The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1917-05-31

There was no failing of her eornost
promise. The Homeless tramp was
given a comfortable bed in the garraf
II" was nUr>"d and fed and told thar
n" was welcome 10 such as they had
until he was we'll enough To reSum,
the road
winch IS my natural bent" Oh
served Jim, and somewhere along
II I'm going 70 find something 10 nav
you back for all your kindness"
innocent, inexperienced Lois saw in
fancy their grateful patient delving
hard at honest work To keep his pledgo
+ In his secret mind jim chuckled as
II" recalled Il certain domicile twenty
miles or more distant. There its
Grabbed master had set his dogs on
him, not, however. until the keeu-cycd
m"ndicant had caught Si-ht Of glow
'ng wealth in The library OF the mar
sion.
He vas well and strong. a. he an
n"unccd AZ the breakfast table one
morning that ne would be no longer
a burden upon them.
Better stay over few DAYS
friend invited bluff. kind-hrarted
Alan Ware.
Yes, At least for today" supple
mented Mary, "for-Alan. | suppose
you had forgotten it, but we were
married just fifty years ago today"
Il remembered IT," came the rrompt
but mutiied response. and a tear rolled
down the Speakers cheek. "our we'd
ding. | hoped you had forgotten il.
for there hasn't been much of gold.
or even silver in this house during the
half century"
But Oh, what true. pure gold Of
love. and trust, and faith :" cried Mary.
Springing Up. agile us q girl. and put
ting her arms about his neck. And
aS 10 the other gold-why. Alan. dear.
we've always kept and rcyercd this.
Don't you brother Bruce
gave this &" me only week before We
ran away ami got married"
Mary removed from her neck chain
and lockrj. l. contained the portraits
Of her parents. She placed il ru H..
table and il should remain there all
day, she declared. is a reminder. She
planned fin" dinner to celebrate the
occasion. Jim Darby Went outside
deeply thoughtful.
They shall have q real golden we'd
ding, if | get jagged for it" Solilo- |
quiZed Jim ana he left the house for |
that Crandgr one twenty miles away. !
He was not home at dinner time. Mary /.
and Lois, returning To the house lust |
before dark. stared strangely AT the !
table rs they entered the house. In |
its center was a little heap Of gold /
coins and blurred mi>spclt note. Il .
read: For Your golden wedding !
Jim Darby"
why what can il mcan?' maryelrd |
Mary. and then. picking up box from
the floor which had evidently been the .
original receptacle of the coins, She
uttered kind of scream.
What Jim Darby had done was to
rob the brother Of his kind hostess
and the box he had stolen bore uu its
side his name and description of the
rare coins ii contained. In fash
Mary surmiSed the truth.
Nothing would do but Lois must In
Stantly proceed 70 the next town, seek
out Bruce Watson and restore the
ilched treasure and explain. Lois had
sweetheart who offered 10 drive her
to Wadham and back very willingly.
Bruce Watson regarded his visitor
With suspicion and dislike. He reused
up. however, as Lois told her story
and restored the stolen coins.
A golden wedding? Those paupers,
The display must have been opulent."
ne Sneered.
"Oh, no." amended Lois. and mean
ngly. for she was an intelligent little
Ieing. There was real gold memen-
o, Mr.. Watson-a lOcket you gave
'our sister containing the portraits
# your father and mother"
If g shot had struck him il could
lot have had more effect. He paled
md quyered. A simple word had IN
Ocked the sealed storehouse of his
memory.
She was beside him, her arms about
lis neck, in tears, pouring out the story
# two patient, gentle lives, full of the
owe and tenderness he had missed.
lie waved her away finally, too choked
p with emotion TO speak.
And later-he invited and there
anne into his life the joys of recon
and the peace his soul had
Dnged for all those dreGry years.
overcI 0iaIoouae