Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-06-15

/ w ulZe me, QlTc say.
| But they did: the newspapers tina
heralded his name, and the old neigh
bors who remembered him as a boy
wanted to see the great man he had
become.
| a number of old friends, as they
were pleased to call themselves, UNDER
! took to show him around and to point
out the improvements that twenty
years had brought about.
There was a new court house. a new
! Jail. and, lastly, Il fine. large building,
lately erected for the county poor.
| Bob did not care a copper cent to be
shown any of these affairs, but he had
! his own reasons for being civil. hence
he permitted himself to be dragged
hithcr and thither and at last actually
found himself inside the handsome
new poorhouse.
'"The matron will show us through"
said the obsequious friend. who
knows but you may run across some OF
your old acquaintances," he added.
with Il light laugh.
In one of the large halls they pass
ed Il woman bending over little child
who was sobbing bitterly. The woman
sat in low armchair, and her face
was hidden. but the mass Of brown
bair rolled in a knot at the nape of
her neck was heavily streaked with
gray.
Get out Of the road, Jimmy" said
the matron. You are always getting
hurt" Then turning to the woman she
said, "Have you finished the shirts?"
The woman raised her head and re-
piled softly that she had. The sun
light streaming in through the window
brought her head and face and slight
form into bold relief.
He saw her plainly, her voice had
betrayed her even before he had
known or guessed her identity. Yes,
it was Louise. older, Trailer. helpless
and a beggar. no. not exactly that, for
it seemed even here she was toiler as
of old.
my God!" he thought, "how long
has she been here?"
But they hurried him on, and when
|
had not reached it any too soon. He
was never so near a fainting fit In his
life.
Are you i'll, Mr.. Hunter?" inquired
more than one.
"A little" he replied. II think
rest until supper"
But no sooner did he find himself
alone than he sent for one of the
maids. girl that he knew had always
lived in the place.
MARY" said he, Il want to ask you
a few questions. and you're not to tell
any one a thing shall say. If l make
you present of IS, do you think you
can hold your tongue"
Mary tossed her head and eyed the
So bill.
Il can tell the truth without being
paid. AS for telling anything else, no
money could make me do that"
very well, my girl. l only want the
truth. When was Louise Upton taken
| toto"
| He did not finish, something seemed
to choke back the word.
The girls eyes opened and grew
| round as saucers. All, she remember
ed now hearing her granny tell that
Louise Upton had once had a lover
who had gone away and grown rich.
Could it be this was hep
only year ago." she answered
softly. plying the man she saw was
| really suffering. "She worked as long
as she could, but it was rheumatism
| crippled her feet and she could not
run machine, then her hands were
bad, too, and-and there wasn't any
one to take care of her, so she asked
to be put where she is"
"How long has her aunt been dead?"
| Her aunt? Oh. l can just remem-
Der her; about fifteen years, think.
But nicer, sweeter lady than Miss
Louise couldn't be found. Lots Of Us
cried and would have helped her, but
she said no, she would go where she
belonged"
"Where she belonged" repeated the
rich man in Il tone of voice that made
tie girls eyes sparkle.
Here is your money; take it, and
III not forget you, either"
Thank YOU" said the maid, smiling
joyously. You are very kind"
Very kind! Did the walls take up
the words and echo and re-echo them?
Kind. very kind. Him; kind?
He sat for an hour with closed eyes
and compressed lips; then as the
shades of evening stole around he
passed out and sought once more the
matron of the county iniirmary.
1T is not the hour for VISITORS" she
said GROSSLY.
But when he explained that he must
see one of the inmates privately, and
rendered another So bill, he was quick
ly admitted.
He waited for her in a cold, damp
room called the reception room, and
she came at last-at last. The door
opened softly, there was a thump
thump of two crutches over the floor
and Louise, wondering and surprised
stood before him.