Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-09-13


girl. and there was really nothing else
that would do justice to the occasion.
1T was the least you could do, should
think" Mrs. Gordon declared, with
feeling
"Oh, promised to do more than that
he added, laughing a little, apparently
| ashamed of his feeling. 81 assured her
that some day, when / was a man,
would come back and repay her for what
she had done. / promised never to for
get her. And / never have forgotten
her, for that matter; though, of course
| never went back there and never even
knew her name
you really ought to have gone back.
You ought to have gone back and mar
rled her." said Mrs. Gordon, laughingly
That's the way they do in books"
'Oh, ] spoke extravagantly," he admit
ted, little hurt by her tone. "a man
will when he's just escaped with his
life. But meant it all at the time. | am
not ashamed OF it. She saved my life,
and ii could have repaid her | should
have done IT, And even now, though
she Is woman by this time and has
probably forgotten all about it, | should
like to meet her, If only to acknowledge
my indebtedness. Oh, no. A man
doesn't forget thing like that"
The retirement of the ladies inter
rupted their conversation.
As Mrs. Gordon left him, she paused
to remark: "Oh, / am sure / appreciate
your feeling. 1t does you credit. And
II am very glad you told me this
A startling thought had come to Mrs
Gordon as she was leaving the table, and
she was engrossed with the possibilities
it suggested. When the men struggled
in from the dining room she was sitting
in window seat, quite alone. She looked
up at Downs with smile, and as he
approached she rose, and with an impul-
sive movement held out her hand. He
looked puzzled.
Il don't know but 1t was wrong not
to tell you at the table," she commenced
hurriedlyI TO let you tell me that story
without knowing. But could not speak
somehow, there before them all. And I
may have seemed not to appreciate your
noble remembrance OF me. But | am
sure you will understand my feeling. /
did not realize it at first. And then II
all came over me--the rush OF old memo.
ries---"
Downs dropped her hand and gazcd
at her a moment in sheer amazement.
why" he stammered. "Why, T.
Good heavcnsl' he exclaimed. do you
mean to say that YOU"
EYES," she said. Il think I was the
one, | feel sure | must have been.
Though, Of course, was so young that
! can't really be certain. remember
such an incident--of Northern soldiers
stopping there and the horsemen riding
up. But | never should have guessed
it was YOU"
"And you--you were the little girl
found there at the spring house, Downs
exclaimed. why, it's simply astonish-
ingp He looked at her critically.
BLACK hair and eyes," he muttered. do
you know, | believe---there's no mistake
You're not as thought that girl--you
meaii--would look. And yet" he gazed
at her again, there Is something about
you that seems familiar, too--an express
sion about the eyes. a look that seem
TO have seen before. This is certainly
wonderful coincidence"
"Yes, isn't itl' She motioncd him TO
a seat beside her own. Il wish | could
remember il better" she added. "but
was so young then, and so many things
happened IN those war days. | used
often to watch the soldiers march past
the house And when the stragglcrs
would come along | would sometimes
slip off down to the spring house, where
they stopped
well, I'm glad | happened to tell it,
said Downs. "And, do you know, | felt
from the first that there was something
strangely attractive about YOU | must
tell Fenwick and the others"
mo, please don't mention it, she
said hurriedly. 1T would be most en-
barrassing for me-"
"Of course, whatever you wish. But
| feel as though owed you the public
acknowledgment / don't see why"
"Cali 1t woman's vanity" she an
swered, with laugh.
Vanity"
"Why, yes Don't you see. II was
eight years old in war times, must be
oh, ever so old by now"
'Eh? oh, yes. see | understand
But I'm sure you~don't look IL. Upon
my word, you don't. But I'm very glad
to have discovered you again, for have
often wondered whatever became of you.
But at all events, can thank you now.
after the years that have passed. with
out fear of being misunderstood. And
If there was anything / could do to re-
pay you'll don't mean that. OF course.
never could repay you--but to show my
appreciaiion--if there was anything |
could do to prove that, | would do il
gladly"
Would your said Mrs. Gordon, low
ering her voice and gazing earnestly into
his face, There is something YOU could
do--something that is Of great import
ance TO me. But / fear--rm afraid l
ought not TO ask YOU"
Downs gasped, II il had come in any
other way he could have met it.
Anything | can do--anything that il
is in my power to do" he began.
1T may seem a very little matter TO
you," Mrs Gordon observed. 1T is only