Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-03-16

Harold was perfectly calm &C he
pushed the paper into his pocket and
stepped to the stairway to call his sis
heart all a-flutter with agitation.
Harold, have you found it?" She
asked, huskily.
He bowed his head and the glow OF
triumphant satisfaction on his face
was pitiful. He led his sister gently
along the hall to the old rotten stoop.
Here they sat down in the crimson
glow of the sunrise and Harold opened
ter. She came down presently, her
the paper and read:
Dear Wife-In trying to atone for
one sin have been guilty of another
perhaps greater. But, when you
know all, am sure you will forgive
me. | will be brief. When a child |
was left an orphan. A wealthy and
childless couple adopted me. | was
reared in luxury, and when was old
enough l was sent off to college. While
there l made the acquaintance OF some
dissipated young men, and soon
learned to drink and gamble. 1t was
not long until was deply involved in
debt-debts of honor, as they were
called. was ashamed to ask my fos-
ter father for the large sums needed,
but being threatened with exposure
promised to satisfy my creditors on
my return from my vacation, If they
would wait.
Banks were not as common then as
they are now, and / had learned that
my father kept his money in an iron
box in the study. His keys he always
carried with him. The night before |
was to return to school | stole to his
room and secured them. | had intend-
ed to take only a sufficient sum to pay
my debts, but when the chest with It's
treasure lay open before my eyes a
wicked impulse overmatched me, and
| decided that it should be mine. I
packed the money in my portmantean.
locked the box, fastened the study
door, returned the keys to my fathers
pocket, and, returning to my room,
waited impatiently the coming of day.
1t CHANGED the following morning, &c
being a busy season, that a servant
could not be spared to drive me over
to the railroad. | was to go over
alone and the team sent for later.
There was a swollen stream on my
route, and as drove in sight scheme
occurred to me that / had not thought
of. | stopped the buggy at the waters
edge, and, lifting my grips to the
roadside, cast the reins over the dash
board, and then gave the horses cut
ting lash. They plunged with bound
into the muddy water. watched
them until they reached the further
shore, and then concealed myself in
the woods. They would think me
drowned and mourn me as dead.
THAT night / walked to distans
station and took train for the West.
After years of wandering, ever stung
with remorse, came to this place and
opened my farm. / resolved to make
what restitution was possible, the larg-
er part of my ill-gotten wealth b. this
time having been squanderek 50 scant
was the living that / tool5 from my
Furgis. | was glad, for 1t made me
more secure in my purpose and my
concealment. l sent the proceeds OF
each years crop to the widow of my
foster father, for he had died soon
after my flight. / have, at last, re-
turned every dollar of the stolen
money, and the farm, free from in
cumbrance, is yours. This is mySstory.
| need not speak of the remorse, the
fear, the suppressed love that | have
felt all the sad years. Forgive me,
and think OF me as your loving hus-
band.
u. II. Ftigis.G
The paper fell Tutoring to the steps
A breath of air caught and whfrleiaat
out over the tangled weedsv Harold
gazed for a moment toward I'd sunrise
that flared red above the treet& then
his head sank to his knees and "A kroau
burst from his lips. His sister was
weeping silently, her head on his arm.
Motionless, silent. they sat for minuteay
then Hettie, looking up through her
tears, said softly: Brother, ! Ec-sS3
dreamed II would be like this"
For weeks there was not a sign of
life about the old ruins. But one
bright morning Harold came forth q
new man, and went energetically to
work Now the tenant houses are oc-
cupied, the farm blossoms as the
rose" and handsome modern struc-
ture crowns the eminence.
Harold and Hettie found where theis
treasure lay hid.--New Orleans Times