Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1884-12-25
A CHRISTMAS HEROINE.
A True and Romantic Story Told
of q Cincinnati Lady.

of q Cincinnati Lady.
The writer of this article was assigned
TO the task of preparing Christmas
story, and, as Christmas is the same as
any other day to the hack reparter, and
as the reporter couldn't think of any
thing about Christmas that would be
worth reading, he concluded to demand
the aid of one of those persons who are
always loaded with fund of stories
relative to the private life of prominent
people.
"Come with Iue," said he, as soon as
he learned what was wanted, land l
will give You the material of a story
that will not only be interesting, but
ssrHaesyIiSS led fr The way to large ana nand-
some dwelling on a street devoted to
residences, occupied by solid merchants
and their families. The guide and re-
porter were admitted by neat-looking
servant, and were ushercd into parlor
furnished elegantly. Within five min
utes a lady, tastefully but richly attired
entered the room and graciously greet
cd the student of secret history, whom
ladylike manner. After the reporter
had been introduced the guide had a
few moments conversation relative to a
piece of property the lady was about to
SELL and this matter disposed OF gen.
eral conversation on the topics OF the
day followed, in which the hostess took
part with vivacity and grace at once
charming and unaffected. The lady
was a great reader and lover of fine
arts. Her familiarity with books and
authors and men of the times showed
that she had improved her mind to u
hh T SsFr aft admRn6 seecfe e Inc RTe
lady, the reporter learned, had travelled
extensively in this country and abroad.
She spoke French fluently, and had ac-
CURED considerable of the politeness for
which the French people are celebrated.
At the end of half an hour chat the
reporter and his friend took their de-
parture.
You have Just left the heroine OF
your Christmas story" said the guide,
as the two strolled down the street.
II supposed as much," said the re-
porter, ''and now for the story ITSELF
'.And now for the story ITSELF" re-
The woman YOU Just saw was once q
country girl residing on farm thirty
miles from Milwaukee, Wis. At the
age of fourteen years she was a loving
confiding, ingenious child, the perfect
picture of the ideal, rosy-cheeked coun
try maid. One day, when she was il
her fifteenth year, middle-aged bach
elor, who was in business in Milwaukee
horses or something-rve forgotten
lust what. He saw the little country
maiden and was struck by her marvel
GUS beauty, as we'll as her childish sim
plicty of manner and sensible mien
He took occasion to converse with the
little lass and asked her if she would
not like to marry him. The child real
" did not know the full import of hi!
meaning, but she innocently replied
that she would be delighted to marry
him. He then told her to be a gooC
girl, and that some day he would com,
and make her his wife. The gentleman
went back to his home in Milwaukee
and the country girl resumed her lif,
of humdrum country existence. Christ
mas time approached, and on Christ
mas eve our country maiden proposed
to hang up stocking in anticipation
of n present. She was blessed with
step-mother, a woman of vicious tenn
permanent and deep hatred TO
the little beauty, who was so I'm
fortunate as to be under the sam
roof with her. The step-mother
always on the lookout for an excus
TO have a row, seized upon the simpl
act of hanging up stocking on Christ
mas eve to frame an excuse to treat tn
pooHgirl to most violent whipping
The bright anticipations of the happ
Christmas entertained by the girl wer
thus swept away, and she retired tina
a night with her buy brain on fire, as sh
immediately determined that she woul
no longer submit to the cruelties of he
brutal step-mother. Suddenly sh
thought of the gentleman at Milwaukee
who had said he would marry her, an
instantly she made up her mind to g
to him. She had no money, and coul
not get any but that did not stand j
her way. At four o'clock on Christina
morning she packed a few articles {
clothing In handkerchief and set OF
on foot for Milwaukee. 1t was frigh
full undertaking for young and tende
girl, but she bravely pushed on, an
that night she reached the city. Sh
was footsore, cold and tired, but nj
discouraged, for she never dreame
that she was in danger of being disal
pointed. Her faith in human natul
was something sublime, and her conf
dence in the gentleman who had sal
he would marry her was as great {
though she had known and trusted hi
all her life.
1.-THE bachelor sat in his cosy priva'
parlor at his clearinghouse, whic
was the best place of the kind in Mi
waukee, on the Christmas evening
when his landlady made her appea
ance leading our little heroine by Il
hand.
las soon as the gentleman could r
cover from his astonlshment at the sigt
of the suffering child before him, he e.
claimed;
".Why, what in the world are 20
hae for in such q sad plightr