Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-02-24

rose and placed hand upon the ole
mans shoulder.
THE child sleeps soundly." he said
speaking slowly, and not unkindly
though with the same bitter, mourn
tul tone, very soundly perhaps tot
soundly; look at him.
mo, no." replied the old man; no
don't disturb him. He'll be bettel
when he wakes"
The man looked at him hard.
"You won't disturb him. he said
Nothing will disturb the child again
old man. Look at him. He's awake ant
better already"
The old man fell to trembling, AM
stared first at the child, then at tn,
grim, hard face above him.
At last the man, gently for one will
so rough an appearance, drew the bi.
coat aside and turned the child,
head.
Look" he said, hes better, much
better, now; better than you an mt
ever will be. old man."
Old Sam, then rose with cry o
horror and grief.
mo, MOI" he cried, in a shrill
broken voice, mot dead! not dead
He's too young to die! Look at me-
l'sa old, he's young, a mere babe
Christmas! Christmas! wake; we're
in the country! Wake, my darling
Look up at Father Sam! We're in the
country, with the trees, the birds
the birds! He won't wake! The child.
tired-tired out. He-he-"
Then he paused suddenly. and
bending his white lips to the child's
shuddered and shook.
"You see," said the man, t'he's dead
Come, don't take it so much to heart
He's better off, old man; they always
are. I've seem the best loved of EN-
dead; and I've learned to be glad Of
it. Come, bear UP. Give me the c4ild.
But the old man pressed the 10Y tt
his heart and drew the coat jealousy
fiercely over him.
"Well, I'll not part you," said the
man. Garry him, if you must, and
follow me into the village. You
can't stop here"
''NO-home, home!" said the old
man, hoarsely. Il promised to take
him home.'
Where is it?' asked the man, eye
Ing him with bbent brbows.
But old Sam was demented. his
great love had numbed his reason, and
Home, home! promised to take him
home" was all the answer the cues.
toner could get.
At last, despairing of obtaining the
information from the bereaved old
man, he turned to the bundle. and
With slow movements commenced un-
lying it, in the hope of finding some
clew to the old mans destination.
AS his eyes rested On the bread and
meat and bottle of milk which seemed
to be the only contents of the bundle.
he was about to retie it, when the
corner of an envelope lying at the
Dottom attracted his attention, ana.
turning the handkerchief upside down
he drew from it a small pile of let
ters and ring tied to one of them,
Grimly he carried them to the door
wav.
The MOON was obscured at the mo-
ment but he struck a match and read
the address.
AS he did so, he sprang to his feet,
clutched the better held straight out
before him, and gazed at it with
blanched face and staring eyes.
"Lucy's nanne," he muttered. husk-
ily "Lucy's nanletr
Then he drew himself together
shook himself as if he had strained
his nerves to go through a direful
task, and, with jerk, opened the let
ter.
Striking match after match, he read,
first one letter, then another, his face
growing whittier and more hardened,
his lips quivering with some fearful
and suppressed passion.
Then he came to the ring and ex.
amined it, turned it over twice, and
was about to drop it with the heap OF
letters at his feet, when his eyes
caught some inscription running in
side, and he lit another match and
read:
ITO Lucy, from Richard Wildfang."
With terrible imprecation, he
stared at the ring, at the old man, at
the child, then covered his face with
his hands and shook like leaf tossed
by the wind.
The old man who had hitherto re-
garded him with apathetic eyec that
scarcely seemed to see him, now
limped forward and touched him on
the shoulder.
Give me the letters" he said -husk.
lily, and in hollow voice. They're
no business of yours. We're going
home"
The man startled, and, grasping his
arm, led him to the door,
Let me look at the child he
whispered, hoarsely.
The old man. slowly and reluctant
ly, uncovered the peaceful little face.
The man looked for moment, then
turned away his face and groaned.
Ills I4llcy's child, IT'S Lucy's
child he moaned.
4
Lucy Lucy's said the old man
You know him?
- Guaranteed under
= i n