Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1918-04-19
A Cherished
Mernento
BY VICTOR REDcLIFFE
Copyright. 1913. Western Newspaper Union

the top porch SLep, casting ANXIOUS
glances down the street. Lilias was
all dressed up and realized the dignity
due for the occasion. She was wait
ing for boy she liked, too, and did
not want wrinkles to come in her pref
ty new frock, nor stray wisp of her
flowing hair disarranged until Wallace
Doty viewed her, the perfect picture
Of dainty fairy that she really was.
Inside the house clock struck four.
The little lady's eyes flashed, bright
pink spot came upon either cheek, she
stamped her little foot Then she
flounced down the graveled path lead
ing to the street.
Sand he promised to be here at
three" she flared forth. "He shan't go
with me any more. I'll never speak to
boy again."
"Oh, Lilias."
A barefo0ted urchin in GREATNESS
state of excitement patted at the gate.
Heard about Wallace Doty?" he
asked.
"No, what about him?" Lilias deign-
ed to inquire.
"He stumped the crowd Yes sir,
he's the first fellow that ever got clear
up to the top of Rocky Cliff. And he
tore his clothes and nearly rolled into
the gully. And his uncle heard of IL
and walloped him, and then his uncle
found that Wallace had broken a new
knife he'd got for his birthday and he
gave him another walloping, and he's
shut Wallace up in his room without
single bite to eat. "Why, what's the
matter, Lilias?"
To hide flood of tears from her
informant Lilias dashed back into the
house. Once in her room she flung her
self upon the bed and huddled up there,
regardless of disorder to dress, and
hair, sobbing as if her heart would
break. Her anger melted as she rec
ognized how unjust she had been. Wal
lace was a hero. He had done what
no one in the village had ever done be-
fore, and now he was martyr. His
uncle had/always been a harsh man.
Wallace was imprisoned, starved, neg
lected, isolated.
Lilias left her room strangely SUBJ
dued yet resolute expression about the
set lips. 1t was just dusk when, a
compact parcel under her arm, she pro-
ceeded In the direction of the prison
house. Inside that package were half
a dozen dainty sandwiches, a great
slab of pound cake and some apples.
Lflias got to the side of the house.
She stood directly under an open win
dow.
"Oh, Wallace, it's me-" she called
softly and human face peered down.
wallace, have you piece of string?"
voiced Lilias cautiously.
Huh! Every boys got that" re-
sponded her hero./
"Then let it down. I've brought you
nice lunch"
"You have? Say, Lilias, couldn't
meet you this afternoon. I'm chained
by the ankle to the bed post"
"Oh, cruel cruel" walled plying
Lilias. "Poor Wallace, dear Wallace.
won't sleep all night, worrying about
your"
GLORY is that So" exulted Wallace.
Then I'll stay awake, too, thinking
of you. Lilias, I'm dropping piece
of paper, catch it. There's one of the
Cliff four-leaf clovers in it. That's
why I made the climb and
But Lilias heard someone coming.
She pressed the bit of paper tightly in
her palm, and when she got home. kiss
ed its enclosure and placed it inside Of
the locket she wore about her neck.
Two days later LiliaS heard some
dreadful news. Dear Lilias," letter
came to the anxious girl, postInarked
at distant CITY, eve run away from
home, and I'm going to make man
of myself and come back to get you
when I'm rich"
Then five years-in all that time
Lilias never heard from Wallace but
somehow her childish fancy never dim
med. Then in an instant, despite the
change into a full-grOwn man, joy
shone in her face and he seemed un-
duly happy at her prompt recognition.
1t was the day after that when he
and Lilias were strolling near Rocky
Cliff. But it did not much resemble
the wild, inaccessible height of his boy
hood days. A summer resort had been
established at it's base and steps now
led up to it's apex. They ascended and
sat down on the grass to enjoy mar
velous view of valley dale and
meadow.
'How this brings back that day when
vauntingly climbed up here" spoke
Wallace. do you know how I came
to break my knife" he questioned.
She shook her pretty head negative
ly, but futtering, for something in his
serious, yet glowing eyes told her that
he had purpose in the "Reminiscences.
Come with me few steps," he in
vited. thine cannot have obliterated
the chronicle" and she accompanied
him along a face of rock where he
pulled aside some vines. "Ah, here 1t
is :, and he avnnsnd an eunr snaca