Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1910-02-23

though with the same bitter, mourn
tful tone. very soundly- perhaps toe
soundly; look at HIM"
No. no." replied the old man; no
don't disturb him. He'll be better
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 and
better already"
The old man fell to trembling, and
stared first at the child. then at the
grim, hard face above him.
At last the man, gently for one with
so rough an appearance, drew the big
coat aside and turned the child
head.
Look" he said, hes better. much
better, now; better than you an me
ever will be. old man."
| Old Sam, then rose with cry OF
horror and grief.
! NO, no." he cried, in shrill
broken voice, mot dead! not dead!
He's too young to die! Look at me
I'm old, he's young, mere babe!
Christmas. Christmas! wake; were
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's
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, hes 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 cid.
But the old man pressed the 10Y te
his heart and drew the coat jealousy
iercely over him.
well, I'll not part you,' said the
man Garry him, if you must, and
follow me into the village. Yor
can't stop here"
'No-home, home!" said the ole
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
i great love had numbed his reason, ant
/ Home, home. l promised to take hin
F! home" was all the answer the cues
toner could get
At last despairing of obtaining the
information from the bereaved ole
man, he turned to the bundle, an(
with slow movements commenced un
tying it, in the hope of finding some
clew to the old mans destination.
AS his eyes rested on the bread ant
meat and bottle of milk which seemef
to be the only contents of the bundle
he was about to retie it, when the
corner of an envelope lying at the
bottom attracted his attention, ana
turning the handkerchief upside dowr
he drew from it small pile of let
tiers 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 letter held straight gu
before him, and gazed at it will
blanched face and staring eyes.
'Lucy's NAME" he muttered, husk
lily. "Lucy's name!"
Then he drew himself together
shook himself as if he had strained
his nerves to go through a direfu
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, AM
was about to drop it with the heap O
letters at his feet, when his eve.
caught some inscription running in
side. and he lit another match ane
read:
10 Lucy, from Richard Wildfang
/ With terrible imprecation, b,
stared at the ring, at the old man. a
the child, then covered his face will
his hands and shook like a leaf tossed
by the wind.
The old man who had hitherto re
garded him with apathetic eyec tha
scarcely seemed to see him, nov
ilmped forward and touched him OF
the shoulder.
/ Give me the letters he said husk
lily. and in a hollow voice. "They'r.
}, no business of yours. We're goin.
!. home"
j The man startled, and, grasping hi
arm, led him to the door.
4 Let me look at the child" h,
whispered, hoarsely.
i The old man, slowly and reluctant
~ uncovered the peaceful little face
Fh0 L. =