The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-02-02

latter put a stout leather purse into
his hand.
Stammering out his thanks as best
he could, the boy turned away; but
not in time to prevent his hearing
the gentleman remark to the bystand-
ers: He is only a washerwoman's
SON.
Only washerwoman's son. What
did the gentleman mean?' thought the
lad, as he retired to remote corner
of the wharf, where he sat musing,
with his feet in the water and his
newly acquired wealth Rugged up in
his hand"
"Ibrahim, who was the lad? Please
tell me-"
Ibrahim, whose face had grown
stern and hard, motioned Lillian to
keep silent and continued:
after long meditation, the boy
took his fortune, apples and all, and
went home. He showed the money
to his mother, and told her how he
had gotten it; but he did not tell her
he had learned that he was only a
washerwoman' SON
The next morning that boy went
out into the world with a peddIer's
pack. His mother, a Jewess, helped
him to select his vocation and his
goods. At 16 he set sail for Australia,
with his mother for companion"
AS Ibrahim proceeded with his story
his countenance grew gradually more
stormy; but, save for an occasional
sarcasm, there was no hint of it in
his voice or language. A fearful dread
was pictured in the countenances of
his hearers. After pause. he contin-
ued:
There is no need to recount the
boys struggles. Success unhoped for
crowned his efforts, and he is now one
of the wealthiest men in either Mel
bourne or New York, in both of which
! places he has large interests. When
that lad, now a man, came back to
! New York it was with purpose. For
this reason he prepared to take and
| to keep the place in social lie to which
his wealth assigned him. This was
not difficult, for to his Jewish blood
was added that of sociable, bright
witted Irishman. who had bequeathed
to his son only these qualities.
You viii understand that it took
this man but short time to discover
the parents of the child he had saved
/ at the Brooklyn ferry, when 1 tell you
I that he still had the old pocketbook
and the card it contained in his pos
/ session. He found the little girl, now
! grown into a beautiful and accom-
! plished woman, and Immediately set
1 himself to win her love; not for her
beauty, not for her wealth, not for her
! goodness, but for his own sweet re-
venge. Now. Lillian, i am ready to
answer your question. and to tell you
that that lad was Ibrahim, and that
you were the little girl"
The speaker paused. Anguish was
written upon the faces of the Ingrams
Lillian uttered no word She contin-
ued in the same stony posture, and
stared in the same stony stare. bra
him looked anxiously in her direction.
Seeming to be satisfied on her ac-
/ count, he drew from his pocket two
! purses. one old and dingy, the other
new and shining. Stepping to the side
/ of Mr.. Ingram, he said:
l AAi. ing Id4lAs mere - your money
hundredfold, and in new purse.
The cid one I shall retain because
my vow was laid upon it. That vow
is paid, and the 'washerwoman's SON
is now your equal"
Ibrahim took his place aside, and
| regarded the family whose various
members sat like persons under some
hidden spell BY degrees the anger
and bitterness died out of his face.
and the sunny smile that he had in
! herited from his Irish father came to
take its place.
That smile seemed to bring life back
! To Lillian's frame. She rose with the
dazed air of one coming out of trou-
bled sleep. With swift strides Ibrahim
came to her side; but he did not touch
her outstretched hands.
Lillian" he said, ''it has been
cruel torture, but had vowed to do
it, and never broke vow. Vowed
in spite to win your love, and l have
done it. Fortunately for me, my vow
went no farther, and the beauty and
goodness of the woman that has
grown out of that little girl 1 saved
have won my heart"
She put out her hands again, and he
took them as he resumed:
My love, are you willing to become
washerwoman's daughter, and to
have that woman in your homer"
On sunny St. Valentines morning,
when the frost-gems jeweled all out
of-doors, lbrahim welded the woman
he had won from spite, and the wash
erwoman" took her new daughter in
her arms and class and wealth were
alike rgotten.-Radford Review.
Knew Him by His Ducks.
The custom of knowing a man bv
his fruits is exemplified in the case
of an artist of considerable reputa-
ton, who has been in the habit OF
spending his summers in cultivating
farm in New England. AS there is
large pond on the place, he has
found it amusing and profitable to
| fill il with as many ducks as il would