Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-11-21
A RIVER MYSTERY.

Mile-end was small country town;
but such a town! 1t was very old as
we'll as very dirty place, and one par
tlcular house in its principal street stood
forward into the road several feet beyond
its neighbors; its upper story quite over
hanging the basement. The house was
so old that it almost tottered when the
wind blew-as it often did at Mile-end-
even in spite of the wooden props, them
selves rotten now, with which it had
been buttressed up. But in spite, or
perhaps because, of its age and discom.
fort and general dilapidation, it was
beautifully mellowed and harmonious in
the tone of its coloring. Tufts of vivid
green moss, and yellow and gray lichen at
intervals carpeted and softened the red
tiles; and hardy clumps of orange wall
flowers filled up the gaps left by depart
ed bricks and mortar; thus throwing
over the actual decay and rotten
ness a glamorous veil Of picturesque
beauty. Within, this house was cruelty
cold and comfortless; the beauty of de-
cay was all outside, and only its stern
reality existed within the frail and
draughty walls. There were ten rooms
in this house, which gave. shelter
to seven families. The noise and brawl-
ing were incessant, never seeming to stop
night or day, for when at last the sickly
children were asleep, the night was made
hideous with the drunken blasphemies
and low quarrels of the degraded men
and women; and the reeking air was
thick and heavy with gin and tobacco
and disease.
In one of these rooms-it was in the
projecting upper story, which through
an unusually wide window commanded
a view all up and down the street-lay
on straw pallet on the floor, barely
covered with an old patchwork quilt, a
boy Of about fourteen, who, judging
from his constant cough, labored breath
ing and emaciated limbs, was in the last
stages of consumption. Beside him on
the narrow bed lay a girl a few years
older than her brother, fast asleep. She
was pale and thin and dirty; but there
was rare beauty in the firm soft curves
of the mouth and chin, and in the low
broad brow, up from which was swept a
thick tangled mass of curly brown hair.
Tears glistened on the long brown lashes,
and the eyebrows were knit together in
a painful frown, which suddenly relaxed
as the sick boy watched her with tired,
sunken eyes, and sudden glowing smile
lighted up her face.
"She can allus dream, and escape to
the beautiful world she tells me about"
he muttered with a wistful, impatient
sigh; and can never even Sleep"
Yes, she was dreaming, but not sc
deeply but that the movement and sigh
of her brother woke her. Whaten's
the trouble, Harry dear7 Be 20 worse
tonight"
go, no." he said, and sighed again
II was just wonderin' where 20 was
20 smiled so; and I longed to be there
too"
90, Harry was way of, out O. sigh
o houses an streets an such like, al
alone in the valley; an all the trees an
the flowers an the river spak to me, tx
give me comfort"
"Ah! the valley" said the sick boy
that's where I want to 20, as I used to
fore I was took bad. If could sleep
p'raps I could go, too" Here was in
terrupted by terrible fit of coughing
which only left him strength to gasl
feebly for "water." -
"A CAdCAcu cup W1tlOuC 0000lo SCOO(
on the window-sill, and in it was a littl,
water. The girl rose to get it; but a
she was handing it to her brother tn,
door opened, and their father stapgere,
in. For an instant he looked at hi
children, and in drunken fit of sense
less passion struck the girl sayae
buffet, which. made her reel and shat
tered the cup into fragments in her hand
The girls brow flushed crimson witt
anger and pain, and her brown eye
flashed fire. You miserable drunkel
brutel'' she said.
None o yer sarce, gal, or I'll Xii
yer" and he glared at her dangerously
with MS arm uplifted to strike.
Father, faither!" commanded rathe
than lmPlored the sick boy, sitting u
with an effort, and holding out = thij
pale hand between them, While : hecti
red blazed in his cheeks and 4 vivid lioh
shone in his sunken blue eyes. "Don'
yer strike her-don't yer strike her ar. :
God viii strike yol' There Vs. :
strange, almost unearthly look, in II
boys spiritualized suffering face tbs
awed the man into temporary sobernesl
As he paused with arm uPlifted, lool
ing at his son, an expression Of sham
and uncertainty crossed his features; b
hung his head, avoided the boys intsna
Eyes and his arm slowly dropped By hi
Father" said tho l,,v =, !. r,..,+,.