The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1878-01-19

warm friendship, that grew with his
growth, was still cherished between them
The years slipped on, and Louise was
woman, superb, admired, beloved, -
not beautiful in any artistic sense, for
the plain features Of her child face very
/ little changed but the graceful figure,
the dignity Of mind visible in every
change on the expressive face, the warm,
sympathetic nature, proved better
charms, and as potent as beauty.
She had been years away from the
old home. She came back weary, in
the height of one summer-tide, to rest
in its quiet shadows. There was little
change there-the years tr0d so gently
blythe old trees only showing a few adj
ditional signs of decay, the same sweet,
old-fashioned roses and pinks nesting in
the same hooks and corners, few more
gray threads in Farmer Wilhelm's hair,
a few more wrinkles on the face Of his
wife. The cottage where Mrs. Jacobs
and her boy had lived, still stood elm
shaded and vine-wreathed as of yore.
Where is Imlah? % Louise inquired.
Mrs. Wilhelm shook her head, but the
father answered:
He's there, child" indicating the
cottage; " He's been there fortnight.
He's studying for something, -nobody
knows what. Something was in one of
our city papers about him once last
spring. They think he is going to do
something wonderful. Always seemed
to me there must be something in that
big head of his as twas pretty much all
there was of him."
must run over and see him soon, if
he does not call on me, which he may not
do, if he is so busy"
81 'spose you have heard of his moth
er's death" spoke the step-mother Sc
verely.
"No," said Louise, shocked, but com
pretending with almost the anger Of her
childhood, the implied reproach.
Yes, she died before he went off to
the city, poor fellowp' put in the father
mildly.
Louise strengthened herself in her
/ friendly resolution. She walked over to
the cottage on the following morning,
and entered the open door carelessly, fear
lessly, as she had long ago.
The tiny parlor was unchanged, even
the pictures were in their old places, and
the rose in the window was very like the
one the dead woman had kept there; bat
a splendidly-fnished portrait, a perfect
| likeness of the unknown as she must
have been in her young, happy days,
hung in a conspicuous place.
How he must have loved her" was
the thought of the unlimited visitor, as
she stepped on the threshold of the apart
ment which, she saw at once, was with
out q human occupant. A table stood
near the center Of the room, covered
with Instruments of which she scarcely
knew the name, and piles of manuscript.
She was standing there gazing at these,
growing doubtful of the wisdom Of her
intrusion, when door opened on the OPP
pcsite side of the room and Imlah Jacobs
stood regarding her, amazed.
| The same beautiful face and noble
! head she remembered so well, only with
the strength of true manhood in its
perfect lines and curves and-alas! the
same stunted, dwarfed body.
Imlahw she cried, extending her
hand, freely, yet half timidly-and there
was world of plying, tender regard in
the cry.
Can you pardon my intrusion?
wanted so much to see my old friend"
he SullIeO COuTJeOuSlN.
q should be most grateful. VIII
Miss Wilhelm be seated"'
"No. Louie Wilhelm came to see
you, Imlah; your friend in the years
agone. If she may not be considered
friend now, she will 90"
With the words Louie moved away,
but stood still to listen to the response
Do not be hard In the years gone
by, | had not learned the society dis
tinctions that should have kept us apart.
When | am worthy TO be called the
friend of Miss Wilhelm, | shall be only
too happy to receive the privilege"
Panied, cepulsed, angered, the girl
went out silently, left the cottage-for-
ever.
The dwarf sank on his knees and
watched the retreating figure, his face
pale and drawn with suffering; watched
with eager, brilliant eyes, till the stately
form was far away, and hidden COM
pletely, then covered the eyes that could
not weep, with his slender, burning
hands, for an instant, murmuring sweet,
fond words in passionate sorrow. Then
he staggered weakly to his feet, took MS
accustomed place at his table, and re-
SuIlCCt HIS IdDOIISuo STUDY.
The favored love of Louise Wilhelm
had followed her to her summer retreat.
She liked his manly homage, admired
histalents, and his handsome physique
if she loved him, she did not know it.
They spent day after day delightfully."-
/ together. Other friends came also. At
| her fathers desire Louise filled the farm
/ house with merry guests; and the weeks
sped like one gala-dav. She forgot her
disappointment over Imlah's refusal to
accept her prefer of neutrality-suspicious.
! forgot the existence of the poor dwarf,
/ for he was seldom seen by anyone, and
she did not see his face again.
There came a breathless August day,
+ the air like that from monster furnace,
the sun pouring down beams that bent
the crest of every green plant. And on
this day Louise was taken alarmlngly
i'll. The morning had been cool enough
for comparative comfort, and some of
the guests had proposed picnic excur-
sion to a place of interest which had
been several times discussed among the
merry-makers. The young hostess feel
ing the approach of illness, concealed her
pain, and babe them 90 without her.
DiedulIlS IlONSSIlplQ OutlSS Dis ueE S&CuSe.
They left her rather Unwillingly, but of
course without any anxious thoughts.
And it so happened that Mr.. Wilhelm
was obliged to go away to a neigh BORING
town that day, and Mrs. Wilhelm was
left alone with her step-daughter.
Toward noon Louise gave way to the
pain that could no longer be suppressed,
and her step-mother, becoming alarmed
at symptoms she did not understand, be-
gan to cry that physician must be sum-