to take her away. Anne /
Jones Is her name-Widow Jones. thar |
was Anne Binns."
Again the porter stared at the old man.
then he looked away and said in an even
voice void Of expression:
Anne Jones, known as Widow Jones
died at O'clock this morning. Coronar,s
inquest tomorrow at leven; fun'ral AT g"
Inc old man stood quiet and motionIess
l ne sun beat iercely down on the white
gates. The clock in the tower hogan n
sdiAe' ana each stroke rang out like a
-uheraI kneh The horse between the
'hatts turned its head and stared wiz
Almost human eyes on the statuA-1iL,
lgure OF the aged man.
Ana when the clock STONED stril,;r,
mere rose from the golden corn acraes
ne Foad the thrilling song Of soar%e-
ark, winch flew upwards toward tho -
4hOi only tiny speck showed darl.I,.
woman. LIZ iiS14-
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Clever Little Stories
y london ourate the other day received 1
N astonishing answer 10 an ir,G,,ir1, -, ,