Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-12-26

tedious beginning of that dreary New
Years eve.
1t was strange party OF three that
was at last driven downtown to listen to
New Years noisy way of ushering in the
new year. The sky was clear, the moon
Shone brilliantly through the transparent
azure, the crowd was uncountable, and
the noise was simply prodigious. OF
course the bells were heard not at all.
but the hOrn-blOWerS maintained their
reputation to the very utmost. Miss
Helene was in great spirits, at least APP
parently, and her gayety was so con-
tagiOuS that at times the young man
half forgot his troubles. But the dreary
and hateful jingle would intrude itself
and the horns kept repeating it over and
over.
The mother was clearly i'll at ease,
but, though silent in the main, she re-
Trained from actual rudeness, and at last
they drove back to the hotel When
young Roberts handed the ladies from
the carriage the older one gave him let
ter, and they separated--aS he thought
forever Yet there was a look in the
girls eyes as she prettily babe him good
night that awoke a fleeing resolution on
his part, Il resolution that was smoth-
cred while yet only half formed, by the
monotonous clamoring Of the old refrain:
A wasted life
And fortune gone,
He looked at his watch and drove to
the club. Ballard was still there, sur
rounded by a little crowd of jolly chaps.
When he saw the drawn face Of young
Roberts he knew that something was
wrong, and, eXcusing himself, insisted on
taking his guest apart and questioning
him closely. At first Roberts was silent,
! but the strain became too great and he
finally made 4 clean breast of the whole
Ditiful story
Have you read the letter." uueried
Ballard, who had made no comment, but
whose sympathy was plainly reused, for
his gayety had quite departed. IF not,
go through it while [ leave you for a
little. Then pull yourself together, and
We'll discuss things. Nothing can be so
bad that it can't be mended. Brace up:
this matter can all be Strengthened out -
The letter was brief and to the point
In 1t Helene'S mother set out clearly the
with direct frankness upon Roberts in
eligibility, reciting concisely what she
knew as to the squandering of his for
tune, and winding up with a cutting
request that in future he should keep
out of her daughters way
Th first effect Of this missive was
good. Roberts remembered that he had
never introduced himself, and his intention
never to do so. And he was moved with
/ irresistible desire to begin life anew and
prove to this plain-SpOken woman that
there was something of good still left in
him.
Then Ballard returned. He did not
read the letter. but he knew intuitively
what it contained, and he had plan
which he outlined rapidly and concisely.
At Its conclusion he said:
L don't care what you do about the
girl, but should you accept my advice
you will be able to win her in case you
will wish to. And as for your talk
about winding, things up why, that's
sheer nonsense"
A great ocean liner sailed out of the
harbor of New York next day. One of
its passengers was Raleigh Roberts, and
so far as Helene Spanghell knew, or her
mother, or anyone else in America save
Ned Ballard. this passenger completely
disappeared from earth on that day, re-
manning noneXistent for five long years.
Then. on the last day of Decemb Der, the
same ship sailed into port. 1t had made
many trips across the Atlantic mean
while, but this was the first time it had
brought with it Il certain passenger
named Roberts. This passenger, how
ever, was not the same who had sailed
away half decade before: this man S
face, though not entirely unlike that of
the other, was bronZed and bearded,