Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-10-12
LOVING HEARTS
By RALPH HAMILTON.

NS10CSC020SI0CS
Copyright. 1920. Western Newspaper Union)
Martin Gale was running away from
home. He was over sixty, hair white
as the driven snow, slightly stopped,
looked his age. but his eye was bright
and his step elastic.
I've done it according to the story
books! 20 sOliloquized the aged truant.
"Out of the back window, a slide down
the kitchen roof and everybody in the
house asleep. | hope the folks don't
worry. It was all | could do to help
out bad situation"
Old Martin had begun with a whi4l-
steal chuckle, but ended up serious and
thoughtful. He was facing the world
all alone without a penny; he had no
thought of turning back. There were
three persons whom he loved devoted
ly-his daughter, Eta, his son-in-law,
Allan Porter, and their little fOur-year-
old child. sunny-faced. gOlden-haired
Nina. He choked up when he called
up picture of the latter climbing to
his knee and caressing fondly his wrin-
killed. face. ''1@
Hard times had come to the POrterS.
The husband and father had fallen i'll,
had lost his position and had been
obliged to depend upon spasmodic- in
ferior employment. There We're times
when there was little in the larder and
nothing in the household purse. Long
since old Martin had learned that he
was not wanted in the active fields of
| labor. He had pOttered about the rent
ed home and had raised a few vegeta-
! bleS. in winter had picked up stray
| dollars shOveling snow and helping the
| ice harveSterS on the river. but had
not the strength to keep up such ardu-
Gus tasks regularly.
"I'm the oldest and the biggest to
feed and keep warm" he reasoned
| "and burden on them. I'm welcome
and all that, but am taking what the
| others can't spare"
He had left behind him note tell
| ing of his resolve bidding Eta and
| her husband have no anxiety for him,
| for he was sure that in some buster
place than Mayville he would be sure
| fly All the time he had definite
point in view. He had been brought up
| in place called BrOctOn, but had left
| it twenty years previous He was by
| this time doubtless forgotten by many
old-time acquaintance. Still, the long
Ing to get back to familiar scenes the
hope that he might meet some helpful
ca. L,sa I, t,.,
to the home of his childhood just as
does the circus or some other fascinat-
ing objective point the Juvenile run
away and rover.
Martin had saved up even pennies to
get enough to take him towards Broc
ton. AS it was he found himself quite
an amount short of the necessary funds
to reach his destination. He took a
train and when his money gave out
had to leave it with some twenty-five
miles yet to accomplish.
Sturdily old Martin started out to
tramp over the last stretch of his jour-
ney. Asking for a drink of water at a
farm house, the woman who supplied
that need noticed his age and wearl-
ness and invited him to a homely, but
strengthening meal.
1t was dusk when he entered The
edge of the home town he had not
seen for twenty years. He was foot
sore, unsteady of gait, faint and wa
vering. There was a pretentiOus man
sion surrounded by beautiful grounds
and he stepped over the hedge and
started to reach an ornamental bench
to rest his weary limbs when exhaust
ed nature gave way and the old man
fell PROSTATE in a dead swoon.
Light, warmth and two genial young
faces bending over him as he lay on a
couch in luxuriously furnished apart
ment greeted his daZed senses. The
twain solicitously regarding him
seemed to be brother and sister,
you are with friends" spoke the
young man. Don't excite or disturb
yourself until you are completely rest
But where am II" inquired Martin,
sitting up. ut was only little weak
SPELL"
'We found you on the lawn" said
his host. "There was letter in your
pocket bearing the name Martin
Gale.'"
II am he"
"Did you ever know that person?'
inquired the young lady, Indicating an
oil portrait on the wall.
"Why! this must be the old Ran
som place. and that is John Ransom.
Is he living yet? Is he here?"
mo. my father has been dead many
years." replied the young man. "You
did him an act of kindness once that
neither he nor ourselves ever forgot.
You changed the entire current of his
life. Do you recall it?"
"Why, in those old days Mr.. Ran
som was given a little to drink" re-
sponded Gale half evasively, land I
l brought him home one cold winter
night"
Carried him two miles on your
back, you mean. found by you. lying
stupefed in a snow bank where he
would have persisted but for your time
~ aid. And, true man that you were.
you CONCEALED the fact from the public.
When father recovered his right mind
and reformed you had moved away
from Rrocton. He sought vainly to
trace you. Half a hundred times he
told us of you. Just before he died he
urged me to locate you and see that
you never suffered for means while
Ransom had a dollar"
Martin Gales runaway experience
covered just three days. It's end found
the grateful and loyal Planche and WI