The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-09-23
AFTER TWENTY
YEARS


ton of poverty and distress, he lay
propped against pile of lumber in
a sheltered corner OF the dock, con-
tent TO bask In the sunshine, unmind-
full Of the chilling wind that occasion
ally sought him out
! A swirling cloud of dust bore
! down on the sleeper, bit of newspa-
per striking him squarely across the
face, There was a hunted look in
| his eyes as he awoke, muttering i'm
precautions. Then. discovering the
cause Of his alarm. he half smiled.
Sitting there blinking in the sunlight,
he stared stupidity at the bit of paper
for few moments, then for want OF
something else to do reached out
slowly and picked it up
A minute later he sat bolt upright
thoroughly aroused. The paper bore
Ia Toronto date, and almost the first
lines on which his eyes rested-a brief
marriage announcement him
70 gaze iixedly al the soiled sheet
clutched in his trembling hands.
Like man in dream he read 1t
again and again. rubbing his eyes to
make sure he was awake, unable to
grasp its full Significance
Helen And to be married,
Surely, this could not be the little
Helen he once held on his knee, and
whose childish pratte to him was the
sweetest music in the world. No. she
was only mite Of a child--hut that
was almost 20 years ago, long, bit
ter years, years that, try as he might
he could not forget.
How often had he prayed that the
remembrance of that night when, en-
ragged over a fancied grievance, he left
homo never TO return. might be blot
ted out But fate had not so decreed
Visions OF the gentle wife and sunny
faired little elf whose advent had
been the crowning joy Of their life con
stantly rose before him during his
waking hours. they were ever pres
mt 10 mar his slun,bers, a horrible
nightmare
He had heard from them rarely,
without number he had promised him
self he would go back and strive to
make amends for the past. but as reg
Glarly his courage failed.
Aud now it was little Helen who
vas TO be married. There was no
the names. And on this
very night, while he
Out ON the river white winged gulls |
circled about, now rising high In the |
air, now riding the foam capped |
waves.
Ponderons car ferries. belching |
forth dense volumes of smoke, passed |
to apd fro, thoir hoarso signals as they |
hailed an occasional steamer breaking |
larshly on the silence
A policeman, sauntering along the |
lock. paused for a moment TO watch
l party of roustabouts wrangling over |
| game of cards.
But all these things were unheeded
by the dilapidated mortal who sat
staring into space.
The sun had long since sunk from
AZ" dhh AtEHi was GtAAtiuE uQAn
When he reused himself from his rev
'ries.
Folding the paper carefully and plac.
ne II IN a pocket Of his ragged coat
ie pulled himself together and shuf
led off up the street From a neigh
oring saloon there came the sound OF
lusic and laughter Through the gath
ring gloom its lights shone forth
rightly. Within there was warmth
nd comfort and sociabillty. On the
yening breeze was waited a tempting
roma, indicating preparation of the
vcning meal
lnstinctiycly the mans steps turned ,
Dward the open door. as he fingered
he solitary quarter marking his
'orldly wealth.
At the threshold he paused For
Ist an instant he hesitated, then fac
ol- J