The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1881-11-16
THE STORY oF A MoRTAR.BEp.


THE STORY OF A MORTAR-BED.
1 see a great many things from nv
window. 1t oyerlooks q very quiet
street, but ever since 1 have been kept
from going about by this wretched
sprain in my ankle, have found much
to interest me in the street IN front.
Ever since they began the building just
across the way have been absorbed in
watching its progress, to the neglect of
my needle-work,. and even the new
books which Tom brought me to read.
have taken such delight in the laying
of the brick wall, of seeing it grow day
by day till it reached its height and was
crowned by cornice. II suggested to
me many ideas about life which per-
haps would be laughed at as the fancies
of an old woman. - fs5r
L have been anxious from the first that
the houses would be success, for Tom
Neale was the, architect and Tom was
my favorite nephew and the finest fell
low that ever cheered lonely old wom-
an. His father has been so skeptical
about Toms success as an architect that
he hesitated about using his plans for
the new row he was to build; but he
finally decided to give the boy q chance,
and, in my opinion, the result is salts
factory. One of the houses is Tom s,
and he goes over it with great interest
every morning just before paying me
his, daily visit. Tom is thoughtful boy
and doesn't neglect me. -
One day, when they began the plas-
lering, watched the men all day as
they worked. Some were sitting the
sand which was dumped there by some
little carts that were backed up and un-
jointed and then driven away for an
other load. The lime had seethed and
bubbled in a long white box, spattering
far over the sides, and after this was all
over they lifted the little gate in the end
of the box and the white stream ran in
to bed OF clean, cool sand; then the
men took their shovels aud covered this
soft little lake with thick layer of sand
till it might have passed itself off for a
solid bank of the real article, and, the
days work being done, the men took
their dinner-paiis and went home.
By the time L had finished my tea
and taken my seat at the window again
it was quite dark, though I could still
see the figures OF the passers-by in the
dim light. Ny attention was attracted
by the figure of woman on the other
sue O1 SlLCGJ.- dig .MdS III s6VlQCQl
haste. The walk was entirely block
AIDED blythe building Materials and as
the streets were covered with mud ]
watched her with idle curiosity to see
what she would do. She hesitated for
a moment and then placed one foot eau
tiously on one of the sand banks that
hanked that treacherous bed, and findt
ing it firm hurried forward. A few
i =
the Shiny mass. As she fell her arm
/ struck against the board on which .
lantern was hung. Its light gave me .
glimpse of her face. 1t was haggard,
but stil young. She caught the board
as she struck it, and regained her foot
ing. LthreW up my window, calling at
the same time to Jane to go to the girls
assistance; bat, seeing that she was OBJ
served, the stranger plunged into the
muddy road and was soon lost in the
! darkness.
The next morning when Tom came
in l saw chat he was quite excited, and
without waiting for any greeting he al
once showed me a bracelet he had
I just found. Where did Isuppose he
t found itP In the MORTAR After the
,hod-carriers had emptied their hods he
himself happening to be there saw
something shining, and fshed thii
bracelet out of the mass. ] examined i
( curiously. 1t was an old pattern. Tive
heavy wires OF unpublished gold, twisted
! together, the ends bent into hook and
/ eve, and on the inside small letter ]
! engraved. e' 27sss
It did not occur to me at first to con
! meet this bracelet with the little incident
of the night before, but in q few minute:
! it flashed upon me, and with strangt
perversity did not mention it to Tom
He was already inclined to weave soms
romance about the affair, and was mo-
going to give him material for any sucl
/ nonsense; so / advised him to advertise
it. He finally consented, though could
see he had some wild idea about find
ing the owner without such aid.
weeks advertising brought no response
! snd at the end of that time Tom tool
me down to the nearest point on tn,
coast to get q breath of fresh air. w,
! had not been there twenty-four hour,
when he rushed into my room, shouting
rather anhiguously, '' have seen her
have seen her" .a1
Seen whomP'' demanded, seeing
his excitement
The owner of the bracelet. She wa
sitting on the porch crocheting, and OF
her Sfnl was the exact mate TO the one
! found She was talking with the Gil
'lsFr-s. and ] strolled up to Harry and h,
! aslnce introduced me. Her name i
/ G1rey Did you ever hear of them
= BERT s4ys they don't live far from
ssIdo not believe that it belongs t,
her,," ] answered, iInpatiently, for