Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1905-08-02
THE RETURN.

Among the few passengers who alight-
ed when the train drew up at small
station was an old man. There was no
one to meet him. He stood for a mo-
ment and watched some friends greet
each other; then his kind face became
lit with hungry longing and he moved
with a steady step from the platform,
breathing gently to himself, Forty
years! Forty years!'
Though a stranger he evidently knew
the little town. He moved up the main
thoroughfare for a block, then turned
down 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 knew 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 neared the end of
the street an expression of joy, alleged
with pain, crept to his face and the emo
ton which swelled in his breast suffo-
Gated him, so that he stopped for mo-
1nent 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 will realize your mistake.
When you do come to me; / shall wait"
Those were her parting words.
The last house was hers. He could see
it through the leaves of the trees in the
adjoining yard. Would she know him?
Would she receive him? With a low
sound an 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 his
coming. The window was shattered.
barred! The front door was closed. The
yard had run wild with orchard grass
and weeds, and the neatly kept gravel
walk, which he knew of old. was over
run with creepers. Only the row Of holly
hooks by the fence bloomed bravely. as
they used to do. He moved up the walk
in a 6azed way till he came to the stoop
Then he saw a pine board tackled to one
OF the posts and on it the words For
Rent
Sitting YEARLY upon the steps he placed
his hat at his side and looked around
Everything was the same, except that
| everything was Ilntended and wild His
eyes rested vacantly upon the mischiev-
Gus face Of an urchin who. through the
pallngs of the front fence, was covetous-
ly regarding some apples on a tree in the
yard. Presently the old man lifted his
hand and beclloned to the boy. He came
willingly, casting side chances at the APP
pies as his bare feet rustled the gravel.
The old man put his finger and thumb in
has Waistcoat pocket and deposited q
piece OF silver III the grimy hand of the
boy.
''What was the Iady's name who lived
here p he asked in a strangely gentle
voice.
Miss Upton" the lad responded with
alacrity.
'Where- is-she now?" was the next
query, spoken so softly that the boy
turned his head to catch it.
ooh, she's dead Died in thu spring,
early. Took coli frum settin' by winder
that un, there. She opened it fore the
Weather's warm enough, n she KEEP it
open too late of evenin's, folks said. I've
heard older people say she's waitin' for
somebody or somethin'. She died N they
took her away somewhere where she had
some kin. We all miss her. The bow
dug at the rough gravel with a calloused
toe.
The old man placed another coin in the |
boys hand
Thank you," he said, more gently
than ever. Can you tell me when your
next train comes through?''
tom which way?" asked the boy
alertIy
"Any way"