Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-06-04
By j. II. CONNOLLY.


he was doing his duty as an officer Of
execute that warrant. | hope you do not
cherish any i'll feeling toward his mem
DRY on that account, John"
Il certainly do not, sir. l never look
ed upon Sim as an enemy of mine, and /
am sincerely sorry for him. He was an
honest man, who tried to do what he
thought was right, and if he made a mis-
take now and then, it is no more than
most of us are liable to-"
Il wish, growled Uncle David, "that
it could be got out of the fool heads of
some of these Mulyeils that John is in
some way responsible for Sims death"
II guess l can knock that idea out bet
ter than anybody else" suddenly interpo-
lated the big stranger who had for 4
short time appeared in the church, now
rising from behind a clump of elder
bushes, where he had been lying in the
grass, an involuntary listener to their
conversation.
Sim Mulveil"' exclaimed together the
three men to whom he presented himself.
That's me-" he responded. with grin.
"And you were not drOwned?"
Not enough to stay drowned. 1t was
a pretty close cal though. After we
went through the ice, the first l knew
| was being rolled on barrel, on my
stomach, aboard a tugboat going down
the Ohio, and l learned that somebody
with a boat hook had snaked me out of
the river below the Point, where the
channel was open. When l came to, l
felt sort Of disgusted with things gener-
ally, including myself, and instead of
coming back, l just kept on going. The
tugboat went no farther than Steuben-
vile, to get a barge. L got a job on a
river steamer and kept on down to Gin
cinnati and from there to New Orleans.
L don't know as | would ever have come
back, but l got a good chance to invest
some money and recollected that | have
Il farm and a mill here to sell. And, in
coming back, the thing that has worried
me most has been what it was my duty
to DO about that warrant l had for John
Cameron. l had sworn it out myself, on
information and belief but l never real
~ believed he was guilty. i guess rum
gave me i good many of my bad ideas in
those days, and Rufe Goldie was But,
pshaW! There's no use throwing blame
OLL Ol Il uGdu IlitlIl uGStINeu 10 Dc
drowned, on my own account. Well, to
get back to the warrant; | didn't know
whether l ought to arrest John and give
him a chance to clear himself, or Just
let the whole business die out. But it
never would really die out, so long as the
record stood on the sQuire'S books that
there was Il warrant out against him for
theft. 1t worried me, l tell you, and |
came here to-day mainly in the hope of
meeting John and arranging with him to
do as he might think best in the matter.
And now that it is settled as it is, I'm
as right-dOwn glad of it as you can be
John Cameron"
He and John shook hands heartily, and
the constable asked:
"How's your wife?"
John REDEEMED and, with an embarrass-
ed air, replied:
Il haven't any"
"What. Didn't you and Hetty Mulveil
run off to Pittsburg and get married?
I'VE eloped, it is true; but the belief
that you had lost your life and the no.
ton that l was somehow to blame for it
put temporary stop to the proceed
ings. Hetty is still Hetty Null
veil, but l don't mean she shall be much
longer, please God"
well, Sim Mulveil-count him dead or
count him alive-won't stand in your way
any more, my boy. Maybe you didn't
know it, but had sort of laundering no.
ton after her once, myself. But I've
got all over that. The river soaked a
good deal of the dunn foolishness out of
me. I'm too old for her. She doesn't
care for me. And I've got other projects
than marrying, anyway. So, if the old
woman is as cross-grained and rambunc-
tious about it as she used to be, III do
what l can to fetch her around and fix
you all right"
And | think it is high time l began
looking after my interests" exclaimed
Mr.. Mcleod with a jocose affectation of
anxiety. Il didn't know until now, John,
that you had run away to be married.
How that secret has been kept beats me;
and am shocked at the idea of my legit-
innate business leaving me in such Il way.
How could you do such a thing, John?"
Indeed, [ never wanted to, sir. 1t
was all her mothers fault, and you
mustn't blame me even if have to do it
again
oh, but 1 will. Come along and let
us see if, with Simeon's influence to help
us, we cannot bring the old lady to
terms"
III John can make sure of the girl. all
four of Us ought to be more than a match
for her mother" laughed Uncle David
\ more utterly amazed woman than
Mrs. Mulveil, when they presented them
selves before her, it would be difficult to
imagine. She had just got her collation.
spread out on the grass. and Mr.. Roger
McFarlsne, her guest, was carving 4
roast chicken with a dexterouS grace
that was her admiration. when the min
iSter's Salutation of her by name claimed
her attention. and. looking up. she be-
held before her the face of the supposed
drowned man Simeon.
OF course, rs preliminary to all else,
he had to tell over again the story of his
escape. and. as she constantly interrupt
ed him with EXPLANATIONS and questions,
the narration took more time than when
il was made before As may be SUppOS-
ed, that opportunity was not neglected by
John and Hetty, who withdrew them
selves 4 little from the group to exchange
fervid assurances of undiminiShed recip-
rocal affection and renew their vows of
immutable constancy. Finally, he said
to her:
You promised ME in Pittsburg that
when I came for you and said the word
you would marry me. Didn't you?"
Yes. John"
We'll, I'm here, and the word is now.
We have come to settle this business at
once"
oh was all she could find breath to
say.
At that moment Cousin Simeon finish
ed his story. and John. stepping forward
and addressing himself TO Hetty's moth
er. said:
Mrs. Mulveil. love Hetty, and Hetty
loves me, We are going 10 be married
snd would like TO have your consent, If
you have no objections"
John Cameron" she replied. deliber-
stely. I've no doubt you are as gpod as
the general run of young men nowadays
and mean all you say; but l have said
and declared that Hetty should not mar
~ you"
Yes, l know You have. but no matter