River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-09-30

ing.
go, by all means, said Mrs. Bald
wiz, when she had grasped the mean
( ing Of the girls incoherent explanation
stay rs long as your needed, and don't
woriy about me-"
Miss Silence made no remark when
! Pri9sy entered the room with Tom. She
was in great pain, and was thankful to
I see even this member Of the hated Bald
win family.
FOR three weeks Prissy was chief di-
rector at the farm, and managed things
so Ieverly that Miss Silence had nc
/ chance to find fault But the grim
spinstcr had no words Of commenda-
ton for the young girls untiring in
/ du>try
Il .alkerldtc to pay you for what
YOU have done" she said, one day, as
/ She watched Prissy make bread. you
needn't think you are working for
not}in.
y don't want any pay, Miss Silence,
said Prissy, with trembling lips; Il am
/ only too glad to do what | can, be
cause-' she hesitated and turned scar
( let
because you're in love with Tom,
finished Miss Silence. 20, YOU needn't
blush, | know all abont it, and if he
chooses to break his head again a
stone wall l amt a goin' to stop him.
Al the end Of three weeks Miss ST
/ lcnca was able to be about again, and
/ Pri~ay went home, declining the SIG
/ bill offered her for her services. But
/ she had not been gone three hours
\ when the hired man came from
( the farm with two large baskets, which
/ he set down on Mrs. Baldwin's kitchen
/ iioos
Compliments of Miss Silence, and
she sent these in place of the money, !.
and was driving oft III the spring wagon
/ before Prissy could recover sufficiently
/ from her establishment to ask him any
( questions.
/ Tie baskets were full of good things
/ of every sort, and there was royal
( Christmas dinner for the Baldwins the
next day, much to the JOY of the chill
/ drer. who had contemplated ruefully
( dini0g on mush and potatoes.
/ Pilssy sent note of thanks to Miss
/ Silence by Tom, but she never received
/ an answer.
Tune went on, and Toms law bust
ness improved so much that he per
/ suaded Prissy against her better judg-
mcnt to marry him.
/ Miss Silence did not grace the i'm
/ portant occasion with her presence.
/ . We no time to be gallivanting off to
weddings" was her excuse when Tom
reproached her for this slight
'~ae is such u peculiar woman, we
7 ,lyat hAss fn Il-n OIL .aa,
people: but she has good heart in
/ spite Of her ways" said Pressy, when
Tom tried to make excuses for his
cousins remissness.
But her greatest peculiarly lies in
her pot liking you, Pressy," said Tom,
kissing his brides soft cheek "And |
can't quite forgive her lack of taste"
\ went well with the young couple
for more than year They began
housekeeping in modest cottage Tom
was living for by installments, and
were 50 prudent that they managed to
gath I about them many little com
forts that made their home pleasant.
Bet fortune seldom smiles long ut II
time as we all know, and reverses will
come 10 every one One bitter night
in December Toms house caught fire,
ar4i aas burned to the ground, nothing
being left except few clothes belong
inc Ia PresSy and the baby.
OF course Mrs Baldwin opened her
house to them at once, though it neces-
stated much crowding. Pressy sug-
gest,d an appeal to Miss Silence, but
Tom emphatically declined to make
it. lie was far too proud to ask for the
help which he thought should have
been earnestly offered His law books
and papers had all been destroyed in
the fire. for he had used room in the
cottage for an office, and getting liv-
ing was rather uphill work. Christmas
was lreary enough that year and even
Prissv's courage sank as she thought Of
the future
Tom Lowey will have chance to
show what kind of stuff he is made of,
said Miss Silence '.He burdened HIM
self with wife and baby, and he'll
have to look out for them. | told him
I'd never give him a dollar of my
money, and I'll keep my word no mat
ter what happens"
Miss Silence had thought herself
proof against the weakness of falling
ILL., but in March she caught Il severe
cold and pneumonia ensued. She felt
She never should get well again, and
the doctor did not deceive her with
false hopes. but told her frankly that in
all probability she would live but few
days
II want to see the lawyer at once, if
that IS the case" she said. 81 must
make Il new Will.
NJ Simons, who had managed her
business for years, came as soon as he
received her message, and the will was
made He hardly left the before Tom
called
I'm worse, said Miss silence, feebly,
but I'm not afraid to go. Perhaps I'm
peculiar in that as ia other things Dca-
con Bunney and the minister, Mr. Craig
and Mr.. Darby have all been here urg-
in OF their several claims. told each
one . them Id consider the matter. g"
VIII they be disappointed, Cousin
Silence" asked Tom.
Poor fellow he was III such sore
strait that he could not help a desire to
have some small help from his cousins
hoard He hardly dared hope she had
left HIM Il cent; and yet he was her
only relative.
That remains to be seen was the I'M
satisfactory reply he received to his
questions. But don't you cherish no
hopes, for | amt left you a cent.
\ bitter smile curled Toms lips, but
he made no reply,
Il suppose you think me peculiar IN
not leaving you my money, seem
you're the only kin I've got, went on
Miss Silence, but you've taken such
precious care to convince me that you
don't want it, that I've believed you.
and acted accordin' y
} Tom went home and repeated the
/ conversation to PrisSy, who shed few
tears. but tried to cheer up her hus-
band dropping spirits with hopes Of
Of moe law business in the spring
That night Miss Silence died, the
whole town turned out to her funeral a
7 few days latter
/ II expect Wolfboro academy will
I find itself able to erect a new building
when Miss Silenct's viii is read, said
7 old Mr.. Craig. She told me shed con
slider the matter, and ! know she was
/ impressed with my arguments.
/ Il rather think you are mistaken,
I said Squire Darby, for l feel morally
certain She has left her money to found
I a library"
I Tie minister who stood near. smiled