Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-04-02

work and lett me no time Tor anything
bitterly as | sometimes regretted
my lack of education. Then one of my
partners fell and was fatally hurt. and
| felt a sudden distaste for the business
and turned my back upon it. had quite
a sum of money with me and started for
my early home, determined to make life
easier for the mother from whom / had
not heard for year or more found she
had died and so had my father, and / was
alone in the world The wretehed old
home had no attraction and | went to
the nearest city, seaport town, deter
mined to get the education / needed.
was waylaid and robbed and beaten into
insensibility, and awoke to tinl myself
on a sailing craft bound on long voy-
age. / did not despair. | was only a
boy-not yet Gland soon accustomed
myself to the inevitable and made my
self as useful as possible. There was an
Old sailor aboard who took a fancy to
me He was an excellent sailor, but a
drunkard ashore. He had been given on
unusually fine education, but his habits
made it of no avail. When he found |
was eager to learn he devoted himself to
teaching me TO him | owe all the book
knowledge | possess. / might have de-
serted the craft, but l preferred to stay
with my old friend" He paused again
and turned his head little away and
looked toward the smoldering Goals in
the CRATE "We were wrecked in the
South sea and but one boat got away
from the sinking hulk. There were
twelve of us, and for two hungering,
thirsting and mad weeks we foated I'M
L. a 10 ~
died in my arms, and when the boat was
picked up by a passing steamer / was
the only one they found alive"
what" cried the old man. "are you
that boy, the sole survivor ct the Nau-
tilus?"
Il am the boy" the young man re-
sponded. They were very kind to me
on the ship and an Alaskan prospector
offered to take me with him to Nome.
went with him and was there four
years But it was not the work | liked,
not the work | thought | was fitted for.
came back, but fortune was tickle My
finances were at the lowest ebb when
| asked Mr.. Prescott for work. He gave
it to me-" He family smiled. Il think
II have cause to fear that he now re-
grets his Kindness
Not a bit of it." cried the old man.
you were lucky find, George Listen
to me, Mary. This circus vagabond, this
waif cast up by the sea, suddenly drops
down in front of my office. | like his
easy air, | like the CLINT in his eye, and
/ engage him. In a week he is pro-
NOTED. II a month he is an assistant
foreman lie develops a mechanical
genius He makes little Improvements
here and there. He handles the men like
a born commander. He is afraid of moth
ing He masters the business as if it
were his own. He has been with me two
years He has become my eyes and my
right hand-and he talks of going away"
There was a brief silence. The lady
slowly arose, but the old man sat still.
And then the silence was broken The
drapery over the inner doorway was
pushed aside and Edith Prescott entered
the ROOM Her cheeks We're flushed and
her eyes were unusually bright. She
looked around at the little tableau.
what does all this solemnity mean ?"
she gaily demanded. is it a family
council in the absence of the daughter
of the house? Good evening, Mr. Wright
Perhaps you car explain?"
He family smiled as he answered her.
Il am going away, Miss Prescott, and
came to bid your father and mother
good bye"
Going away" she cried. why what
will papa do without you? Can't you
persuade him to stay, papa?''
The old man looked at the lady.
Il can't, my DEAR
The girl looked at her mother
And you, mamma?"
The lady slowly shook her head
mo, my dear"
The girl turned to the waiting young
man.
"They both seem powerless," she said.
Il wonder if it would be worth while for
me to try"
Edith" cried her mother.
The girl spoke quickly.
wait, mamma. l was there at the
door listening. Never mind how much
| heard. 1t was enough to make me
glad | listened" She suddenly put out
her hand. "Will you stay if | ask you,
George Wright ?"
He looked into her eyes and quickly
caught the outstretched hand
Il will stay" he answered.-W. r.
Rose in the Cleveland Plain Dealer.