Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-09-30


with the Baldwins, for the carpet was
patched and VOTE. the muslin curtains
washed threadbare, and the furniture
in sad need of varnish and new hair
cloth.
II wish l saw my way clear to take
you out of this, Pressy," said Tom, with
sigh, "but clients are scarce enough
in Wolfboro."
Now, Tom, where's the need to
Worry? couldn't leave Aunt Martha,
anyway, We are both young enough
to wait"
"You're too good for this world
Pressy," said Tom, with kiss on the
dimpled white chin.
''There's some one knocking, let me
CO." cried Pressy, springing up and run
ming to the door. -
l. was no visitor, but the hired man
from Miss Silence's farm, with the
spring wagon, which he had brought
to convey Tom to his cousins home,
for Miss Silence had, not ten minutes
after his departure, an hour previous,
overturned a kettle Of lard by accident,
and been terribly scalded.
''Where's my hat?" cried Tom, in
great excitement, while the man was
telling how he had wasted time by 60
ing to the office first, and not finding
him there had hunted him up.
LET me go with you, Tom; / know
[ can help" cried Prissy, as her lover
was springing into the light wagon.
ooh, Prissy! if you only would"
''Wait until [ get my bonnet and
shawl, and tell Aunt Martha; won't be
gone a minute" and Prissy rushed into
the kitchen where her aunt was iron
ing
60, by all means" said Mrs. Bald
win, when she had grasped the mean
ing Of the girls incoherent explanation.
'Stay as long as your needed, and don't
worry about me-"
Miss Silence made no remark when
Prissy entered the room with Tom. She
was in great pain, and was thankful to
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 cleverly that Miss Silence had no
chance to find fault. But the grim
spinster had no words of commenda-
ton for the young girls untiring in
dustry.
II calkerlate 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
nothin."
II 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 90, you needn't
blush, [ know all abont it, and if he
chooses to break his head again a
stone wall, [ amt goin' to stop him. .
At the end Of three weeks Miss 81
lence was able to be about again, and
Prissy went home, declining the $40
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
floor.
Compliments Of Miss Silence, and
she sent these i'll place Of the money"
and was driving off in the spring wagon
before Prissy could recover sufficiently
from her establishment to ask him any
questions.
The baskets were full Of good things
of every sort, and there was royal
Christmas dinner for the Baldwins the
neHJ day, much to the joy of the chill
dren, who had contemplated ruefully
dining on mush and potatoes.
Prissy sent a note of thanks to Miss
Silence by Tom, but she never received
an answer.
Time went on, and Toms law bust
ness improved 50 much that he per-
suaded Prissy, against her better judg-
ment, to marry him.
Miss Silence did not grace the inn
portant occasion with her presence.
Give no time to be gallivanting off to
weddings" was her excuse when Tom
reproached her for this slight.
''She is such q peculiar woman, we
must not expect her to act like other
people; but she has a good heart in
spite of her ways" said Pressy, when
Tom tried to make excuses for his
NONt'AlA = INIilioSI1CSS
'But her greatest peculiarly lies in
her not liking you, Pressy," said Tom,
kissing his brides soft cheek. "And [
can't quite forgive her lack of taste"
All went well with the young couple
for more than a year. They began
housekeeping in modest cottage Tom
was paying for by installments, and
were so prudent that they managed to
gather about them many little com
forts that made their home pleasant.
But fortune seldom smiles long at a
time, as we all know, and reverses will
come to every one. One bitter night
in December Toms house caught fire,
and was burned to the ground, nothing
being left except d few clothes belong
ing to Pressy and the baby.
OF course Mrs. Baldwin opened her
house to them at once, though it neces-
STATED much crowding. Pressy sug-
gested an appeal to Miss Silence, but
Tom emphatically declined to make
it. He 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 iv-
ing was rather uphill work. Christmas
was dreary enough that year, and even
Prissy's courage sank as she thought OF
the future.
Tom Lowey will have Il chance to
| show what kind of stuff he is made of, y
said Miss Silence. He burdened him
self with wife and baby, and he'll
have to look out for them. I told him