Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-02-06

Meantime poor Mary was hurrying
through the streets with anxious foot
steps, specializing on the possibility of
her friend having found ner work among
her pupils.
Miss West was daily governess.
Though but just nineteen, she was the
main prop and stay of q widowed in.
valid mother and young sisters; earning
by her daily toll that which eked out the
pittance left of better days, and made by
frugal continuance the two ends meet.
But none are SO poor as not to be able to
help in some way those worse off than
themselves; and the young girl had
pleaded successfully for Mary, and had
procured employment that had been the
only support of the poor family during
Jim's illness. She was going to break
fast when her protege was shown in:
just preparingto attack, with the healthy
appetite of youth, and the knowledge
that many busy hours would pass before
she should again see food, goodly slice
OF thick bread and butter; the thickness.
be it observed, refe1able to the bread
only, the butter spread thereon being
limited to an almost imperceptible
"scrape."
"Ah, is that you, Mary ?" she said
with a bright, pleasant smile that al
ways seemed, Mary declared, to "rise
her heart out of trouble" III am afraid
I have no orders for you this morning;
but 1 have got a new pupil, and she tells
me there will shortly be a wedding in
the family. So there'sa chance for you.
Needle-work may be required, and may
have good news for you before long,"
Poor Mary wrung her hands together
under her cloak, straining them hard in
the agony of the disappointment that
she strove to keep down and hide from
her young benefactress. Very bitter
was the pang of deferred hope; but she
would not seem ungrateful.
"And I dare say" said the Girl.
glancipg at the white pinched face,
"that you left home without your
breakfast. Here's nice cup of tea I've
just poured out, and a round of bread
and butter her own whole morning
meaD; "sit down while you take them."
"Ihank ye kindly, miss; I'M double
thankful for the tea; and," added
the poor woman, all unconscious that
she was robbing her benefactress, "as
you're so good, I'll put the slice in my
basket, and carry it to poor Jim. May
be it'll tempt him-lovely white bread
He does be saying always that he has no
mind to eat; but I think tits just pur-
tending he is, poor fellow! He knows
I haven't it for him."
'f I could only get you some work !"
said the girl, touched to the quick by
the utter woe in her poor friends face.
"Ah, we'll, sure you're dong your
best-the Lord bless you land who
can do more? And now, miss, I'll 20.
axing your pardon for all the trouble
I'm giving you"
With heavy step Mary turned away,
retracing her steps YEARLY along the
passage. Remembering something,
however, before reaching the hall door.
she came back and reappeared in the
room where the little governess was
tying her bonnet strings prepar.
ing to set out. 81 forgot this" she
said. "Sure I'm losing my mind en-.
tirely with the fret that's on it. God
help me my burden is making me fool.
ish. Coming along this morning ] seen
this on the flags and put it in my pocket.
thinking maybe if it was clean, one Of
your little sisters might fancy it for her
curiosity box. Let me wipe the mud off
it for you, misc. It shines beautiful
nova bit of glass like
A moments scrutiny of the object
sparkling on the woman's outstretched
palm, and Miss West crying out, "Give
it to me, quick, and watt" snatched it
from her-Mary staring in establishment
at her vehemence-andr rushed up stairs
to her mothers room.
"What is it, dear ?" said the startled
invalid, as she dashed in. "What is the
matter ?"
80, mother, look! Can this be what
we saw advertised for in the newspaper :?
Is it possible poor Mary can be the
lucky finder? can scarcely believe it.
Do look"
The advertisement was as follows:
ESQ Reward. Lost q valuable Dia-
mond." The description and further
particulars given. Whoever finds It.
or can give information leading to it's re-
covery, will receive the above reward
S By applying ]! at No. - Merton Square,
Mrs. West at once pronounced what
was submitted to her experienced iudg-
ment to be diamond of great value,
and was strongly of opinion that it
might be the missing jewel; but both
mother and daughter agreed that it
would be better not to tell Mary the ex-
tent of her possible good fortune, for
fear of disappointment. So on returning
to her, the young lady only said. tsMy
mother thinks this may, be something
we have seen advertised for in the news
paper, to be taken, if found, to Marion
Square. My first tuition this morning
happens to be in that square, so I will
with you to the house mentioned"
"Thank ye kindly, miss. The foot
men of them grand houses wouldn't look
at the likes O me. They'd just slap the
door in my face, if made so bold as to
ring"
As she tripped along the young gov
erness' heart beat high at the prospect
of what might be the happy result of
her errand. No more shaving for poor
Mary; good food for Jim; an airy lodg.
ing at the seaside, where he would soon
recover his strength; clothes and furni-
ture redeemed from pawn; and after an
interval of rest and ease sorely needed
after their sufterings-her humble
friends restored to their old lite of INDUS
try and comfort.
She might have been tempted to i'm
part some CLEAN of these bright hopes
to the poor grief laden young wife plod-
ding YEARLY behind her, had she seen
the tears that dnpped slowly down over
her miserable face, or guessed at the
gnawing thoughts that were driving her
to despair. "Dyingl yes, dying before
my very eyes, and not one to reach q (