Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-02-16

cedSlOR COLI pldluS vi the Obl DACuclOI.
Why, he could not be sc very old, after
all, for he was only one and twenty, and
she between five and six when he gave
her ribbons and books and silver pieces
and she gave him klsses.
But the sound of closing shutters
broke in on her .reverie and reminded
her that her departure was waited for,
and taking her bundle in her hand, she
ran down stairs to the parlor, where
the maiden ladies sat, stern and erect,
their bonncts already in readiness for
the lecture.
"Pm going now" said Molly, stand
ing in the doorway, her sweet face, with
its pleasing gray eyes and quivering
lips in no way touching what her mis-
tresses was pleased to call their hearts.
Goodbye. ma'am. Goodbye, Miss
Georette."
But the only reply was "Bear in
mind that you are still indebted to us
eight and twenty dollars. II, however,
you should prefer to purchase mirror
yourself, in place OF the one broken by
you, we will consent to receive it, pro-
yided it is every way az good as that left
Us by our grandmother. And in that
case we will agree to refund the eight
dollars for last months wages, which
We have retained as the fret inst ~
ment of your debt, which is really
much more than you could have ex-
pected of U.S."
"Oh, yes, indeed very much more
than could have been expec ed of us
mdrmured Miss Georpette.
"For such gross carelessness"-
Cameron went on.
"Indeed, ma'am." interrupted Molly,
cheeks flaming and her eyes sparkling.
las | told you, l never touched it
wasn't near it. | was sweeping the
other side Of the parlor when it fell,
and the cord it hung by was all moth
eaten, and had broken just in the mid
| die, as / showed you at the time"
"You should be punished" con-
tinued Miss Cameron, not paying the
| slightest attention to the girl. 6And
| one word more. Please remember
that We have your signature 10 an
acknowledgment that you consider
yourself responsible for the break
age
You frightened me SO that I scarce.
ly knew what / was signing" said
Molly. "But as promised, l will paw
you, for it shall never be said that m '
fathers daughter broke her word. I'd
give you the few dollars I have saved
had not to keep them for nv own
support until l get another place.
Poor Aunt Nanny can only GRE me
| shell r, for, rs you know, she has de.
pended entirely on me for food and
clothes since my father died"
eyes, and a very ridiculous thing
for both Of you. )" snapped Miss Gamer
on. "She had much better sell the
house she lives in for kindling WOOD
and 60 to the Door house, and you
might much better save your wages
to pay for the things you break. For
break you will to the end of your days
| never saw q person with such fly
away hair as yours that was not vain,
careless and frivolous. You may 60"
Eyes, indeed; you may CO." added
| Miss GeOrgette.
And the poor child went out into the
road, homeless and almost friendless,
with a shadow on her fair young face
and q pain in her young heart. But
she had only turned into the lane thai
led to old Nanny's cottage when some
one came quickly to her side, and said
in kindly voice, "Molly, my poor lit
| tie MollyW and there was Mr.. Malcolm.
And Molly, in her grief, thinking only
of him as the friend of her childhood,
who mad known her as the darling of
the kindest of fathers, flung her bun
! lie down and bust into passionate
| food of tears.
"TheyIwere hard on me, your sisters,
Mr. Malcolm" she sobbed, every hard
on me, did my best for them. |
worked-and | am not very strong,
though | am blacksmith's daughter
from morning till night, and yet /
could not please them. And it was
not my fault about the mirror. 1t was
MOTT was MOTT was not. Though
Miss Cameron insists that l stopped
sweeping to look at my curly hair-I
can't help its curling; did everything
to make it straight. l tied it back
straight; tied it back 30 tight, over
and over again, that my head ached
awful-and knocked it with broom.
She was little better before you
came; but after you came, and com
oli.ined 80 much about the tea and cot
fee, and your shirts, and-and every
thing"
81 complaint exclaimed the listener,
breaking in upon her rather confused
narration of her wrongs. "Why, ]
never complained of anything. How
could |? there was nothing to complain
off,
"She said you did. But l beg your
pardon, sir" suddenly remembering
the difference between candy-and
kisses time and the present. "She is
your sister, and-my troubles are moth.
ing to YOU"
She is my sister an extremely long
step off," ne replied, gravely; and your
troubles are great deal to me; and
furthermore, see a way pleasant
way-out of them. Let me walk with
you to your Aunt Nanny's, and there,
with her to advise us, we will talk the
matter over"
ooh, it is such poor place, Mr.. NAL
colin, Miss Cameron called it a hut,
and said it was only fit for kindling
wood"
I've been in much poorer places,
Molly" said he and picking up her bum
die, he walked by her side to the old
woman's cottage.
Two weeks passed by. A poor drudge
from the workhouse, whose chief I'm
fact, whose whole) recommendation
was mo wages" had taken Molly's
place in the Misses Cameron kitchen.
Mr.. Malcolm had gone away on bust
ness directly after her coming, and on
the evening appointed for his return
the two sisters attircd in dresses of dull
gray, unrelieved by single touch of
color, sat Everything in the house be-
ing in heart-chilling, dreadful order)
one at each parlor window, awaiting
his arrival.
He must be coming; think l hear
wheels, said the elder, in her usual
precise tones.
Wheels" repeated her sister.
And "wheels" they were, but not the
wheels to carriage, but those of
truck, on which lay a long wooden box,
stopped before the cottage door.
"a mirror for Miss Cameron, " tbs
driver called out, IS he jumped dow.
"A mirror |" repeated the spinister,
unable TO restrsin q gesture of surprise.
Aud "a mirror I" said Miss Georgette,
with another gesture of surprise.
.Yas MAJ m. from Wilard,, Nam