The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-02-02
HIS TRUE ANGEL
BY A. J. GARTH.

Poor boy! dead or alive, which,"
Old Abner Dorsett sat crouched over
the embers of dying fire in his DESC
late home. Time was when he had
stormed and raved whenever he
thought OF talked of his missing son.
He had disowned him, had almost
cursed him. Time, however, had soft
ened the smart of a terrible disap-
pointment, a severe blow to fatherly
trust and affection.
Wilfred Dorsett, 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 neighbor's 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
Dorsett had gone about the deserted
| house like a daZed, numbed creature
unable to rally from 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 a smile. She
felt it her duty to care for the poor
| old man.
1t was not often that Una attended
| any usual functions. Hers had be-
come a home life, but once in a while
| some close girl friend would tease her
| into attending a 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 hir,.
| An open carriage from the livery
called for them. The driver sat muf-
fled up on the front seat in his great
coat Unas escort carelessly regard
| 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 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 some
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, as
during his spell at the lines.
Mr.. Dorsett 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.
"All ready!" she announced at last,
and the well-browned turkey was ush-
cred into evidence "That is stranger"
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.
81 declare! this is simply grand and
neighborly"-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 a 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 me-" interrupted a
> | new voice, and there in the doorway
stood-Wilfred Dorset!
The old man got up, shaking from
| head to foot. Una stood staring, pal
plating.
Its all right, father" spoke the
: newcomer, moving to the side of Mr.
Dorsett and placing loving, gentle
d hand upon the silvered white head.
"You true angel" burst forth the
: returned wanderer, and his arms were
: ! extended, and Una ran into them. "Ah
: you were all ready for mel"
: Yes, there, as at every meal Una
attended to in the lonely house, was
the plate set for the missing one
e Next to it she had sat and there a mo
T ment later those two were together
81 slipped that package into the dist
just now in the Kitchen explained
v the returned outcast. 1 drove yor
: over to the party last night, Una
v heard your answer to your escort
N | Then T knew I might hope"