Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1907-09-19

AS the villagers had informed him,
the road was neither difficult nor OBJ
scure, and in little more than an hour
he drew rein before the comfortable
looking country, house known as Red
bank Farm
ipt Almost before he could assist her,
his eager companion had sprang light
1ly. to the ground, and was already at
door, while Leonard more deliberately
secured the horse q He could mot
bring himself to leave her thus alb
ruptly, without at least learning the
result of her fears for the one so dear
to her afs.1&A
~ Advancing therefore to the door
through which he. had seen her tdisap-
pear, he was met by a woman whose
kind face betokened unmistakable
gravity. sn5,T. z Sz-,''' : 5Z''. ssse
r." 1t is fortunate you have brought
her." she said, with the ready COM
common to rural dis
tricts, and evidently, supposing that
Leonard had accompanied her young
visitor as a friend or relative. THE
poor man has been calm for her day
and night, and I hope now he'll die
peaceful. Ha5l&Z# 81 5I14@z aaG
What" cried Leonard, with
startled emotion that surprised him
self, do you mean to say he is so ill
as that? "-aaw" y ad2t r. 5ae44asr.
$50 i'll" repeated his hostess. why,
he cannot last more'n an hour,
should say. Why was his girl so slow
in comm? I wrote a letter for him
myself, when he was first took, near
three weeks ago, and I took care to
write on the back of it: in haste!'"
II For the simple reason that the let
ter did not reach her till yesterday"
replied Leonard, almost resentfully.
How could it go through the mail
with 10 stamp upon it," tazsnas .
''No stamp!" repeated the woman, a
look of deep contrition suddenly over
spreading her countenance. "Deary,
deary! I never thought O. that!
haven't wrote letter since I was a
girl, when they used to be paid for
at the other end. I never thought O.
the stamp!" @es
She turned hastily away, and
Leonard instinctively followed to the
room near by, where as she softly
opened the door, they both stood
motionless on the threshold.
It was truly scene to move the
stoniest heart. With reckless hand,
the girl had tossed her hat aside, and
kneeling on the floor at the bedside,
her head was buried on the breast
of the sick man, his wan hand resting
caressingly. but ,helplessly5 on the soft
brown tresses, But on. his pallid face,
worn by illness and many trace Of
sorrow, beamed now a smile of in
effable peace and satisfaction, while
IN whispers came the words:
IT knew you would come, my dar-
ling; I knew I could not go without
seeing you once more"
=. .Heart,broken sobs sconvulsing the
slight young form alone answered
him, till? at, last came the anguished
cry:
ooh, father, do not leave me! You
will not die and leave me all alone!"
q The piteous. appeal seemed sudden
ly to disturb that rapture of peace
which the fulfllment Of. his ceaseless
prayer had brought, and over the dy-
ing u face 5crept a visible shade.
Helplessly he gazed upon the head
pillowed on@hiss breast, and then ais
with mute supplication he raised his
dim eyes; they fell by chance as it
were, full on Leonard's plying face.
In a moment the latter stood beside
him.
I am a. stranger to you and your
daughter he said, soothingly, s.sbut
if I can do anything for you, you have
only to ask. & S s34
"Only5 be a5friend to her if you cam
whispered the dying man, with pain.
full effort, increased by the emotion
stirred within him., and with one more
glance of utterable love upon her he
was leaving, his eyes closed, and the
stiffness of death fell softly upon the
sick room.
Through all the autumn and winter
months that followed, faithfully The
discharged the trust SO generously
undertaken, proving himself the SAT
est Of friends and counsellors. In the
spring suddenly Leonard aWoke to ind
himself a prisoner fast caught in the
net which Love had woven of thraaf]s
spun by chance. He had promisedxtog
comfort the desolate girl, but nowSsssin
the face Of coming desolaff; On, it
seemed that he was the one Who
needed cheer and comfort. With
what should he fill his empty, aimless
life again when she who had late lent
it shape and purpose shout. be Hos.
to him, The world grew Strangely
and tdesolate as he pictured
it. It must not be. The doors ofshis
great warm heart had opened vide.
and like a homeless bird, Dorofhea
had been driven within by the merest
f.arlA.s 80 $500 sss.Sg