Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-11-13

AIb-5t AUA y OQs SbAHGBbd9 PEGRetU
cat.
1t was queer thing for the family
to get my mail had my own lock-
box. A nervous shudder came over
me. Opening the door took the mis-
sive The first thing | noticed were
the words; Deliver at once; This
explained the matter of the postmaster
sending it to me- With trembling fin
gers l opened it, It was only a line
but in hand write knewiso WE'LL
Walter I am nearing deaths river;
will you come to Charity at the old
homestead?
Would | Gomez"
Why in moment OF time / was
flying around that room making my
preparations.
Would / Gomez"
Steam could not carry me fast
enough! l must reach her on thanks
giving day. / was the humblest, hap
piest man on earth, ignoring as l did
the reference to death. II only
could reach her l 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 focr of my
hotel room until dawn when / pre-.
scented myself at the home OF the DUN
leiths. There was only my wife az
bachelor brother there now, besides
the man and his wife who did the
work. It 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 / were wed, I tap.
ped softly.
The woman Margaret opened the
door. 1t was the same old parlo' and
the first .5ing my eyes caught, In the
| early liglIt was a white bed standing
over the verS spot on which we had
stood under the marriage bell. Before
| had become accustomed to the dunn
ness, sweet voice CRED out:
Walter, o. My Walter, have you
come?
Pushing the astonished servant
side, / crossed the room at two steps
and in less time than can relate it
was clasping my long estranged vile
Ia my arms
What an hour, aye what a thanks
giving day and what days foIlowedl
Neither would admit or could re-
member that the other had baen in
the least at fault 5elf-accusations
were in order until we finally agreed
to bury the past and live in the bliss.
ful 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. II
seemed too much to ask viewed In
our present light but Charity went
ahead and followed / took her
south for her health, doing evaI gel.
istic work wherever opportunity or
cred At first she improved and tyso
AfoA-SAFEH years were DuInt LAGl sue
grew little worse but the end came
suddenly after all It vas beside her
death-bed vowed while life shall
last. to do all the good I can. regard
less OF circumstances or inclination.
and this il why am here and why
ar~' telling Won this. NV purpose Is
e twpfold re. am trying TO atorc
in measure fer tire past and eee' ,hg
TO build day ~ day q rionument to
1.-THE memory of Charity She sent for
me as soon as she lean ed Of my where
abouts Fifteen vsars 7 held out
AGAINST her; a= 3aany YEARS she tried in
vain To trace me. That shows who the
guilty one was. II was
And now. Mrs Thurston, let me add.
beware Of the beginning o. sorrows.
repeat that II is an awful thing TO
trsu1pls love under foot Better be
4 ed against Than SHINING.
1 with these words our pastor took
his hat and departed
How long I sat there know not
I only remember that at first sbivered
as one In chill, / seemed ON the