The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1918-07-04
The Wishing
We'll
BY EDNA RUTHERFORD


. Wv wv p''I eight gttAlSs
"And his famiy?'
'All gone bur little Viola cub ner
little because I've known hrs A.nce she
was II baby. She's eighteen uow. but
rs pretty, childish md tnnocen as
ever. She's happy, for II reguiar fairy
child is Viola. When she isn't laugh
Ing or singing shes dreaming.
The Wel-dressed hundSome-faced
/ questloner looked grave and disap-
j pointed David Willis stood studying
him critically, Il queer twinkle IN his
eye.
II make you out now" he spoke
abruptly.
"What 10 you mcau2" inquired the
stranger.
"Why. just thls-you are Earl Riy-
ers."
The other started quickly. He
| flushed trinc, then he smiled uoon
his challenger and extended his baud.
II hope you are glad to see me" he
said
always Tint and many i'm" since
| YOU went away have I Though. of YOU.
| I don't forget my best friends. you re
not the man to be forgotten b? n fol-
/ low whose life You savtd. Remember
thnt stormy night when you FOUND me
| face down in water puddle, inst
about al gomez Well that WIS my
lesson / haven't touched a drop
since"
Good for you, Willis" cried Eprl
/
| Rivers In friendly, inspiring why.
suppose ! have changed good deal in
ten yenrs. for You are the only one
who has recognized me. iig the way,
having done so, suppose You keep II %
Yourself who l am for n little white"
"Surcly. if that is your wish"
| promptly nsSented Willis.
Nobody in particular in LecsvilIe
had paid any especial attention to the
stranger who lind come quietly into
town, registering MS Walter Brown ut
the village hotel.
Willis alone through eyes of keen
memory and gratitude had recognized
him MS one who had LEFT the town
nearly It decade previous. He re-
called the mere lad who had been
| brought into the village in Il farmer
wagon, picked UP on the town Pie
where an automobile hud run him
down The motor flend had driven
on hcartlcssly, abandoning his victim
to his fate.
81 have never forgotten the kind
ness, the care, the interest hetokcned
by the true souls who nnrsed me back
TO henlth-I homeless, frieudless, pen
nIIess, who put me on my feet again,
found me work and gave me n heaven
of II life for two years" said Earl
"When left here l made n solemn
vow that If ever got on in the world,
[ would return and make my home
among these Gods people. I'm going
to do better than that, Willis, ! am
going to bes1ow some signal reward,
for I have made n fortune"
There were half Il dozen people who
had been kind to the orphan stranger
in those old days. OF these some had
died, others had moved away. Rivers
grew more and more sorrowful, ~ he
realized that the generosity he had
come back to bestow would reach only
IN old war veteran In another country
and the daughter of John Gilbert.
"You won't recognize Violn, the lit
lie child YOU knew years ago spoke
Willis. "Shc has had TO cnrn her liv-
,is WI N'l'h u, &" ,n,,.,,4 ,,.,rttng
md contcuted. You soc. my daughter
Nellie Is good deal like her. They
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,''i11 -" ~ ,ra, ,oaa.,o,. ,rhI,
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ao,aa dnn.n IN INV t,rso onou dark
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