Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1910-09-09

beneath the painting he wrote, "a
Wait"
His wonderful picture attracted
brought into sudden prominence and
made much Of. But now that his one
great aim had been accomplished he
was possessed Of an Overwhelming de-
sire to return to his own land. And
when upon the homeward journey the
train stopped for a few moments at
the sleepy little village he remembered
SO well Philip decided suddenly to
visit again the quaint streets and by
ways that had furnished material for
so many crude sketches. He walked
slowly down the hill and passed the
poisoning tree where his little lad
had spoken to him out Of the shadows.
Perhaps even after lapse of ten years
he might still hear news Of the boy.
His attention was attracted by the
happy laughter Of children just releas-
ed from school. They crowded eager
ly about the girlish teacher, who fash
ed glance Of inquiry at him in pass
ing. Fleeting as that glance had been,
it moved the man with a strange sense
Of loss and longing. for the eyes look
ing out from the girls sweet face were
the haunting eyes Of Jerry.
This must be the sister," he con-
cluded, and he would meet her upon
the following day to learn how the boy
had prospered.
lie was waiting as she came alone
up the fragrant pathway. Miss
Dale:' he asked smilingly, and she
bowed her head in assent.
IL am Philip Dryden" he explained.
1.-The man who would have adopted
Your brother Jerry long ago had he not
deserted me. am still anxious to
hear what became of him"
How do YOU Know" she asked SLOW
ly. that the boy was my brother:"
The likeness" he replied, lis un.
mistakable."
ut is a pitiful story" she said. Ills
ten. and will explain.
There We're two little homeless ones
that night. Tom, the boy,"-she smiled
Northumberland Jerusha. his sister.
|
this little girl. whom nobody wanted.
sat screened by curtain Of vines, lis
tening breathlessly as woman tried
to persuade u strange young man to
find home for her among his people.
She has never forgotten his laughing
reply. though it was all very serious
then. and the child's heart went out
to the man. who was lonely orphan
himself. The ever fortunate boy
might have been made useful about
the studio, he had said, and it was
then that little Jerry formed the
wild plan which seemed to her a very
simple way out of a great difficulty"
"Clad in shabby suit of her broth
er's. never dreaming Of failure, she
met you here in the twilight" The
girls eyes shone. Then followed the
golden days at the farm, and later,
when she had been taught the sin of
deceiving. Jerry reasoned that the
only reparation in her power would be
to relieve you of the burden which you
had not desired and to go back again
to the only place she had known
She was silent for a few moments.
"The old housekeeper has been my
trusted friend" she continued, land in
long letters we have rejoiced together
over the success Of your remarkable
painting" She put out her hands i'm.
pulsively. 1T is rather late to beg
forgiveness" she said, land car
never hope to repay my great debt OF
gratitude"
Eagerly he clasped the extended
hands. My dear GIRL" he said, "when
you speak Of debt do you realize tina,
it is your face that has won for me
both fame and fortune?"
Then they walked side by side to the
white gate Of the parsonage.
II shall stop over here for time,
he said at parting. This is splendid
place for making sketches
So she found him often busily work
ing as she passed upon her homewart
way. and they would linger to laugl
and talk in friendly fashion. 1t wa
very natural to call him Philip, as b.
had taught her so long ago, and t.
SOAlc " uILu dtSl4u Will ucl SuAdh pcb
plexities. And each day the man grew
more firm in his purpose-he woul'
: take her back to the peaceful old home
stead. where the loneliness of their tw
, lives would be changed into happiness
like the ending of a fairy tale.
! When he spoke Of this great hop
+ she resolutely turned from his plead
t ing. 1T is pity. not love. whic
prompts you to say this" she said an
+ ran swiftly up the pathway and int
q the house Neither could he persuad
! her to listen to him during the day
! which followed. while his many ferver
notes were unanswered.
At length peremptory TELEGRAM
summoned him to the city. and, pei
y ming a few words of farewell to th
q obdurate one. Philip Dryden ascende
the hill leading up to the station
much the same frame of mind that b
had departed upon a like journey te