Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-12-24

home. She must get something nour-
ishing for her mother and jamie, and
Maud had no shoes, but she must wait
another week.
Minnie had money enough to pay
the rent and get few baskets of coal,
and then have a Few cents left. The
only way she could get the little things
which her mother and Jamie craved
and needed was to get the landlord to
take half his rent this week and per-
haps Jamie would be out next week and
could earn enough to make it. "And,"
thought she, eff it comes to the worst [
can pawn my ring"
The ring was her betrothal ring, and
had been placed on her finger two
months before her fathers downfall by
one she loved dearly, but to whom she
was too proud to make known her suf-
ferings, or even to have him know that
she was in the city,
Frank Johnson was young man of
sterling qualities, and had risen from
an Office boy to the position of Junior
partner in the firm for which he had
worked. He had known Minnie a long
time and loved her, but had hesitated
to declare his passion until he had the
means to support her in the same style
in which she was then living. However,
when he was admitted to the firm he
told her of his love, and WAS accepted,
both by Minnie and her father. He
was absent on business when Mr.. Os-
borne's losses came, and did not return
until after that gentleman's death. The
first intimation he had of it was when
he called at the house on his return and
found everything changed-strange
faces and strange furniture, and he
could get no information as to the where
abouts of Minnie and the rest of the
family. He had sought in vain for some
tidings of them, and had arrived at the
conclusion that they had left the city.
He had not given up all hope, and was
only waiting favorable opportunity,
when business would permit, to make a
long search for the object of his love.
Minnie, whose handsome face, perfect
form, elegant and graceful carriage had
attracted the attention of more than one
gentleman who had asked for her hand,
had remained true to her first and only
love, though she thought he had gone
from her forever. The landlord of the
miserable tenement house in which she
lived had pressed his attentions upon
her (; she, without being rude, had done
everything in her power to repel him.
She had a struggle to pay her rent
promptly, and all the little articles of
iewelry, except the ring mentioned, had
gone toward paying him, as she did not
rIch 70 int
she now thought it would be better to
pawn the ring than to get behind in the
rent.
Occupied with her thoughts, she had
now arrived at her door. Up three
fights back she went, and found her
mother even worse than she had left
her, and moaning on account of hunger.
Little jamie said that it was Christmas
eve, and he hoped that Santa Claus
would now bring them lots of good
things to eat and something warm to
wear.
With an almost breaking heart Minnie
got the room into something like order,
though to be sure there was very little
in the way of furniture in it, and after
sending Maud out for loaf of bread,
took a mouthful or two herself and di-
vided the remainder between the 9th
ers. She then went down stairs, meet
ing the landlord in the entryway. She
had not the courage to ask him to take
half the rent, but hurriedly gave it all to
him and ran out upon the street to
avoid conversing with him.
With heavy heart and tears in her
eyes she entered one of the many pawn
brokers' shops on Chatham Street and
gave her not half of what she expected
to get for it, but she could not refuse,
SO with last look at the dear ring she
left the place and hurried toward the
market.
Turning down side street, busy with
thoughts of Frank johnson and the
night when he had placed the ring on
her finger, she did not notice that she
was followed by rough-looking man,
who when just in the shadow between
two gas-ights, seized her by the arm
and said:
''Good evening, miss. You had bet
ter take little walk with me-"
Minnie uttered a little scream, end
exclaimed:
Release me instantly, Or will call
the police"
The man laughed, and said:
"What will I be doing all this time?
Do you think the cops are around on
such night as this? You can bet your
life they are not. SO come along, my
beauty, trying to force her along.
Minnie screamed outright, and as she
did SO young man rushed up and seiz-
ing the rough by the throat, drew him
away from the trembling girl and
threw him to the pavement.
Quite little crowd had gathered, but
the young man did not notice them,
and as the rough had skunk away, feel
ing of his sore bones, he turned to Min
ME, saying: .a1t&a
will you allow me to escort you to
your home?" ss .s9a,' {tte @azsfat
"Thank you, sir" replied Minnie;
"but I was just going to market when
the man smoke to me- How can T thank