River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-10-17
MY ADOPTED CHILD.

is that oldtown Church, yonder, if
you please, sir9"
A Girl spoke to me- turned and look
cd at her. There are women Of sixteen
and children of sixteen This was a
child. She wore the scantirst of cotton
dresses, beted at the waist pair Of
leather boots and a white aprou. Ter
hand she carried a sun bonnet, and her
hair cropped close like boys, curled IN
black rings about her head. The Ease
vas baby's face in sweetness and inao-
cence, the little brown hands the hands
of toll. No young lady this, yet there
was nothing coarse and vulgar about her
unless il was her hands.
That is Oldtown Church, my dear !
said, ''are YOU going there?'
Eyes sir, to see the wedding, Are
your
was, more fool !, though l did not
the bells were ringing was to be rline
once--would have been but for the sCoi-
dent which had crippled me and changed
her heart She had done nothing :reach-
erouslv, but | saw the truln and set her
free. She took her freedom gladly ana
we we're two. She had quite forgotten
me, no doubt. l believe that I never
could forget her.
knew exactly how she would look IN
snowy silk and lace and c0ronet II pearls.
| had dreamed Of her in bridal robes Sc
often.
nodded to the little thing beside m
trudging over the meadow path with the
tall grass almost to her waist, and look
ing at me so wistfully.
u never saw a wedding, " she said.
"No7"
NO, sir. Grandfather said might
come. He didn't care himself It's
long walk too, from the tavern, and he's
verv old.
'Does your granderfather keep the tav-
ern." ! asked.
'No sir-I wish he didr' said the child
ale has only his fiddle, and people half
the time don't care for tunes. What can
he do, though? Tonight there's a dance,
and he's to play for them. That's why
we stopped
A poor tiddler's untaught grandchild-
as poor as decent poverty could be-yet
her presence somehow cheered me, half
child. half-woman. and all child at heart,
Innocent, beautiful and kindly, encour
aged her to inger at my side. ] said to
her:
Il will show you a place where you
can see the bride we'll 1t is in the gal
lery Will you liketh
Il don't krow," she said. Il haven't
often been to church. We pray together
in lonely places, grandfather aud |. VIII
you be there, SIR"
Yes
II know / should like H."
Come With me then" | said, and she
followed.
I had meant to hide myself in the gal-
Iery, aul see my lost love married
quite unseen. This companion had not
been on my roll at all. But | liked it.
No friend no relation, not my own sister
would have had beside me; but this
elish thing was to innocent 10 fear. led
the way up the dark old stairs, and to-
ward a spot quite sheltered from general
view. Then | sat down and she stood
leaning over the balustrade.
The church was full of hOnnets. Here
and there only masculine head. The
minister was in his seat reading, II pO-
silion taken for effect He was hand
some man and ne knew it perfectly well.
Girls whispered and giggled, rnatrons
famed themselves and men yawned.
Soon the sort roll OF carriaA,es on the gray
el was te-rd, and the bridal party entered.
] SAW her at last Aletta.
,'Is that the bride3" half sobbcd the
girls voice at my side. SIS tia real lady
ON, how pretty, how beautiful! Look
Look -
She touched me tn her little brown
nand and looked at nue., her eyes spark
ling.
"Did you ever sec her fore she
asked. is she like tRat in everyday
clothesl On. how pretty, how pretty =
Men have no right to weep. put my
head down upon the cushion o. the pew
and hid my eyes. l felt the child creep
down beside me.
"Poor man, he's tired - | heard her
whisper, and she put her little hand out
and patted me softly by stealth.
Is 1t all ovvr3H asked the girl.
YES, child, | said, "all over"
"Then must go" she said. Thank
YOU for being SO kind to me, sir. Good
bye"
.Good. bye" / said, and her little
leather shoes patted over the aisle and
down the stairs, and | had seen as
thought, the last of her. When she was
gone | missed her strangely.
went home when the church was quite
empty. 1t had not been as hard to bear
as had feared. and oddly enough found
myself thinking OF that child's little gyp-
sy head and those beautiful long tringed
eyes. l wondered at myself, but 1t WAS
SO.
Il should like 10 see the child again,
! said and as / spoke l spied a crowd
about a tavern door upon the road.
1What has happened, friendl' | asked
Of tinker near by.
"Only a blind fiddler cropped dead, "
he said. But there's gal there wild
about it."
And then | passed him aud went in.
An old man lay upon the floor, and across
his body girl had flung herself. knew