Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1914-07-16
ION
''UnCle john


Twenty years ago Smith" was the
life of the little town of Madison.
Within it's red brick walls were crowd
ed all of tragedy, all of comedy. The
madcap prank; the tender dream of
love; the wilder, fiercer one Of ambi-
ton; the heroic battle with self,
fought and won; the lifelong friend
ship cemented; these were but incl
dents Of the feeting years.
One day there entered it's classic
halls man tall and broad-shouldered,
whose keen gray eyes and command
ing presence were to exert remark
able influence on our lives. The snowy
hair softened, but could not disguise,
the stormy passions of nature
which had known on intermediate be-
tween love and hatred; strong delight
and bitter sorrow; righteousness and
sin.
Seen from a distance, the manly and
erect carriage and proud poise of the
head were striking. A nearer glimpse
of the tales Time had written on his
brow, and you either shrank back
aghast or a piquant curiosity lured
you on to learn more of the past of
this singular man, Did you venture
SO far, the probability is you would
have your trouble for your pains, for
John Hilton was as reticent as he was
proud, Come and go With us, sit at
the same table, enter into the same
studies with ourselves, he might, yet
the icy reserve never melted. Fear
and respect him we debut love hin,
we could not.
By and by we learned that he was
afflicted with an ilcurable disease
which at Gimes caused him the most
exquisite pain, yet NO moan escaped
his lips. Sometimes, after an excep-
tion2lIy bad spell. he would disappear
for several days. NSaen he appeared
again, he would seem more bright
and cheerful, though o0ften he fell into
a pensivs mood There tcame a day
however, when we learned tg pity and
to love the proud man. An unusually
prorractea period a0f pain was follow
ed by what seemed returning health
"Uncle john" as we learned to call
him since his Illness, knew better.
however, sand one might, around the
winters IRE, he tngkl us his story.
Ass "a hoy, Il cared little Tor young
ladies' ssaclety though my sisters had
many gill friends. After time it be
came the general opinion j would neE-
LD,tx in[,+
morning IT overlook "a young lady OF
the highway and offered her ia lift as
far as our journey Tan in the same
direction.
"She was "a fair, sweet woman, with
appealing %Elue eyes, and, Learned,
had chargeGf the village school. Time
passed pleasantly, and all too soon we
reached her destination. Sipgularly
enough, s0ften had business on the
valley Road, and somehow it was only
natural tnat pick up Edith Wharton
ON my way. Acquaintance ripened into
friendship and friendship into love.
When she returned to her Eastern
'hoEae all my heart ami hopes went
with her.
THE many letters that passed be-
tween us btRt confirmed our belief in
one another, anG marriage seemed the
elimination OF earthly bliss. Alas9 It
did not take us Gong to discover how
superficial was eur knowledge of one
another Loverlake, we had brought
out the hest in each other; now, both
saw less worthy traits in the other.
Then bitter words, soon forgotten by
the one who uttered them, but rank
ling dead fn the heart where they had
been planted, passed between us; but
no words OF love or forgiveness follow
ed, for We were, both. oh, so proud.
Bronchial troubles added to Edith's
petulance, and she was unhappy be-
cause / did not sympathfze in her wor-
ship of the beauties of the universe.
TIC me, utility ranked higher than
beauty, and / considered most of her
fancies nonsense.
Finally. child was born to US, but
the demon of Jealousy entered my
soul and refused her fathers love
and care. Then my wife dropped and
died under the sorrow and disappoinT-
ment of the life had thought to make
SO bright for her.
''Still the fire of hatred burned in
my soul. put my little daughter in
charge of a family who adopted her
and gave her good home. If ever
saw her, was to be Uncle john
nothing more For four years l did
not see her, for / hated her for her
mothers sake.
Into every species Of vice plung-
ed, and today. / bear the marks of
that hell which scathed body and soul.
At last, weary and nauseated with it
all, / one evening wandered into the
vestibule Of a church. Not caring to
<hing necessary, so I awaited develop !
ments. I will return with you to the
hotel"
1T was lovely of you to be so nice
~ c.11 ~, 1pJorf0nn RI |