Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-08-05
THE RETURN.

Among the few passengers who ahght'
ed when the train drew up At a small
station Was an old man. There was no
one to meet him. He stood for mo-
ment and watched some friends greet
each other; then his kind face became
lit with hungry longing and he moved
with steady step from the platform,
breathing gently to himself, Forty
years! Forty years."
Though Il stranger he evidently knew
the little town. He moved up the main
thoroughfare for block, then turned
down a side street along whose board
sidewalk many shade trees were growing.
No one had spoken to him, for no one
knew him and he had seen no one he
knew.
There was a pleasant row of cottages
facing the street. Most Of them were old
and vine grown, with funny little gables
and quaint stoops. He SNOW who lived
here, there, everywhere-at least, he
knew who lived there forty years ago
and today it seemed that time had turned
back for him As he nearcd the end of
the street an expression Of 10y, alloyed
with pain, crept TO his face, and the emo
ton which sWcllcd in his breast sutIo-
Gated him, so that he stopped for a mo-
ynent and leaned upon the stick which he
carried. Words spoken by woman two
score years ago. whom first he had loved
and then doubted, came to his mind:
Some day you viii realize your mistake
When you do come to me; | shall wait
Those We're her parting words.
The last house was hers. lie could SEE
it through the leaves Of the trees in Tho
adjoining yard. Would She know him
Would she receive himy With a low
sound in his throat he went on, and pres
emily was fumbling at the latch on the
gate. He raised his eyes to the window
where she used to sit and wait for hi;
coming. The window was suffered
| barred! The front door was closed. The
yard had run wild with orchard gras,
and weeds, and the neatly kept grave
walk, which he knew of old, was over
run with creepers. Only the row of holly
hooks by the fence bloomed bravely. a.
! they used to do. lie moved up the wall
in a dazed way till he came to the stoop
Then he saw pine board tackled to ont
of the posts and on it the words, 70
| Rent"
Sitting YEARLY upon the steps he place,
| his hat at his side and looked around
! Everything was the same. except tina
everything was INTENDED and wild. Hi
eyes rested vacantly upon the mischiev
Gus face of an urchin who. through tn
| palings of the front fence was covetous
y regarding some apples on a tree in tn
| yard. Presently the old man lifted hi
hand and beckoned to the boy. He cam
willingly, casting side glauccs at the APP
! pies as his bare feet rusticd the grave
The old man put his finger and thumb il
! his waistcoat pocket and deposited
piece of silver in the grimy hand of til
| boy.
what was the lady's name who livd
here?' he asked in a strangely gentt
voice.
Miss Upton the lad responded wit
alacrity.
"Where-is-she now?" was the me-.
query. spoken so softly that the be
turned his head to catch it.
"0h, she's dead! Died in tn sprind
early. Took col frum settin' by a windr
that un, there. She opened it fore t
weatler's warm enough. n she KEEP ]
open too late of evenin's, folks said. "
heard older people say she's waitin' TO
! somebody or somethin'. She died n the
took her away somewhere where she ha
some kin. We all miss her" The bo.
dug at the rough gravel with a callouse,
| toe.
The old man placed another coin in ii
bows hand.
Thank you,'' he said, more gentI
than ever. Can you tell me when you
next train comes through"
Coin which way" asked the DO,
alertly.
Amy way"
Two O'Clock; you've got nearly a
hour
Thank YOU; that's all--good- bye"
Thirty minutes later a stopped fgur
crept slowly back up the board sideWal
toward the little station-E Edward Car
lie Litsey in Housckecper.
She Had Not Played.