Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1907-09-05
AFTER TWENTY
YEARS

~~ooNNt
ton of poverty and distress, he lay
propped against pile of lumber in
sheltered corner of the dock, con-
tent to bask in the sunshine, unmind
full of the chilling wind that occasion.
ally sought him out.
down on the sleeper, a 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 a 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
Toronto date, and almost the first
lines on which his eyes rested-a brief
marriage announcement-caus him
to gaze fixedly at the soiled sheet
clutched in his trembling hands.
Like a 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 prattle to him was the
sweetest music in the world No, she
was only mite of child-but 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 fancied grievance, he left
lome never to return, might be blot
ted out. But fate had not so decreed
Visions of the gentle wife and sunny
Haired little elf whose advent had
been the browning joy of their life con-
stantly rose before him during his
waking hours, they were ever pres
ent to mar his slumbers, a horrible
nightmare
He had heard from them rarely,
and then only indirectly. Times
without number he had promised him
self he would go back and strive to
make amends for the past, but as reg
Llarly his courage failed.
And now it was little Helen who
was to be married. There was no
mistaking 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.
Ponderous car ferries, belching
forth dense volumes of smoke, passed
to and fro, their hoarse signals as they
hailed an occasional steamer breaking
harshly on the silence.
A policeman, sauntering along the
dock, paused for moment to watch
party of roustabouts wrangling over
a game of cards.
But all these things were UNDECIDED
by the dilapidated mortal who sat
staring into space.
The sun had long since sunk from
view and night was settling down
when he reused himself from his rev.
cries.
Folding the paper carefully and plac-
ing it in pocket Of his ragged coat
he pulled himself together and shut
fed off up the street From a neigh
boring saloon there. came the sound of
music and laughter Through the gath
ering gloom its lights shone forth
brightly. Within there was warmth
and comfort and sociability. On the
evening breeze was waited tempting
aroma, indicating preparation of the
evening meal
Instinctively the mans steps turned
toward the open door, as he fingered
the solitary quarter marking his
worldly wealth.
At the threshold he paused For
just an instant he hesitated, then fac
ing about walked resolutely away.