The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1917-07-26

They Diverged. but In Time
They Met
By T. EDWARDS ARMSTRONG

was pleasant 10 me- Ihen came
succession of disasters. My father
died a bankrupt, and within .
month my mother followed him to
the grave. Ny sister Lucy, three
years my senior, and / were sent to
an orphan asylum. One day lady
came to the asylum looking for a
girl to adopt. She chose Lucy, who
went away with her. 1t was a dread
full blow to me to be separated from
my sister, but children of that age
are twigs easily bent to cling to any
thing that offers. So l soon learned
to rely on others, but | never forgot
Lucy.
When / grew old enough to do
anything for myself was discharg-
ed from the asylum. | was given
little money and told to shift for
myself. / bought some newspapers
and sold them on the street. / lived
as such boys live; but, having come
from more refined stock than they,
the life was more distasteful to me.
A gentleman whom ] used to wait
for on a corner in the morning to
sell him a paper asked me one day
how / would like to 60 into his
house as q boy Of all work. / told
him / would do anything to get of
the street. So he took me home
with him and gave me some good
clothes. ! became a sort of assist
ant in the kitchen, answered bell
calls at the door and did errands.
/ was fifteen and quite tall when l
went into Mr. Spingler's service.
Before very long he made a butler
of me
Had the Spingler family been un-
kind to me, possibly l might have
gone out again for a fresh start
while / was still young. But they
were very kind to me, and this kept
me in my position till / was eight
cen years old. Helen Spingler, a
lovely girl several years younger
than ], became interested in me,
having made certain references to
her concerning pleasures / remem-
bered having enjoyed before my
parents died. l returned her sym
patty for me by loving her. Soon
after making the discovery of this
love / told her father that he must
get another butler. He wondered
why I wished to leave, but / would
not tell him. Of course / never
spoke a word of love to Helen.
Within two years / occupied seY-
eral places. Then j secured one as
butler in the family of very rich
young couple who had Just been
married. I was engaged by the
wife, who took especial care to in
struct me in the duties pertaining
to a situation In the home of enor-
mously rich people. She was very |
gentle with me and if / made any |
refrained from scolding
me. Indeed Mrs. Trevor was so |
kind and my wages were so salts
factory to me that ! hoped I would
remain In her service for the rest
Of my natural life.
One day the postman left letter
which had been addressed to some
one who did not live in the house.
I would have given it back to him
had he not hurried away. Ny at
tention was arrested by the name
ON the envelope. 1t was miss Luz
ellie Deering."
Now, my name is George Deer
ing, and my sisters name, l re-
was Lucy. l took the
letter on a salver to my mistress
and observed her as she looked at
It. To my surprise, she opened and
read it.
whats the matter with you,
5eorge?" she asked, looking up at
ne. l had dropped the salver and
taught at the back Of a chair.
Nothing, ma'am," | replied,
only a little dizziness"
But, recovering my equanimity, I
poke of the letter she had opened.
"It's lucky brought it to you. I
to give it back to the post
nan"
'1'm glad you didn't. 1t is from
me who does not know that / have :
,een married. Lucy Deering was
ny maiden name. l wouldn't have :
missed getting the letter for a good I
leal It is a reply from one / wrote
ONE time ago with reference to a
Irother have been separated from
or many years."
"And does it give you any in
about him ?" / asked un- !
er my breath. =
Nothing that win enable me to
nd him." she replied, with a sigh
nd in a tone indicating that she
ID not care to be questioned fur b
her. a
Great heavens, I was my sisters Q
IL