Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-11-14

A letter for you; somebody peeped
ont.
1t was a queer thing for the family
to get my mail had my own lock-
box. A nervous shudder came over
nue.. Opening the door l took the mis-
sive The first thing I noticed were
the words; Deliver at once; This
explained the matter Of the postmaster
sending it to me. With trembling fin
gers I opened it. 1t was only a line
but in hand write I knew so well,--
Walter, | am nearing deaths river
will you come to Charity at the old
homestead?
Would l Gomez"
Why Ill a moment of time I was
flying around that room making my
preparations.
Would l Gomez"
Steam could not carry me fast
enough! I must reach her on thanks
giving day. I was the humbIest, hap
piest man on earth, ignoring as I did
the reference to death. If only /
could reach her I could save her. /
prayed some during that trip-prayed
more perhaps than in the whole fifteen
years before. [ got to my destination
at midnight and paced the flo2r of my
hotel room until dawn when 1 pre-
scented myself at the hcme Of the DUN
Ieiths. 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-
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 I were wed. I 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 a white bed standing
over the very spot on which we had
stood under the marriage bell. Before
l had become accustomed to the dunn,
ness, a sweet voice cried out:
Walter, o, My Walter, have you
come?
Pushing the astonished servant
aside, l crossed the room at two steps
and in less time than I 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 been in
the least at fault Sef-accusations
were in order until we finally agreed
to bury the past and live in the bliss
full fieeting present
My wife's great anxiety was that
return to the ministry. together We
| depIored our wasted lives; together be
sought heaven to gorgive US. Il
seemed too much to ask viewed in
our present light but Charity went
ahead, and 1 followed. l took he1
south for her health, doing evan gel
istic work wherever opportunity off
! cred. At first she improved and tNt
God-given years were ours; then she
grew a little worse but the end came
| suddenly after all. 1t was beside hel
death-bed l vowed while life shall
last, to do all the good I can, regard
less of circumstances or inclination
and this is whg- | am here and why
I am telling you this. My purpose is
two-fold one: l am trying to atone
in a measure, for the past and seeking
to build, day by day, monument tt
the memory of Charity. She sent TO
me as soon as she learned of my where
abouts. Fifteen years 1 held on
against her; as many years she tried II
vain to trace me. That shows who thu
guilty one was It was /.
And now, Mrs Thurston, let me add
beware of the beginning Of sorrows
l repeat that it is an awful thing II
traTnple love under foot. Better b.
sinned against than SHINING.
With these words our pastor tool
his hat and departed.
How long I sat there | know not
l only remember that at first shiveret
as one in a chill, I seemed on tn,