Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-11-07

Why in a moment of time l was
flying around that room making my
preparations.
Would | conner"
Steam could not carry me fast
enough! must reach her on thanks
giving day. l was the humblest, hap
piest man ON earth, ignoring as | did
the reference to death. If only
could reach her could save her.. /
prayed some during that trip-prayed
more perhaps than in the whole fifteen
years before. l got to my destination
at midnight and paced the floor of my
hotel room until dawn when pre-
sented myself at the home of the DUN
leiths. There was only my wife and
bachelor brother there now, besides
the man and his wife who did the
work. 1t was the brother who met
me-
l did not think you would come, he
said simply.
Where's Charity? was all my greet.
ing.
He prointed to the door of the
room in which, TWENTY-FIVE years be.
! fore, my wife and were wed. / tap
ped softly.
The woman Margaret opened the
door. 1t was the same old parlor and
the first thing my eyes caught, in the
early light was white bed standing
over the very spot on which we had
stood under the marriage bell Before
| had become accustomed to the dunn
ness, sweet voice cried out:
Walter, o, My Walter, have you
come?
Pushing the astonished servant
aside, | crossed the room at two steps
and in less time than | can relate it
was clasping my long estranged wife
in my arms.
What an hour, aye what a thanks.
giving day and what days followed!
Neither would admit or could re-
member that the other had bten in
the least at fault Self-accusations
were in order until we finally agreed
to bury the past and live in the bliss
full f1eeting present.
My wife's great anxiety was that /
return to the ministry. together we
deplored our wasted lives; together be-
sought heaven to gorgive us. 1t
seemed too much to ask viewed in
our present light, but Charity went
ahead and followed l took her
south for her health, doing evangel.
istic work wherever opportunity off.
cred. At first she improved and two
God-giyen years were ours; then she
grew a little worse but the end came
suddenly after all. 1t was beside her
death-bed | vowed, while life shall
last, to do all the good / can, regard
less of circumstances or inclination,
and this is why am here and why
| am telling you this. My purpose is
two-fold one: | am trying to atone
in measure, for the past and seeking
to build, day by day. a monument to
the memory of Charity. She sent for
me as soon as she learned of my where.
abouts. Fifteen years | held out
against her; as many years she tried in
vain to trace me. That shows who the
guilty one was. 1t was |.
And now, Mrs Thurston, let me add.
beware of the beginning of sorrows,
repeat that it is an awful thing to
trample love under foot Better be
sinned against than SHINING.
With these words our pastor took
his hat and departed.
How long / sat there / know not,
only remember that at first shiyered
as one in O chill, | seemed on the
verge of an awful abyss; hardly had
my feet stayed in time. But then
there came the glad reaction; there
yet was time. Once more | arose and
took care of my toilet, but the com.
press was laid aside. Once more /
prepared dainty meal and waited,
but not for long for Harry came early
| watched him as he came up the
walk; watched him with my heart In
my eyes, and for the first time noted
how lined his face was growing and
now lacking in elasticity his STEP
He was not looking expectantly to-
ward the house, either, as in the
earlier days of our marriage, but
seemed studying the gravel over which
he walked.
When he entered | kept purposely
out of sight but where / could watch
him. When he saw the cheer he
glanced suspiciously into the parlor.
Evidently he was not expecting a
happy greeting and thought there
must be company. 1t all struck me
with new force but came into the
room smiling. He gave me a curious
glance which merged into a tender |
smile of repose The next moment |
] had set the platter was carrying on
the table, threw myself into a chair |
and was crying as heartily as If |
had not shed a tear all day. or
course his countenance changed, and |
OF course had to explain, mixing to
gether somewhat incoherently my own
story and the ministers.