Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1916-11-17

"You have no idea where Estelle--
Miss Harraden went to?" eagerly i'm
quired Merrill.
"None," was the depressing reply.
you will curse me, but 1 had to re-
| lieve my mind" and, despite his gen.
tie words of forgiveness, his proffers
of money aid, the poor creature van
| ished in the throng.
1t was then that Merrill renewed
his quest for Estelle. He advertised
in the papers. he even employed de-
tectives, but no trace was found of
missing or hidden Estelle Harraden.
His grief was the more poignant, how
lie had driven from his side the lovely
girl and probably destroyed her faith
in all mankind.
He had miraculous escape in a rail-
road wreck at little town in Iowa and
was compelled TO remain there owing
was the first day he had been able to
walk readily since the accident, and he
was turning a corner when an auto
mobile came whizzing around the COR
ner. A little child passed directly in
it's path. Merrill sprang forward. He
drew the child aside in safety and held
her in his arms as she SObbed with
fright.
Don't cry, dearie," spoke Merrill
soothingly.
"But my books, look they are all in
the mud"
"We will soon fix all that" promised
Merrill encouragingly and he gathered
up two books held by a strap, I'M
loosened them and with his handker-
chief rubbed off the damp dirt that had
gathered on them.
"You see, Miss Bartlett gave me the
books" explained the little one.
"Shes taught me the alphabet and
soon can read words I'm to go to the
school,"
"Bere they are, all nice and Clean"
said Merrill, but in handing the books
back to the child one of them CHANGED
to come open. Merrill started, stared,
his breath came quickly, for across
the fly leaf was written in a dear IA
miliar hand the name: ''Estelle Har-
raden," and after it the date of the
year she had disappeared.
"Child! childw he uttered eagerly.
'you say lady gave you the books.
Where, who is she?'
miss Bartlett? oh, everyone knows
her." prattled the little one. "She is
a music teacher"
Eyes! yes!"
'She lives with the school princi-
pals family in that gray house-see
it, just beyond the church"
Alton Merrill tried to control him.
self. A clue at last-oh, surely for
Estelle had been a musician along
with her other accomplishments. So
abruptly did he leave the little child
that she stood staring wonderiDgly
after him.
Merrill approached the gray house
beyond the church. Could he be mis-
taken-was he cherishing false hopes?
Oh, surely not! for as he approached
the front steps of the house, sweet,
mellow, reminiscent, the notes OF
piano sent out an old song EStelle had
often sung to him.
The strains drew him up to the
screen door. His range of vision took
in a neat little parlor. At the instru-
ment sat q girlish form. Her face
was half turned towards him. His
famished eyes Toasted upon it's rare
beauty.
"Estelle!" he spoke simply.
She turned, her being athrill. Her
hand sought her throbbing breast as
she recognized him.
81 have found you after the years,
and oh, heaven has opened to me"
he uttered in joyful, thrilling tone.
She came slowly towards the door,
Her eyes scanned his face. Truth,
love, were there. Oh, she could not
mistake it!
Her eager hearing drew in the rapid
word, he spoke, voice as from lost
paradise.
1t was she who pushed open the
screen door. It was she who reached
forth her arms towards him with the
weary, yet heartsome cry.
ooh, why did l ever doubt your
"It matters not" he spoke, for love,
happiness have come back to us-af-
ter the years."