Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-03-15
CHAPTER NXNVII.
a CONFESSION.

CHAPTER NXXVII.
A CONFESSION.
Martins first return and wooins of
Angie naturally interested all Green
vale, but the news OF his discovery of
the !ong-lost Amzi was, as he expect
ed, veritable bombshell. No one ex-
cept Aunt Comfort and Angie learned
OF it until the next day, and then DR..
Sol. so to speak. was the one to sound
the alarm. And no medicine he ever
gave had quite such an electrical eff
feet Men driving on the highway were
halted by others and told; women
scurried across fields to neighbors'
houses bareheaded to carry the news:
Squire Phinney's store became a local
point where dozens gath cred to hear
the joyful tidings told and retold again
and again, and Angie, OF her way to
school, had to give Up and tarry for
congratulations. And so cordial were
they. so warm spot did she hold in
Greenvale's heart, that women insist
ed on embracing and kissing her in the
street, and when she finally reached
the schoolh ouse, one OF the committee
was there awaiting her and declared
the school closed for that day. She
had walked there as her duty called,
but she rode home, the cynosure OF al!
eyes along the way, with most Of her
pupils following.
Martin also received an ovation
wherever he went, and when he halted
to describe the hermit home of AMI,
and tell the tale over and over again,
as perforce he had to, men left their
work, and women and children their
houses. to gather close and listen. He
was really the hero of the hour, and his
efforts to save Angie her heritage
now known to all-his wisdom in not
even limiting his suspicious Of who the
hermit was until proved true, and
forethought in taking old Cy into the
wilderness to care for him, were all
matter of comment.
BY night the public sentiment had
crystallized into general invitation
to all to meet in the town hall, and
listen to Martins telling his story in
coherent order and in full. He rather
laughingly consented, and for an hour
held the unique gathering spellbound.
At its close Parson Jones was called
upon, as might be expected, and ut
tered fervent prayer of thankful
ness, and in it ascribing Martins intui-
tons and actions, as pertinent ex-
ample OF divine interposition, and
when amen was reached, called upon
all to join in Praise God from whom
all blessings flow
It was rendered with unusual fer
vency, while Aunt Comfort wiped her
tears away, and when the audience dis
persed, Martin walked home with her.
Angie was not present, for she was
in a state of almost mental collapse
and for ample reason.
Collectively 1t was an exhibition OF
public sentiment and kindly feeling.
the like of which could nowhere else
be found. Greenvale had for many
long years felt that blemish rested
upon it, and, like poor dog Tray,
realized the stigma David Curtis was
responsible for. He had met q Just
and well-merited fate, and the general
belief was that conscience had driven
him insane. Angie, we'll beloved, had
come into her rights, and at the hands
Of long-faithful lover, who now hoped
to become a citizen of that village.
Aunt Comfort, too, was in fair way
to receive due reward for her unfailine
charity and general benevolence, and
all In although slightly bigoted-
Greenvale stood ready, like the rest of
humanity, to applaud and reward all
goodness and condemn all vice.
Eut there was another, and to Mar
tin even more interesting, conclusion
yet to be settled, and alone In Aunt
Comforts warm sitting room that
night they discussed it. What it was
need not be specified, but at the close
Of Martins plea for Angles consent and
speedy marriage, although she permit
ted his arm-clasp, she shook her head.
me, no." she said, mot yet. Once
you left me without thought or care,
and now let us try being lovers again.
/ was forced to try to put you out of
my mind and heart once, and /
wouldn't care to live through another
such experience.
beyond that, have Aunt Comfort,
and no love can set aside my duty to
ner. She has been my mother since
a child, am all there is in life for
her, and her care and happiness is
sacred and must be to me so long as
live. You have brought to me also
another duty, and that, my poor father.
shall not rest, or feel a moments
content, until he is here. aad under
my care You tell me he ie almost de-