Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-05-20
LANCASTER. WISCONSIN. THURSDAY. NAY 20. 1880.

! blue ribbon. / once begged him t
} tell me the story Of the golden lock
but he answered quietly, that Their,
t was nothing to te |.
eft looks like Il chira's, ventured
to suggest.
: TO which he replied, The head on
which it grew must have known al
, many summers and winters as your
own
II hope she is not dead / ven.
! tured again.
} And he answered, in the same
J quiet way, 4 never heard Of her
J DEATH
is she married P | asked, blunt
ly.
i 81 presume so; ] don't know he
answered, trife less calmly.
ssThe ribbon is faded; | will bring
you a fresh piece, and put this in the
rag bag suggested.
But he shook his head decidedly.
"A new piece would not be the same,
he answered, gravely.
sThis is a slight foundation on
which to rear romance, but have
always believed there is memory
ofthe past connected with the faded
ribbon and sunny hair. Hal, with all
his bravery, is shy man. He would
be like Miles Standish, whom he is
always quoting, in love and in war, l
don't believe he ever heard that ter
rible No from the lips of the woman
who had sunny hair and wore pale
ribbons, but | can fancy him losing
his chance, and letting some other
man win her. You see, he would
have only himself to blame, and
would go on remembering the past
dream with dreary kind of pleas.
ure. Still, | always expect to see him
married. Home and wife are the
just desserts of men like Hail.
The man of whom this cheerful
prophecy was made was on his way
to an uptown residence, in an envia-
Bile frame of mind.
It's absurd of Joshua's wife to
send me on this errand.' he was
thinking. 4 am sure to blunder. Let
me see-paper, paint, walls, closets,
| and sewer gas We're the items of
special Importance.
what a pleasant-looking house p
he thought, as he assembled the steps
OF the residence designated in his
brothers telegram. In the hall he
carefully noted the wall from floor
to ceiling, looked closely III the paint,
and made an inventory of closets at
the back of the hall. Then he was
admitted into the parlor, and saw at
glance that the arrangement was
such as Mrs. Maciane desired. A
faint perfume of violets was pleas
ant odor to inhale when he feared to
encounter sewer gas. He glanced at
the wall, and then his eye fell on a
lady who advanced from the rear
room, and exclaimed, Mr.. Maclane .
My old friend Iss5y., he respond
ed, as be took her hand. This is an
unexpected pleasure
There was genuine pleasure on
both sides, if sparkling eyes and
glowing cheeks were sigus of pleas.
ure; then each surveyed the other,
with glances half questioning and
half apprehensive,as they exchanged
ordinary remarks and Henry Mae
explained his errand.
My sister occupies the house, and
will show it to you presen,ly.' said
the lady. DO you want it furnished
as you find it?'
Henry Maclane looked at the fair
woman-sunny hair waving over her
forehead; clear blue eyes looked
searchingly into his at one moment,
and glancing shyly away the next
lips moving nervously, as if she were
mastering some emotion-and he re-
piled, emphatically, Just as it isp
There is pleasant view from the
back windows said the lady, leading
the way to the rear room.
Very pleasant = replied Henry
Maclane; but he had given only a
glance outside, and was gazing down
on the fair haired woman, standing
little lower than himself. Then he
tell to asking questions about her
family and mutual friends !; and all
the time he had The air of lawyer
who asks indirect questions hoping
to elicit some unknown facts.
Mammal called childish voice
in the ball.
The fair lady stepped to the door.
and said, gently, 60 to the nursery,
Hal
Henry Maclane started al the
sound of the name he always bore in
his own home. Had it been given
the child for sweet remembrance
sake ? The thought that this remem
brance must count for nanpht. if
there were husband ard children,
had in it the sadness oft might have
been
| The years must have brought
many changes to you,' said Henry
Maclane, with view Of gaining
soma personal knowledge.
/ Yes answered the lady, with a
medi:ative look on her face, there
are few reminders even of the old
days left. | have had my share Of 10Y
and sorrow
| Henry Maclane noted, what he had
not seen before, that there was min
Cling of Grape in the lady's black
dress. Perhaps she is a widow, was
his thought.
/ MY mothers death last year was
| the greatest afiliction I have ever
| had she said, sadly.
Il Not widow = was Henry Mac.
lanes mental comment. The loss
of her husband would have been a
greater affection TO this woman than
the loss of her mother
| There was pause, aud Henry
Maclane said You must know Mrs.
Maclane. She viii give any friend
ofmine warm Welcome
i Certainly replied the lady. II
| win be pleasure to know her. Alb
here is my sister, Mrs. Ellis. Sue
don't you remember Mr.. Maclane !?
| Remember him? What, Hal,on
most devoted attendant and dearest
| friend? Upon my word, hadn't
any dearer TREND in those days. ex-