Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-07-11


the poorhouse again.
And verify, | have this day met with
great dellyerance," said she, and tears,
the hrst shed in many year, mingled
with the old creatures thanks for this
unexpected happiness. AS Mary was leav-
ing she whispered in her ear, IF your
travels lead you near my Willie's grave
drop tear on it for my sake You'll
ind it under the buckeye tree, where the
tall grass and wild flowers grow"
George had relatives in Chicago, and,
after spending a short time in that city
Mary, remembering Sally's request, ex-
pressed n desire to visit the spot renown-
ed as the burial place of willie and
Willie's father" Ever ready to crafty
her slightest wish, George consented, and
toward the close of mild autumnal day
they stopped at a small public house on
the border of vast prairie. The arrival
of so MISUNDERSTANDING people caus-
ed quite commotion, and after duly in
specting Mary's handsome travelling
dress and calculating it's probable cost,
the hostess departed to prepare the even
ing meal, which was soon forthcoming.
When supper was over and the family
had gathered into the pleasant sitting
room, George asked if there was ever a
man in those parts by the name of Fur
bush.
What, Bill Furbush?" asked the land
lord.
George did not know, but thought like
ly that might have been his name, as his
son was called William.
"Lud, yes" returned the landlord 81
1 I,
from Massachusetts, and | from Var
mont; but poor Teller he was too weakly
to bear much, and the first fever he took
finished him up. His old woman was as
clever creature as ever was, but she
had some high notions"
Did she die, too?" asked George.
"No, but it's pity she didn't, for when
Bill and the boy died she went ravin'
mad, and | never felt so like cryin' as |
did when | see her a tearin' her hair and
goin' on so. We kept her a spell, and
then her old mans brothers girl came for
her and took her off; and the last heard
the girl was dead, and she was in the
poorhouse somewhere East. She was
born there, l b'lieve."
mo, she worn't, either" said the land
lady, who for some minutes had been
aching to speak. mo. she warn't, either:
I know all about it. She was born in
England, and got to be quite a girl be-
fore she came over. Her name was
Sarah Fletcher, and Peter Fletcher, who
died with the cholera, was her own I'M
Gle, and all the connection she had in
this country; but goodness, SUI, what ails
you?" she added, as Mary turned white,
while George passed his arm around her
to keep her from falling. Here, So
phrony, fetch the campfire; she's goin'
to faint"
But Mary did not faint, and after
smelling the camphor, she said, Go on,
madam, and tell me more Of Sarah
Fletcher"
"Sbe can do it, whispered the land
lord, with a sly wink. ''She knows ev.
erybody's history from Dan to Beer
shelby"
This intimation was wholly lost on tho
od-humored hostess, who continued,
Mr. Fletcher died when Sarah waE
small, and her mother married a Mr.,
| don't justly remember his name"
"Temple?" suggested Mary.
Eyes, Temple that's it. He was rich
and cross, and broke her heart by the
time she had her second baby. Sarah
was adopted by her Grandmother Fletch-
err, who died. and she came with hes
uncle to America"
did she ever speak of her sisters"'
asked Mary. and the woman replied:
Before she got crazy she did. Ora
of 'em, she said, was in this country
somewhere, and t'other, the one she re-
mcmbered the best, and talked the moRt
about. lived in England. She said stsA
wanted to write to 'em, but her uncle, lie
hated the Temples, so he wouldn't let her,
and as time went on she kinder forgJs
'em, and didn't know where to direos,
and after she took crazy she never woul1
sneak of her sisters, or own that she had
any
us Mr. Furbush buried near hereT'
asked George. and the landlord answered.:
Little better than stones throw. L
can see the very tree from here, and may-
be your younger eyes can make out tee
graves He ought to have graYeStrSl
for he was Il good Teller
The new moon was shining, and Mafy,
who came to her husbands side, could
plainly discern the buckeye tree, and TIE
TWO graves where willie and Will'e's
father uHU iUlS Httll StttpiilS' XIX
next morning before the sun was up Mary
stood by the mounds where often in
wears gone by Sally Furbush had seen ths
moon go down, and the stars grow pale
in the coming day, as she kept her sire
less watch over her loved and lost.
willie was my cousin-your cousin, ;"
said Mary, resting her hand upon the biz
of board which stood at the head OF the
little graves. George understood hey
wishes, and when they left the plate
handsome marble slab marked the ape:
where the father and his infant son f'ero
buried.
CHAPTER XNIN.
Bewildered, and unable to comprehend
a word Sally listened while Mary toid
her of the relationship between them;
but the mists which for years had