Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-11-20
lady with smile.
And then, mamma-auntie, when
Christmas comes =

Aou tHSu, MISUNDERSTANDING, Wuel
! Christmas comes =
Yes, child, ,ohea Christmas comes
She had said this before,in her youth
But ali that was over. The past sh,
would put behind her, and begin OF
new era. Life was not meant 10
stagnation, or love for eternal night
New courses, the world over, tool
the streams thereof; and light re-
fracted, held new power of lumina
ton. She would soon be thirty four
past the age of sentlmentality, or fit
fitness OF project. Men built at thai
age what would be enduring; foun
dation deep and roof tree broad. She
bad plan in her heart that bore
well her most jealous inspection and
oft repeated rehearsal. She would
adopt Maize, when Christmas came,
WIN soiemn IoIrnufa, anu propueusc
eclat, and invest her with the some.
times heirship Of all she possessed
thus might children, herhaps, and
children's ch,ldren's children, rise
up and call her blessed
The busy, benignant year had
passed. Holiday week had opened,
and Maize Lad come home. The
cherished plan was laid open to her
with careful distinctness and loving
detail There was something touch
ing to Miss Mansfield in the girls
reply:
you will let me go talk to my own
mamma a little while, she said, the
bright tears suffasing her eyes, then,
for always, will be so thankfully,
happily yours There was something
even in her young life to be put
away. All are we not all of us ever
embalming some tender memory
with fragrant oil.
The twenty fifth was close upon
them only one day more. The in
vitations had all been given, and
gifts and congratulating notes were
already flowing IN. Preparations
were in active progress. Maize
danced--a bewildering sprite-about
the house, calling her friend mother,
mamma to see how it would seem
while Miss Mansfield gave the benefit
OF her rare taste to the busy hands
about her. She went into the libra
ry at length, and turned over the
weeks papers for a little diversion,
throwing one after another aside as
lacking interest. till her wandering
gaze was startlingly arrested by a
notice desiring information concern.
ing Mrs. Robinson Sanborn or her
children
her eyes grew fixed and dilated--
Helen, widow of Robinson Sanburn,
was the name cut on the simple stone
which stood for Mazies mother in
the adjacent churchyard--the hus.
band sleeping somewhere afar !! 1t
was not a common name it was
Mdsie who was being sought for
How could she give her up Why
need she have seen the small item in
an obscure corner OF the city paper,
so crowded with lists of vacancies
to fill, and wants of the orasping
world Who was it, that laid claim
to her pet? Who would steal away
from her hungry heart this one treas
ure ? The temptation did seize her,
to remain silent, but she was too
severely just. There was no time to
lose. On, If it had only been too
late !! She took up her pen. with a
hand so tremulous she could scarcely
write, and briefly indited the date OF
Mrs Sanborn's death, aud the where
ahonts of her only daughter, desir.
ing the inquirer to come without
delay Then she directed i. 20 the
post box designated. There was no
name appended, and she gave none.
1t was the business mention of place
10 person not welcome from a
friend to friend.
The morrow dawned, but no one
had come it was a distance that
could scarcely be SO quickly trav-
ersed. Maize, in spirit of mischief
was tying up strands of Gruff's long
hair with tufts of gay wool. No word
had been spoken to her; perhaps
there might be need Of none.
The decorations were fast nearing
artistic completion. The intruder
should be impressed with the elegance
and luxury OF this home, and would
doubtless recognize the advantage Il
the sweet girl of the proposed con
tract and prospective heirship and
as well, the companionship of hel
own stately self. She had arrayet
her royal person in rich velvet, jew.
eled pins cleaning like stars in hei
hair. She took, alone, the circuit o
the rooms, giving to the draperieI
here and there touch of grace
Beautiful trifes met her eye every
where. In one pretty nook, which
had been arranged especially for th,
gifts, gilded table bore what, L
the animated locker on, would seen
/ quaint Ornamental the Glove apple
big as pun kin which Maize, ST,
years before, had bestowed on he
rich neighbor-and beside it, uude
the delicate glass shade, another
somewhat like it, but wizened an,
blackened, and almost unsightly
About her she had never gathered
brio a-brac, antique pottery, or del
or rare majolica her self education
had been rather OF the head than c
the heart. Statues, cold and pure
picturings of bravery and proves, o
bold sketch of cliff and abrupt shor;
were her professed delight. Warmt
of nature. if it had been cramped i
her, or stifed out, bespoke itself
redeemed itself-alone in flowers, an
in, perhaps, this little bit Of Dead Sc
fruit.
Some one had come in she ha
given orders that whoever Gale
: should be shown to the library; an
with concious pride and grace sf
went forward to meet this wonld-t
usurper of her we'll earned rights.
A gentleman OF some forty year
, perhaps, handsome, and OF fne a
dress, stood waiting.
Mrs Radcliffe he said.
She bowed Il was a natural mi
take enough, aud it did not matte
She turned the card he had handc
! her about in her fingers, bat she h'
not looked at it; her heart was sin