Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-01-20

was wonderful how little warmth of hu
man feeling had reused this woman to
life and activity again.
When Tom returned laden with vari-
Gus articles Of apparel, the two were
quietly slipping their tea together at the old
round table.
He did not return alone, however Fol-
lowing him came a tail, gray-headed gen
tleman.
'Hcrc's father" cried the girl, spring
ing forward. "Oh, father, this good lady
has saved my life"
Lady! The widow Minton wanted to
kiss the beautiful rosy lips that pronounc-
cd the words
"Well my DEAR" said the old gentleman
good humorcdly pinching tic plump
cheek, "shc has done it very Thoroughly.
You ccitainly don't look very near death
just now."
Whcrcat the story, with due enlarge
ment and variation, was told him with a
pretty pout.
The father smiled, but also he furitivc|y
wiped away a tear.
"Wcl(, madam" said he courtcously,
accept my cordial thanks for looking af'
ter my madcap Belle. She's my only
child, you sec, and full of pranks "s any
Dozen"
Belle rlaylully put her Land over his
mouth. Il won't have my character ,ra-
duccu where they've been so good to mc,'
she cried And oh, father, isn't this u
beautiful place--such view y, the water f.!
l mean to come down lcrc every day ana,
do my skctchsng.'
"l'm afrad,' said the sire, shaking hi
heat, THAT this good lady will have cause
to wish She had thrown you ovcrhoard.''
"Oll, no, father; she likes me and like
her. And I've fallen in !ove with Tom
long ago, you know"
Tom blushcd painfully. Something
strange and new stirred in lis mind
Compliments did not swcc,en his thoughts
rs they did his mothers for Tom had ncv.
cr seen seen better days, and icl' as ii
he were being made jest Of:
\ week passed, during which the young
girl >trnlled almost daily to the cabin
When she was there Tom seldom entered
,hc house. lie had grown shy and >ulky
/ he 81; on the shore larkly br o;dng, o,
wen, OIL iltn1ly to his fishing.
/ Ore morning Belle and her father de-
! parted. Bel kissed the withcrrd check
Of her fri. nd AID that was all. For VII I
mention hal been made Of helping hc
s,.n>t;a, tally, ti:c widow had drawn hr
sell sharply up, all ,hc Lady shining il
!.cI eye.
Il ma. have seen my b>st dnvs,' III
- d. "bu. huv,nt co.ue to that yet 1Au>
y II eded an. rcwa:d, Eve had it now,
>hc ad, d. az she ivl, the soft blont, man
Ting in the check which Belle had Ai SC
Long after tie two had LETT, Tom wen
alb ,ut with cloud on his face, and in hi
ears wer ringing these mcc!:lng wolds
I'm in love with Tom.' y dis sust 10
his fishing liz. and !c.. himself and tex &;
their miserable surroundings Of p"ver',
ti!l.l tie lads hear, with an INV un;.
bitterness.
Mother" said he one day, Is lie So
darkly bruodiny over the hearth, $50,
said you were ~ born lady; why didn'
YOU make 4 gentleman Of mc?'
II hadn't any money left when yo
camc,' said the widow briefly.
Then it's money that makes peopl
gentlemen and ladies:'
II don't know said the widow, pu.
led; they somehow mostly have it.'
One day Tom came and told her that II
was going to sea. There had been a ma
down looking for hands, aud he had gla(
ly taken Tom, for Tom was handy ic
low ut almost any Kind of sea craft, an
would soon made good seaman.
"And you must just hide here pa,icntl
till l come back, mother; for if there
/ better days anywhere, I'll bring 'cm wit
me, be sure
After that the sea locked blucr and cols
or than ever, and the solitary woman live
sort Of hermit's life. No CHEEKY voi<
of gossipping ncightor lightencd Il
drcary cabin, no children prattled abo'
her; and only Belle. the bright, blith
hearted lassie, seemed to remember
cheer her with letter now and then
Belle was away now visiting some dista1
> friends, but in her kindly heart she kcl
a corner, it seemed, for the poor old W
man who had saved her life.
Three ycars-four-passcd away, an
daily of a summer afternoon you m,g
have seen the widow sitting in her doc
way, eager and hollow-eycd, looking o.
: for some possible SLIP ,ha, mi YM
! Toms Tom was not good co,respon
} ent, but occasionally up at the little pos
Office wandering epistle waited h'
trembling hand. She was growing vel
: old ard feeble now; but Tom was gc,tir
up in the world. Tom was first mate
his snip, Ion was success, II M " as
gentleman, and oh. above all things, To-
was coming home!
Not every one watches in vain, thoug
:, I'VE may not always be looking in the rigI
direction. 1t was so with the widow. !
she sat one day, with s'raining eve, ga
:, ing on the far-of sun-lit sails, and SEER
how some Of them h0vcrcd nearer an
nearer, and some, alas! took wing far,h
anc farther away, the doorway daykcnc
. suddenly; there came rushing upon hi
as If dropped by the clouds, 4 plum
dark-eyed, rosy'cheeked lady, who tlur
l herself into the arms Of tho watcher, wi
a cry Of JOY.
. "Oh mother" she exclaimed, half so
bing, half laughing, "oh, mother! dor
It you know mt! Why. I'm Toms wife, AZ
i I've brought the captain with me:''
"S1other," said Captain Tom, la
y night, "you've seen better days, perhal
but I never have"
= "Fov uidp' tell you," said Mrs. Tc,
~ !. skAi,.