Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-06-13

change directly
Ioheyed her, trembling the while. for
| was very weak; and she went on ask
ing me questions and making COM
mentS.
II don't like your appearance at AL;
You look pale and unhealthy. Not bit
like u girl from the country"
I'm verv sorry" | said; but indie d,
ma'am, have excellent health
Then your face tells stories about
You. You play, Of course"
"les, ma'am."
INQUIRE warm now. Go and play
something. Can yen sing
Yes ma am.
Then sing, too; and look here, Miss
Miss-MisS-"
| was about 10 tell her my name, hut
remembering the last rebuilt, was
silent.
Now, look here, my good young
lady, how am l TO remember your
dreadful name What is it2"
Laurie, ma'am," replied.
"Of comse it is; remember it quite
well. Now go and play and sing some
thing, and mind don't want my ears
deafened with fireworks, and the drums
split with parrot.shriek bravuras. Sing
something sweet and simple and old.
fashioned, ii you cam She added I'M
graciously.
crossed the room and sat down 10
the magnificent piano, and for the next
five minutes | seemed 10 he far away,
down III the old home,as forgot where
] was, i'll singing my poor dead fathers
favorite old ballad robin Adair;"
while, AS finished, l had hard work to
keep back the tears.
"Ro-hin a -dair, she sang, rs |
rose, in not unpleasing voice. "Now
let me hear You read. ! always make
my companion read to mea great deal;
and mind this, hate to hear any one
drone like schoolgirl. Go over there
into the corner of the window. and
stand there. Take that book; you'll
find the mark left i'll where Miss Bell
ville-bah | believe her name was
Stubs, and her father green grocer
left OIL. Now then, begin"
She pushed lounge-chair close up to
the window, and sat down with her
hands in her mutf, while | stood there,
feeling like schoolgirl, and ready to
drone. as began to read with faltering
voice what happened to be Thackerys
most beautiful chapter-the death Of
poor old Colonel Newcome. | know
my voice trembed at time, and
strange sense of choking came upon
ME MS | went on battling, OH, SO hard,
to read those piteous heart-stirring
lines but | was weak with hunger and
exertion, sick with that despair of hope
deferred, and Mt last the room, with its
costly furniture, seemed to swim round
me, cold perspiration bathed my
face, and with a weary sigh caught
feeby at the curtains, and then fell
heavily upon the polished floor.
have some faint memory of being
lifted, and wheeled in Il chair whose cas-
tors heard ehirrup, to the front of
THE fire, and then us my senses began
to return, seemed to feel arms round
me, and a pleasant voice saying half
aloud
And she Just lost her poor father
too-to set her to read such thing rs
that declare I'm about the wickedest,
most thoughtless, and unfeellng old
woman under the sun"
Then, there was the refreshing odor
of a yinaigrette, and the sick feeling
began to pass away.
"I--beg PARDON ] faltered, trying to
rise.
81 beg yours, my DEAR" she said ten
derby. "Sit still, sit still. Now then
try and drink that"
Some sherry was held TO my lips, and
then / was almost forced to eat n biscuit.
They, however, rapidly revived me,
and | found Mrs. Porter had torn of
her bonnet and mantle, and was kneel-
ing by my side.
That's better, my DEAR" she said,
smiling at me, as she passed her arm
round me and drew me nearer TO her,
and kissed me in a gentle, motherly
way. And now this was too much, for
/ was weakened hysterical. ! could
fight against harshnes, but her tender
words and ways unlocked the flood
gates Of my grief, and | laid my head
down and sobbed as if my heart would
break.
An hour later, after she had literally
forced me to partake OF the breakfast
that was ordered up, she sat beside me,
holding my hand, and more than once
| saw the tears steal down her pleasant
face as she won from me, bit by bit, the
story OF my troubles and my bitter
struggles here in town.
AT last rose to go, trembling and ex-
pectant. Would she engage me? II
was moro than dared to hope.
Sit still, my child, she said tender
~. 1t has pleased God to make me
endless, widowed woman-His stew
ard over much wealth. and if did not
make this a home for one Of His
pest-smtten lambs ! should be a
worse woman than ! think am. Stay
with me; we shall be the best Of
friends.
/ stayed-stayed to know her real
worth and to win her motherly love
stayed to find, when John Murray re-
turned, that his love was greater for my
sister than for me, and patiently re-
signed my love to her, and then battled
with long illness when they had gone
together to the far of home. But every
day gave me a new lesson Of not iudg.