Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-08-20

Is. Mr.. LeOnord Demlng WAS Nj. ID. :;
and she came here two days ago to live
in the brick cottage round the corner,
with her aunt, old Mrs. Paulding. who
is always talking of better days and
Boosting That there has never been a
mechar lc ir her family. And yet she's
as poor as a church mouse, and no one
knows how she manages TO live"
But few hours after Dick was again
seized with terrible thirst-a thirst
that he was firmly convinced could only
be assuaged by draught from the brick
cottage well, and again, pail in hand, he
set out, this time to reach the place of
destination and began slowly to return.
Ii was ten O'clock. Inethe cottage all
was silence and darkness. Dick paused
as he reached it, and leaned against the
maple in front of the door and at the
shutterless windows where the wax
flowers and fireworks entreated, come
buy me-" Aud as he gazed, smash
went pane of glass, and blue light
shot past him and fell with prolonged
hiss upon the ground. Then in quick
succession came another and another.
Then tizz! bang! pop popl hzz! bang
]
/ ing about in every direction, and the
white muslin curtains were in flames
La a moment the strong young tel
! low had burst open the door, thrown
the pail of water upon the cracking
fireworks, torn down the blazing cur-
tains and stamped out the fire. And
in another moment some one in long
white robe, her golden hair, silvered by
the moonlight, came flying out of the
room just beyond, and, tiinging her
arms about him, cried; "Oh dear
brother Robert, you have come back at
last. But-but" looking about her in a
! bewildered manner-"what has hap
pened?'
"Tm not brother Robert" said Dick;
but he didn't loosen the clinging arms,
as it behooved him 10 do when he made
| the declaration. "Im-the- shavings
man, and your window has been on
fire. Fortunately | was passing"
But he got no further for the white
robed figure uttered little shrek, and
fled precipitately as old Mrs. Paulding
entered the room from the other door,
her best bonnet perched on her head
and her night-cap dangling by its
strings around her neck, a silver teapot
in one hand and her favorite cat grasp
ed by the throat, in the other, on
queer little run, totally unlike her usu-
al dignitied tread.
| To her did Dick explain the cause of
the wet carpet and the smoke-begrim-
med walls, and, amid her profuse thanks
for his timely help, was taking his leave,
when Mrs. Deming, lamp in hand,
again made her appearance this time
in suitable evening dress.
'Oh, aunt, what an escape" she be-
gan, setting the lamp on the table; land
to think | never woke until the very
last. | was SO tired; and Eva slept all
| through it. We might have been
burned in our beds" And then, turn
ing to Dick, she said, her sweet voice
trembling in spite of the great effort 10
maintain her composure, 81 beg your
pardon for the absurd mistake l made;
but was so bewildered, and only hall
awake, and Ed been dreaming of my
brother, whom you"-looking him full
in the face-"resemble very much"
And breaking off suddenly, her voice
trembling still more. chow can we ever
thank you, Mr."
"Dick Foster, the carpenter" said
Dick, with as much dignity as though
he had said doctor" or "artiSt.''
Mr. Foster" her lips quivering and
her fair cheeks flushing red, and she
held out to him her dainty hand.
Dick flushed as rosy red as she, but
made no movement toward her. His
right hand hanging listlessly at his side,
his hat held in his left, he stood in ST.
lence as though uncertain what to do.
"Do you refuse to shake hands with
me?' she asked look of panied
surprise fitting across her lovely face.
"Why, God bless us he can't"
screamed the ola lady; ''his poor hand
is dreadfully burned" And she hasten
ed away in search of old linen and
sweet oil.
And it was-his working hand--ter-
ribly burned but when Dick went home
that night he scarcely felt the pain for
the memories of two violet eyes shining
through tears, and sweet voice saying:
"Oh, Pm so very, very sorry-so very,
very sorry !"
The next morning Mrs. Foster had
lust cleared away the breakfast things,
and gone into the sitting room where
Dick sat, installed in the only easy chair
the house possessed, his right hand en-
veloped in bandages, book in his left,
and the vase Of wax flowers on the la
BILE before him, when there came gen.
tie knock at the street door The good
mother, opening it, beheld pretty
bue-eyed woman, holding blue-eved
little gill, standing upon the threshold.
"Oh, it's you, Mrs. Deming," said the
old lady, bridling and futtering her cap
ribbons. "Good morning, ma'am."