The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1905-08-30
J A Trust Fulfilled. )
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BY Roger Canning.
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Mt the other hand, which he for the
first time realized, with faint emotion
OF shame, to be almost as sadly in
need of washing as the other had been.
when Bessie came the next day, she
noticed that it was almost as white as
her own.
Every day for foui weeks Bessie
visited the Wildburns on her errand
of mercy, undismayed by old Wildburn,
or the rldicule Of her friends.
Il should have lost it, dare say If
1t hadn't been for you, Miss Bessie"
Fred said, the last day she came. 'I'm
miserable wfetch Heaven knows;
but shan't ever forget this" touching
his arm.
Il am so glad could help YOU" she
said, gently. .H
"Well, you're the first one" he said,
little bitterly.
AS l said, this was ten years before,
and, though the years had brought
many changes, the ameliorating influ-
ences had been few in the life of Fred
Wildburn. The drunken father and
invalid mother had both died, leaving
Fred quite alone in the miserable,
shabby old house where he lived He
had not improved with the years; on
the contrary, he had grown more reck-
less and disorderly, until people said
he was utterly and totally depraved,
without one good impulse in his heart.
One thing had happened during these
ten years. Bessie Brandon had mar
ried Henry Upton; but no one ever
knew of the terrible night which Fred
Wildburn passed when he heard of it.
Nobody ever should know what
miserable fool he had been," he said,
fiercely.
He need not have feared his secret
was safe for no one ever was wild
enough to suspect him of feeling or
sentiment, particularly where the
petted daughter of Squire Brandon was
concerned.
Henry Upton was an honored and
highly respected citizen. He was in
telligent, educated and wealthy. and
If he looked down from his sublime
height of virtue and attainment little
contemptuously upon poor, miserable
Fred Wildburn, it was certainly no
more than his neighbors did And if,
By any possibility, there had been any
little trickery or unfarness in the set
tlement of that legacy, he could easily
| excuse himself upon the plea that it
would only be a curse to Wildburn If
he had it, leading him into deeper de-
bauchery, whereas he could use it
wisely, and for the benefit of morality
and religion. The fact that Wildburn
did not see it in just that light was
only another proof of his innate de-
pravity, people said, piously.
Upton had a mill some four miles
from Milestone. by the main road, but
scarcely three by cut across country.
1t was little more than a bride path,
though Upton sometimes drove through
with his light drag. He started with it
one wild, chilly December morning,
promising his wife to return early If
IL came on to snow, as it promised to.
1t was piercingly cold, and the wind
blew in fierce, fitful gusts all the fore
noon. Just after noon 1t began snow
ing-not as usual, in fine, light parti-
cles, but with a wild, tempestuous
force that carried all before it. Long
before night the streets were block.
AIDED, and the wind roared and shrieked
up and down them like mailman.
Bessie Upton paced the floor of her
pretty sitting room. more excited and
nervous than she had ever been in heI
life before. She had, naturally, a cool
quiet temperament.
IF only he had not started" she said
anxiously; "if he saw the fierceness OF
the storm in season to stop at the mill
instead of attempting to brave itt'
The night came down early; but the
mill owner came not. and his wife
though still anxious, had settled dowr
to the belief that he would not come
till morning.
Suddenly a loud neigh, falling be
tween the pauses of the tempest, strucl
her ear.
Henry has come nowr' she ex
claimed; and, catching up a lamp, sh'
hurried to the side door.
Only a painting, terrified horse, tn,
broken harness dangling from hi
/ foamy sides. met her appalled, vision
For a moment she sank, dizzy an,
, faint, in chair. She was alone; he
one servant, having gone away for tn
. day, had been prevented from return
ing by the storm.