Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-07-08

| Il wish / saw my way clear to take
You out OF this, Prissy, said Tom with
a sigh, but clients are scarce enough
in Wolfboro.'
| Now Tom, where's the need 10
worry? / couldn't leave Aunt Mar.
tina, any way. We are both young
enough to wait.
You're too good for this world,
Prissy,' said Tom, with kiss on the
dimpled white chin.
| There's some one knocking: let
me CO. cried Prissy, springing up
and running to the door.
| 1t was no visitor but the hired
man from Miss Silence's farm, with
the spring wagon, which ne had bro't
tc convey Tom to bis cousins home.
for Miss Silence had, not ten minutes
after his departure. an hour previous.
overturned kettle OF lard by acct.
don't, and been terribly scalded.
'Where's my hat cried Tom, in
great excitement, while the man was
telling how he had wasted time by
going to the Office first, and not find
ing him there, had hunted him up.
Let me go with you, Tom; l know
can help cried Priasy, as her lover
was springing into the light wagon.
| ooh, Prissy if you only would
| 'Wait until l get my bonnet and
shawl, and tell Aunt Martha l won't
be gone minute and Prissy rushed
into the kitchen where her aunt was
ironing.
GO by all MEANS said Mrs. Bald.
win, when she had grssped the mean.
ing of the girls incoherent explana.
ton. Stay as long as you are need.
ed, and don't worry about me-
Miss Silence made no remark when
Prissy entered her room with Tom.
She was in great pain, and was
thankful to see even this member of
the hated Baldwin family.
For three weeks Prissy was chief
director at the farm, and managed
things SO oleverly that Miss Silence
had no chance to find fault. But the
grim spinster had no words of com.
mendation for the young girls untir.
ing industry.
4 calkerlate to pay you for what
you have DONE she said one day, as
she watched Prissy making bread.
you needn't think your workin' for
nothin'.
Il don't want any pay, Miss 81.
lence,' said Prissy, with trembling
lips, i am only too glad to do what
l can, because she hesitated and
turned scarlet.
Because you're in love with Tom,'
finished Miss Silence. o, you needn't
blush; know all about it, aud if he
chooses to break his head ag'in a
stone wall, l amt agoin' to stop him.
AT the end of three weeks Miss
Silence was able to be about again,
and Prissy went home, declining the
twenty dollar bill offered her for her
services. But she had not been gope
three hours when the hired man came
from the farm with two large baskets,
which he set down OH Mrs. Baldwin's
kitchen floor.
Compliment, Of Miss Silence, and
she sent these in place of the money
and driving off in the spring wagon
before Prissy could recover sufficient
ly from her establishment to ask him
any questions.
The basket was full of good things
OF every sort, and there was q royal
Christmas dinner for the Baldwins
the next day, much to the Joy of the
children, who had contemplated rue
fully dining on mush and potatoes.
Prlssy sent note of thanks to Miss
Silence by Tom, bus she never re.
ceived an answer.
Time went on, aud Toms law bus.
mess improved 30 much that he per-
suaded Prissy against her better
judgment to marry him.
Miss Silence did not grace the i'm
portant occasion with her presence.
I've no time TO be gallivanting off
to weddings was her excuse when
Tom rsproached her tor this slight.
'She is suoh peculiar woman, We
must not expect her to act like other
people; but she has a good heart in
spite OF her queer ways said Prissy,
when Tom tried to make excuses tor
his cousins remissness.
But her greatest popularity lies in
her not liking you, Prissy,' said Tom.
kissing his brides soft cheek. And
l can't quite forgive her lack of
taste.
All went well with the young cou-
pie for more than year. They be.
gan housekeeping in a modest cot.
tage Tom was paying for by install.
ments, and were SO prudent that they
managed to gather about them many
little corr 1arts that made their home
pleasant.
But fortune seldom smiles long at
q time, IS we all know, and revsrs.s
will come to every one. One bitter
night in December Toms house
caught fire aud was burned to the
ground, nothing being left except q
few clothes belonging to Prissy and
the baby.
| OF course Mrs. Baldwin opened
her house to them at once, though it
necessitstsd much crowding. Prissy
suggested an appeal to Miss Silence,
but Tom smphatically declined to
make it. He was fer 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 a room in the cottage for
an office, and getting living was
rather uphill work. Christmas was
drsary enough that year, and even
Prissy's courage sank ~ she thought
of the future.
Tom Lowey will have chance to
show what kind of stuff he's made
of, said Miss Silence. He burdened
himself With a wife aud baby, and
he'll have to look out tor 'em. | told
him I'd meyer give him . dollar OF
my money, and I'll keep my word no
matter what happens
Miss Silence had thought herself
proof against the weakness of falling
i'll but IN March she caught severe
cold, and pneumonia ensusd. She