Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1915-12-29

"What Took You to Long Branch?"
~ 1TRICKLAND looked at her
with anxiety.
lSz7FF=4z7S7FssssSS Aren't you we'll, dear?
sa&-s3J Doris said you weren't feel
Ing well toCay."
May forced a little laugh.
THAT child gets such queer notions
in her little head. l was trife eX-
cited about your homecoming; that WAS
all. It's the first time we've been sep
arated"
Yes. and the last. let us hope" The
words were spoken with the emphasis
of lover.
Wen go next week then?" asked
May.
why, it's scarcely time. There'll be
some things to buy"
I'VE can get almost everything we
need when we arrive"
Still. there are always odds and
ends when you're breaking up house
keeping"
THAT won't take long-a day or
two"
"I'll buy one ready made" said May.
Il know you've been looking already.
Doris said you were shopping yester-
day." said Strickland
So Doris, thought May, has been tell
ing her daddy already some of the
things which she was directed not to
reveal How much more had the child
told? But May disclosed nothing of
her agitation to her husband as she re-
piled:
YES; l was looking for a travelling
dress, but | couldn't get anything to
suit me-"
Strickland rose from his chair and
went over to the table on which Doris
had deposited the travelling bag.
'Wait minute" he said. i've been
dol g a little shopping myself" And
he look from the bag a package which
be handed to his wife.
''For me?" said May.
"Yes."
The gift pleased the woman, but in
her mind was still uppermOst the de-
sire to get away from New York.
"Oh, Robert, I'll be so glad to get
away. I'll start packing tomorrow"
Here entered into the lives of Robert
and May Strickland and of their child
Doris and of Joan and Gerald Trask
and of their children and of Stanley
Glover and of others a person of whom
none of them knew up to that mo-
ment He was a humble instrument
of Providence, a man Of lowly station.
He did not know that he was to play
a part in a mighty tragedy. Yet his
Intervention, to play the part OF the
fates such as was assigned to those
mystic women by the ancient Greek
tragedians, warped the courses of the
earthly lives of many persons. His
coming into the eXistences of the
Strickands was announced by the
maid Bertha, who entered and said:
There's a Mr.. Burke here to see
you, Mrs. Strickland"
Strickland turned to May:
who's Mr.. Burke"
"Why, don't know"
'"Tell him to come in, Bertha" said
Strickland.
There entered into the room man
of medium height, stockily built, with
an honest, open countenance which
testified plainly to his Irish extraction.
He was dressed very obviously in his
Sunday suit" and he seemed not quite
at ease in the fnery. But the coat
and trousers were dusty and bore
few cinders, telling the careful obserV-
er that he had recently Travelled in
railroad train. His first remark was
addressed to May.
Are you Mrs. Robert Strickland,
mum?"
YES"
81 don't like to bother you, mum
''Sit down, Mr.. Burke" said Str1ck-
land, indicating the sofa.
THANK you, sir. found a purse
that belongs to you, mum, l think
If Strickland's face had been turned
at that moment toward his wife in
stead Of to the stranger in his home,
he could not have failed to note the
agitation in her face and manner. 1t
was with a tremendous effort that she
Gained herself and said to her hus-
band:
Robert, dear, your dinner will be
ready now; you'd better go in before
it gets cOld.'
Il can wait a few minutes" said
Robert.
Perhaps Mr.. Burke will excuse you
she persisted.
iii only take a minute, num-" said
Burke. I've come all the way from
Long Branch
Have you lost a purse, May?" ask
ed Strickland.
May tried to speak without concern
"Why, no; | don't think So
Are you sure, mum?" asked Burke.
positive" she replied.
"Where did you find the purse. Mr.
Burke? asked Strickland.
ION the platform Of railroad sta
ton at Long Branch last night I'm
the news agent there"
''Long Branch? Then it can't be
yours, May?" said Strickland.