Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-07-15

doer-steps and strolled about cutters il
search of amusement. This diversion sh,
afforded them, and she was forced to rul
the gauntlet OF frank criticism, especiall,
from upper windows, where lolled untid,
foreign ladies. The second car was
shade dirtier than the first Gas was be
ginning to flare in the hot streets. How
gladly would she return to the hotel die
she know the way! Terror reached eli
max with the sudden influx of crowd O
rough, coarse men and tawdry women. l
she had only minded John! In thes,
creatures she recognized the burglars by
daylight of her dreams, the desperadoes
who revel in bloodshed and mock at jus
tice. She was not in the best company
1nstinctively she closed her eyes an(
prayed for deliverance.
The men evinced jocose familiarity, thu
women hard cruelty and resentment, as
if they saw violet growing lar above
their abyss Matters were becoming
serious. A bottle having circulated witt
visible effect on the spirits Of the com
pany it was presented insolently to Kitty
who rose to her feet. received & rude push
and was relieved of her purse. All, por,
of safety! Mudflat Ferry loomed through
the gathering darkness. To her dismay
the noisy prosecutors followed, fairly driv
ing her from the cabin.
= The low shore opposite seemed desert.
ed. She discovered only vacant coal
yards and shipping, with horrible lurking
places in shadow, and the group approach.
ing through the gates of the ferry house.
The poor little wanderer fled, pursued by
derisive laughter, until she reached low,
broad house on the waters edge, which
bore on signboard the Lamb" A
brick walk bordered with ancient box led
up to the sloping stoop, where an old man
stood in the door, which was painted
green and divided in two halves. He was
weather bronzed and bent, but his face,
having carried the impress of honest good
nature for eighty years, did not fail Kitty,
who, choosing between two evils, APP
preached timidly. The proprietor of the
4" Lamb" (now far advanced in mutton
hood welcomed her, and summoned his
wife, a hearty dame in crimped cap.
They could not send her home, but she
might remain all night.
Seated on the back porch with his pipe
as the evening shadows shrouded the har-
Dor and the great steamers surged past,
gemmed with red and blue lights, the old
man told Kitty Of the days when the giant
city over yonder was mere infant. He
had kept the tavern for forty years, since
the time when green turf bordered the
river and lofty trees had no warning of
progress. The stubborn old Lamb" had
not yielded an inch, although the quiet of
its youth was disturbed by iron.tongued
The box hedge grew trinity
erect; the trumpet-vines clung to the time
stained walls; twin LOmbardy poplars
guarded the gate as in the days when the
wind came laden only with the sweetness
OF clover fields. The boys who used to
frequent the Lamb" of summer evenings
to battle and refresh themselves with
spruce beer and "bolivars' the ginger
bread ancestor of the modern "round-
hearty had grown to be care-worn men,
had even sunk into quiet graves while he
sat smoking his pipe. Every eddy in the
current, every inlet of the neighboring
shores, was familiar to him; and his prime
boosted honest yawls instead of modern
light, cockle-shell craft. Thus the past,
Older than his century, recalled the victO-
ries of the First Consul, the evacuation of
the red-coats, the hero of New Orleans.
In this inn on the waters brink of Nue.
flat Ferry Kitty was a foreign element. If
the Dutch family was the smooth surface
of the rock, solid and durable, she was the
sharp granite edge cut into many angles.
Excitement robbed her Of sleep, although
she had not fallen among thieves. After
she had retired to a large clean chamber,
with a paper fire. board in the wide
chimney and faded portrait of Flemish
cavalier on the wall, She took her lamp to
examine the painted tiles of the hearth,
and leaned out of window listening to
the melancholy plash of the tide, in
danger OF being claimed by the last peril
of that eventful day-fever and ague.
John fastened back to the hotel, intend
ing to surprise Kitty by his speedy return
The bird had flown. With wonder and
alarm he made inquiries. No result. A
bell-boy had seen her go out at halfpast
four. At eight O'Clock he teegraphed to
the friends in the suburbs. Kitty was not
there. AT nine he sought the police sta
ton, and intelligence of her disappear.
ance flew all over town. AT ten frantic
bridegroom paced the floor Attwelve he
sat, with head buried in his hands. the
picture Of despair. Patient waiting
seemed the only course.
Next morning John, haggard with anX-
iety, stood in front of the hotel. A beau
tiful carriage lined with satin drew up.
1t was like the chariot of fairy tales, and
a delicate lady was the occupant.
:" She is not half as pretty as my Kitty, =
groaned John. Just then an ancient and
rusty chaise, drawn by sorry gray horse,
and driven by an old man, appeared. John
sprang forward. Kitty sat in the chaise
beside beaming dame. who had made
the journey TO New York in the family
vehicle of the Lamb Tavern. The whole
Cosmopolitan Hotel might smile super
ciliously, but John shook hands cordially
with the old couple, put up the gray
horse, and insisted on inviting them to
dinner
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