Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-06-28

we we're happy.
| "Only three years, darling" Jack whis-
| pered to me, and then -"
| The tears rose to my eyes as tried to
answer him, but l could not speak
| word.
"And you will let me find long letter
when l get there." he said, tenderly.
| Yes, Jack, promise" l said, and
then it was time to return, for the hours
had glided by, how we could not tell.
! Jack spent the evening with US at
| home, and then he left US hurriedly, for
our farewells had been said in the wood,
and it was one hearty kiss, given and
taken before the old people, and then
| good-by.
But I saw him pass soon after day
hand, for l had sat by the window all
night lest might let him 60 by and l
asleep.
And then time clded on sadly, but
! pleasantly as we'll Mine was q busy life,
tor soon my father took to his bed, ill
a bed he never left again, for he gradually
sank and died, leaving my poor mother in
very Indifferent circumstances
1t was hard blow for us both for he
had been one Of the kindest and truest of
|
waited, had my hopeful DAYS in view,
and from time to time letters from dear
Jack, all so true and honest and full of
trust in the future, that felt as if could
not repine even when greater troubles fell
upon me.
For at the end OF two years | was
standing by the bedside where lay poor
mother, sinking fast. She had no par
ticular aiment, but had literally pined
| and wasted away The bird had lost its
mate Of many years, and when at last she
| kissed me and said t'Good-by," it seemed
to me to be in quiet rest seeking spirit,
and she spoke like one looking hopefully
| forward to the meeting with him who had
| gone before.
But she could think of me even then,
and almost thelast whispered words were:
/ Only eleven months, Grace, and then
he will be back to fetch you"
Poor mother! she would not have
passed so peacefully away if she had
! known that which | withheld--namely,
the news that came to me from our law
yer. For, through the failure Of the en-
terprise in which my fathers savings had
been invested, and which brought us
little income OF ego year, | was left pen
niless ST. so poor in fact that the furniture
of the cottage in the little town, to which
we had moved when we left the farm,
had to be sold to deiray the funeral eX-
penses.
1t was veiv hard TO bear, and for
month was terribly depressed; but there
was that great hopeful time ever drawing
near-the end of the three years, when
Jack would come to fetch me to be his
wife,
1t was now for the first time that l re-
member feeling particular about my per.
sonal appearance, and studied my glass
TO see if Jack would find me looking care
worn and thin, and my glass told me truly
yes
But had to be up and doing, and be-
! fore another month was over, through the
kindness of people whom we had known,
| was placed where / could work con.
tentedly for the bread | must earn till
Jack should come to fetch me away.
1t was alta large West End dressmaker's,
and it was hard work to get used to the
hurry ana excitement of the place, where
there were twelve girls living in the
house and rs many more came every day
There were all kinds of petty pieces of
| tyranny to submit to at first, and l sup
pose some OF the foolish girls were jeal-
Gus of me and my looks, so much so that
| found they nicknamed me "The Beauty"
Poor girls! If they had only known how
little store set by my looks they would
have behaved at first as they did later on.
The first thing that won them to me was
when Mary Sanders was taken i'll with a
terrible fever. Nine, Granger was for
sending her away at once on account of
her business and the infection, but the
doctor who was called in, a young, impet.
uous, but very clever man, told her that 1t
would be al her peril if she did so, for
| Mary Sanders's life was in danger. So
the poor girl was shut up in her bedroom
without soul TO 90 near her except
hired nurse, and attV the first night this
woman stayed away.
No one dared 90 near the poor girl then,
50 timidly asked leave TO nurse her tor
felt no fear of the infection, and it
seemed SO hard for her to be left there
| alone.
obtained leave ami went upstairs,
| staying with her till she recovered; and
| from that day there was always Kind
look for me and a kiss from every girl in
the place.
What was more, oddly enough, perhaps
! because ! WAS SO quiet and restrained. first
| one girl and then another came to make
me the contdani OF her loye-seerets and
ask my advice.
| | gave ii, such as il was, though heart
| sore myself for Jacks letters to me had
! suddenly ceased. We he'd correspondent
SO regularly; but /. had struck me that
| his last two letters had been formal and
constrained: they were full OF business
matters too, and he had limited al It's be-
| ing possible that he should not be able 20
keep time about the three years in conse-
quence of some contract
| did not think this when ! first read
these letters tor fhpp I hpl LiSSaj and