The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1915-03-12
BY A. J. GARTH.

| lat0 nome. Time was when he had
stormed and raved whenever he
thought or talked of his missing son.
He had disowned him, had almost
cursed him. Time, however, had soft.
ened the smart OF terrible disap.
| pointment, severe blow to fatherly
trust and affection.
Wilfred Dorset, bright, handsome,
| twenty-five. engaged to Una Walden,
the prettiest girl in Winsted, had been
sent to the city by his father to invest
the earnings of years, some fifteen
| thousand dollars in bonds. He had
kissed his neighbours daughter, gen.
tie Una, good-by with all his accus-
toned sincerity. He was to return in
two days. On the third there came an
appalling telegram. 1t read:
Forget me. l have lost all the
money through gambling"
From that day until this, through two
lonely, heart-breaking years, old Abner
Dorset had gone about the deserted
house like a dazed, numbed creature
unable to rally from a deadening
shock.
1t was Una who had won him finally
from his bitterness and despair. What
ever her sufferings, poor girl, she
never let the world know their depths.
She hid her misery with smile. She
felt 1t her duty to care for the poor
old man.
1t was not often that Una attended
any usual functions. Hers had be-
come home life, but once in a while
some close girl friend would tease her
into attending party or reception.
That same evening the brother OF such
friend became her escort to birth
day celebration in the next town. He
had shown marked attention to Una
and she regretted it and decided this
would be the last time she would &C
company him.
An open carriage from the livery
called for them. The driver sat muf-
fled up on the front seat in his great
ed him as the sleepy-headed driver he
usually employed. and after they had
driven a mile or two, to the distress
Of Una, made a fiat proposal for her
hand in marriage.
Il am very sorry" she said, but
you must not speak of this again"
There is some other?"
There always has been!" MUIR
INJURED Una softly" it will be always
the same"
The driver moved, stirred with soma
deep emotion. but silently drove them
to their destination and back home
again. When he took the team to the
livery he handed it's proprietor bank
note with the words;
Thanks for catering to my fancy
to act as driver on a special occa-
sion," and kept his face shaded, aa
during his spell at the lines
Mr. Dorset and Una got up turkey
dinner for the next day That evening
Una, her father and mother and her
sister were invited guests, and it
cheered up Mr. Dorsett to be in such
friendly company. Una looked charm
ing in her spotless white bib and
tucker.
AL lSduy sue duuOuuCtu at ldSl,
and the well-browned turkey was ush-
cred into evidence. THAT is strangei"
spoke Una, returning to the kitchen and
finding the outside door slightly open
She picked up the covered dish of
sweet potatoes, carried it to the table
and sat down, feeling she had done
her duty and was ready for the due
reward
Il declare! this is simply grand and
ghborly"-began Mr.. Dorsett, and
then he came to an abrupt pause, the
cover to the potato dish in his hand.
He dropped it to stare past steamy
veil within the dish at neat rubber
banded package of papers.
Whats this?" he exclaimed, and
then fell back, overcome. "Bonds!"
"Bonds?" repeated Una, vaguely,
rising up from her chair and hurry
ing over to his side.
Yes" uttered Mr.. Dorset. hoarsely,
as though some quick suggestion
brought partial illumination to his
mind, land the same bonds identically
that / ordered two years ago and that
Wilfred-Wilfred-- What does this
mean?"
1T means-it must mean Wilfred!"
ventured Una. with a speedy CLEAN of
intelligence.
Did you call met" interrupted a
new voice, and there in the doorway
Dorset!
The old man got up, shaking from
head to foot. Una stood staring, pal,
pitating.
It's all right, father" spoke the
newcomer, moving to the side of Mr..
Dorsett and placing a loving, gentle
hand upon the silvered white head
you true ANGEL" burst forth the
returned wanderer, and his arms were
and Una ran into them. "Ah.
you were all ready for mel"
Yes, there. as at every meal Una
attended to In tho lonely house, was
the plate set for the missing one.
Next to it she had sat and there a mo-
ment later those two were together.
Il slipped that package into the dish
just now in the kitchen" explained