The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1882-05-30

affairs" suggested Ada il her coolest
tone. "Ob, DEAR" she suddenly ex-
claimed as the harsh notes of hand or
gan sounded Immediately without The
door There is that Italian nuisance
Do, mamma, send him away! What
iupudence to intrude upon one's;premi-
ses in this manner"
Poor man! He is stranger in a
strange land" said Minna softly. as she
surveyed the gray-haired and stooping
fgure which stood humhly in front OF
the door, grinding harsh discoW from
his instrument.
"He ought to have remained in his
own country. We have too many for
eicn. vagabonds here; and don't see
what they come for except to make them.
selves nuissnces."
"Do hush, Ada! He hears you and
his feelings will be hurt" demonstrated
Mlnna.
'Oh,he can't speak English well enough
to understand!'' Fanny said. "I'll try
him."
Then she commenced questioning the
old man.
From his answers in very broken En-
glisb, it appeared that his family were oil
dead-all save one little granddaughter
named Blanca. Poverty, and the hope
of getting enough to support him in bis
uld age, had brought him to this coun-
try. So soon as he could make money
enough be would send for his little BIZ
anca.
Poor mani said Fanny. II wish
we could do something to help him; but
l haven't penny with me. "Ada, won't
you lend me few for the present?"
NO! l have nothing to hestow upon
tramps l don't believe he's telling the
truth. Such people can make up any
pi:iful story to impose upon Others
"But You can see Tor yourself that be
is old and feeble" said Minna. ~ think,
too, that he must be hungry Mamma,
mavn't offer him some breakfast p
The itinerant, with trembling hand ,ac-
cepted the offered refreshment-drank
the coffee and slowed away the bread
and meat in bis wallet.
Ada, mean while, was grumbling over
her own breakfast, and hoped that next
time she came down tired and thirsty.
after being up all night, her mother
would at least give her cup of tea il
to drink.
Tears stood in Mrs Gray's eyes, but
she said nothing.
Ada was her idol, and she made a
slave of herself 10 this beautiful and in.
perious daughter, while Minna's self
sacrificing sweetness and gentleness,
though it took half the burden off the
mothers shoulders, was locked upon as
merely matter of course.
The organ-grinder, having drank his
&C flee, laboriously lifted bis instrument
upon his back and supporting himself
with a stout stick prepared to leave
Minna sprang down the steps.
81 will open the gate for you," she
said kindly.
And as he passed out she slipped into
his hand a bright silver quarter.
Take this please" she said with
blush
He turned it over in his hand and hes
itated. There was something strangely
earnest in the look of the dark eyes peer
ing from beneath their white, busby
brows in the swarlhy face.
Did be guess the truth that the silver
piece was the whole of her present store
OF pocket money?
AS be passed out at the gate she look
cd up into his face with lovely express
sion of sympathy and kindness.
"Good by! I hope your little Bisncs
will soon be with you" she said gently.
He lifted his hat almost reverently
"God bless you, lady!'
Then,as she closed the gate, he tramp
ed slowly down the street. turned the
next corner and entered the door of
lawyers Office
Here, lightly swinging his instrument
to the ground, be threw of "a white wig
and beard with corresponding pair OF
bushy eyebrows, washed away from his
cheeks some artificial tan and wrinkles,
and drew himself erect-s handsome,
dark complexioued young man of four
and-twenty.
A gentleman entering from the next
room looked at him with questioning
smile.
SWELL" he said briefly; ''lost or
&on2"
"Both," was the moody answer.
"What has happened She did not
discover you and take mortal offense,d did
she ?"
"No; and yet she might more easily
have discovered nv identity than hers
under the circumstances
"Wbat, in masquerading again ?"
"Out of masquerade. Enough! /
worshipped goddess, and fud her OF
clay-commonest clay"
"Ah, understand! You have found
out what /, who reside here and know
something of the family, though seeing
your infatuation, did not dare hint. You
would never have believed it, Did you
see that little darling Minns2"
"But for that darling little Minna
should straightway lose all my faith in
womanknd. See here!" he added hold
ing up bright silver piece II shall
keep this as talsman to remind me
that there is in reality truth and good
ness and unsel6shness among women"
! MIR. Aylesbury did not 60 10 Mrs.
Oahney's masquerade party. Something
had unexpectedly called him home. And
when, a few months after. he repeated
his visit to the little town, people oh
served that bis attentions seemed trans
ferred from Miss Gray to her younger
sister.
In time it became known that they
were engaged; and while some wondered
how he could have relinquished that
spendd Ada, whom he certainly could
have won for the asking, there were 9TH
ers who said that he had made wiser
choice.
Neither OF the giris understood the
matter until one day, sometime after his
marriage, Mr.. Ayleshary showed TO his
4 sweet young vile seated upon his knee
bright new coiu.
"Well," sasd she, s'wbat of t9 Does
any special interest attach to it beyond
: its peconiary vsluef"
Certainly there doesl Why it 10 8