Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-08-23

snip was q man who talked to her
gave her candies, and coaxed hel
away from her nurse. He promised
her beautiful toy if she would ster
to the wharf again, and then he pul
her in covered cart. After that her
lite was that of street minstrel, fol
lowing a hand organ, playing violin
Starvation, beating, brutal training in
the use of the violin, exposure to cold
all the hideous sufferings of deli.
cately-nurtured child suddenly thrust
into poverty's rudest clutch, made
up the pitiful story. Time was very
vague to her, only she was sure il
was long, long ago she remembered
her pretty mamma and her home
Her name, she insisted, was Steenie
and there was no memory whatever
of a surname.
Four years later, if you had ask ed
Nathan Calcroft when he first began
to love Steenie, l think he would
have told you on the night when he
rescued her from the fate of freezing
to death in the New York street. Ii
is certain that, at whatever date his
love commenced, it never wavered
or faded in those seven years that
followed. He was not rich man
but, being a good workman, without
vice or extravaganza, neither was
he poor one. His little house was
his own property, we'll furnished,
thoroughly comfortable, and he had
a nest-egg in the bank. Mrs. Cal,
croft could wear black silk and O
Paisley shawl on Sunday, and keep
a servant to do her homework.
But the old lady made feeble pro-
test over the money expended for
Steenie's education. The best school,
the best masters for music and lam
guages good piano and every facil-
ity for study were provided with a
liberal hand, and Steenie availed her.
self of all with eagerness.
The years glided by swiftly, till a
slender, beautiful maiden moved
about the small house, holding in her
gentle sway the full devotion of Ma
than's honest, tender heart. He loved
her utterly. Not one throb of his
heart had ever before been qnickened
by the voice or face of woman; not
one tender emotion had he ever felt
for one of the girls of his own class
who smiled upon him. AS painter
loves nature, as a poet loves beauty,
as musician loves harmony, Nathan
loved Steenie. Her helpless depend
ence upon him reused all the protect
i've tenderness of his great loving
heart, her exquisite beauty excited a
sort of worship, and her dainty, re-
fined voice and manner wakened his
reverence. Visions of a home ever
frightened by Steenie's presence as
his wife began to fill Nathan's brain ;
and yet, with the modesty of true
loye,he feared to lose the sweet, child
like affection already gained, by seek
ing deeper love.
And SteenIe? Out of the horrors
of those years of slavery and martyr
dom she had endured, did Steenie
call up her gratitude for her peaceful
home, the love so freely lavished up
on her, the care bestowed upon her.
She strove to repay it all, as her heart
told her would be most acceptable, by
happy smiles by a display of her
accomplishments to her small, loving
audience by little girlish trihes Of
needlework. She was fond of sewing,
tasty in dressmaking and millinery,
and spoke often of the day when her
little shining needle should be her
bread-winner; and Nathan only smiled
knowing that while he had a loaf
Steenie should never earn another
one.
And the memory of her grand
home, of her mother richly robed, of
her feeble father, that Steenie had
nursed in her misery, faded almost
entirely in her happy life. For she
was happy. Nathan knew that Mrs.
Calcroft never doubted it. 1t was to
both the natural sequence of events
that Steenie would one day be Ma
than's wife, and neither mother nor
son doubted that it would be for Stee-
MES own happiness it should be So
1t had been the custom in the fam
lily to celebrate the anniversary of
Steenie's coming to their home as
her birthday, and it was when the
seventh year was complete that
Nathan resolved to ask his little
adopted sister to become his wife. By
his own love he measured hers; by
his own dependence upon Steenie for
all happiness in his future he Judged
of hers; and he did not doubt her
answer. There was no coquetry in
the little maiden, but her heart was
not capable of the noble devotion of
Nathan's. As far as she read its se-
cret, she gave it to Nathan but it
was untried love, the affection of
habit, the devotion of gratitude.
The winter day was crisp, but clear,
and Nathan, on his way to the store,
purchased a bracelet for his birthday
offering. Mrs. Calcroft would be
sure, he knew, to have little feast at
supper time, and afterwards - his
heart beat thick and fast as he
thought of the words he meant to say
afterwards, But there was no fear
of Steenie's answer to trouble him.
His days work took him to a splen-
did house on Fifth Avenue, which
had been closed some thirteen years,
but was to be occupied again by its
owner, wealthy widow lady.
Every room now is finished but the
drawing-room and boudoir,' said
Nathan's employer, 'and Mrs. Arnold
has taken possession. We can't put
any one but you, Calcroft, on the
finest work
This being an old complaint, Nathan
only bowed gravely, and went to his
destination, thinking but little of the
order or the people, still less of any
danger to threaten his happiness in
the stately house he entered, paste.
pot in hand, workman every inch OF
him, but none the less true Christ
ian gentleman. The drawing-room
first were the orders, and he put up
his tables and superintendent the work