Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-04-07
LINNETTE DUBOIS.

sky or room, or IN Linnetts face or
thoughts.
"One months rent unpaid, !" she be-
gan, another coming due IN few
days No coal, no wood, no money"
and she fairly broke down rs she finish
ed summing up her troubles. Little
Ills she could and did bear with pa
thence and fortitude; but these matters
were 100 grave to laugh over and charm
away by very Observation-Disclosures. While
her work lasted, Linnette had faced the
hardships Of her life bravely enough.
Now, with idle hands and hungry lips,
she had grown desperate with want.
Or, ng still. she began collecting her
poor clothes, after pausing to wipe away
the binding tears, and sObbing out pitt
fully
"Oh! to think ofmy going into pawn
shop"
She was still intent on her task, when
sharp rap sounded on her door. AT
her summons il opened, and her eyes
were quickly dried in her wonder ut
the unlocked for visitor Elegant fur
NANTES and French bOnnets, came so
seldom within range Of Linnett's bright
eyes that for moment she saw only
these, but quickly transferred her at
teution to the wonderous beauty Of the
ladys face. Blanche Carlson was I'M
prepared for the girlish face gazing
at her with wide wet eyes, and looked
about at the bare poyerty-strcken
room, with some little curiosity as She
advanced, and referring to printed
scrap Of paper in her hand, spoke:
"You advertised for place as a
lady's maid? Mary Judson, | think, are
you not?'
"No, madame, Mary Judson lives on
the floor above. did not ADVERTISED"
"Oh, indeed, | begyo pardon" and
Mrs Carlson moved toward the door,
pausing as the girl began to speak hur
riedy.
Would | suit you? | can dress
hair perfectly and know all the duties
Of maid. Do try me. can give
you reference rs to character, indeed |
can. am 80 poor-and so hungry
and Linette's tears welled over again.
Mrs, Carlson, although not an impul-
slvc woman, retained enough Of youth
and enthusiasm to sympathizc readily
with forlorn beauty; and Linettc, coax
ing and entreating, was even more
winning than in any other Of her ever
changing moods Her fair, curly hair,
with its wonderful tints of gold and
bronze, served to heighten the impress
sion Of child like-asking for love and
protection made by her wide blue eyes,
heavy with tears. A few questions,
answered earnestly and satisfactorily,
and linnette found herself again alone,
but with widely different feelings.
First Of ALL something to eat; and
Linnette ran lightly down the rickety
stairs, out into the narrow street, and
along to the underground bake shop
where poor old humpbacked Joe dis
played his modest sign of Eating
House" The steps leading down were
icy and slippery, but the girl only clos
ed her hand the tighter over the prec-
ious silver it held, and bursted in thro'
the door rs willfully rs n sunbeam will
fall into drcary prisou-cell if only the
Keepers back be turned. Scantly
lighted, furnished only with a counter
running half way back and few tables
and chairs, there was yet n suggestion
of warmth and comfort IN the great
red-hot stove and the atmosphere reck
ing with the fumes of an immense pot
of soup.
Hey girl come easy! come easy
and Joe's ragged gray hair appeared
above the counter. Shaking himself
as one sees huge mastih do after
rest he continued you'll break the
door, slammin it so hard-and the
dishes, maybe And what do You want,
anyway
There, joe answered Linnettc who
was already peering curiously into the
soup-pot, and warming her numbed
hands: There, Joe, stop growing and
look at that, A whole quarter and
mean to eat every cent of it.
Nothing daunted by the threat, Joe
bit it, eyed it, sent it spinning on the
counter, and finally thrust it down into
his capacious pocket, shaking himself
again with an inarticulate grovl !
Lnnettc only waited, spoon in hand,
for him to set loaf, pat of butter
and bowl of steaming soup before
her-to commence eating with evident
relish and satlsfa 'tion. Joe swung
himself up on the edge of table, and
watched her curiously as she ate. Sew
cral times he took the money out, and
set his great teeth in it rs though to
help himself to solution of knotty
problem.
His misshaped figure. ferocious look
ing head, and huge, long hands, had
nothing repulsiye for Linette Once or
twice she nodded her head cheerily,
and once waited him kiss with