River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-02-05
his early grave che sooner for lack of

she was finishing the operation of dust
ing, which / never observed to produce
much result. Something in the street
had caught the damsel's notice, for she
did not observe my entrance, as she
stood with her hands On her hips, the
buster hanging idly by her side; her
mouth open, and vacantly fixed eyes /;
the refractory hair-pins in open rebel
lion, and stray wisps and tails of HAIR
obtruding where they were off duty !;
while the hooks and eyes at va
rance completed the effect of the bulgy
lines of Sophonisba AIMS figure before
limited at.
Now it happened that was engaged
in making series of sketches for a
comic journal, and Sophonisba Ann, as
she now stood, was the very model
wanted for one of them. The opportunity
was too good to be lost. seized paper
and pencil.
Gone moment, my good girl" 1 cried.
Stay as you are; obhge me by not
moving"
OF course she did not stay "as she
was" but nearly enough so to enable
me to throw on paper the outline which
had caught my fancy.
"Thanks-that will do" 1 said as
blandly as / could.
She simpered and actully forgot to
snif1e.
"La, sir! whatever could you take
me like this for?" she cried at last. If
I'd only been in my afternoon frock, at
least, and done my hair up bit tidy
if you had told me; but la now. :"
Don't name it." said; I'D rather
net, IN fact. L wanted you just as you
are"
The next evening Mrs. Maudle came
up smiling actually smiling !
with cheerful serenity, if not a little
excitement in her demeanor, as she
placed before me a Photographic Like
ness of Sophronisba Ann.
(which Maudle and me, sir, couldn't
hear of your putin up with such a
sketch like, all of hurry; and being
as our girl wasn't tidied up, as she'd a
wished in course, so Sophronisba AIMS
been and had this took at Mr.. Daubley's
round the corner, if you'll accept it;
and I'm sure a good hearted, well-dis-
posed CURL is my girl, though l say it,
and not took up with follies like some,
and that ste adv, almost too steady for
her station in life, as her father tells
her; and I'm sure both her father and
me-but there, sir, when you're par
ent you'll know what parents feelin's
are"
All this was said in one breath, with
out any pause whatever. / sat Devil
l., l
donably rude to reject the offer of a
lady's portrait, and what / could say in
excuse.
"Tm afraid,"I began, you're very
kind-the fact isl think l didn't make
myself quite understood"
ooh, yes, sir, you did. Pray don't
name it. You was all gentleman
should be; and Maudle and me are
proud" here Mrs. Maudle, without
proceeding further, conveyed herself
down stairs in tremulous condition
between tears and smiles that fairly
stunned me. What could the stupid
people think WANTED with their daugh-
teris likeness? / stuck it on the man
telpiece Gt was not a very fiattering
photograph resolving to take no more
notice of the thing; but next time Miss
Maudle came up l observed she wore q
flaming red ribon in her hair and an as
sertive brooch in the front of her dress.
She stole furtive chances at the mantel-
piece, half shy, half supporting |
caught her eye by chance, when, over
coming her maidenly modesty, with a
preliminary sniffle, she said, sweetly:
ooh, if you please, sir, about walkin'
out on Sundays after chapel; for
mothers quite agreeable, bein' as
you're such gentleman and"-
''What do you mean?" l said, sharply
enough, and quite forgetting the ''ten-
der heartedness" of Sophonisba Ann in
the excess of my bewilderment; but, in
stead of answering me, that young per-
son flew to the window, crying: eff
there isn't that man &C crossing the street
again. Obi whatever1l father do?
But Gin is at the door, and you'll pro-
tect poor father, / know" and she
rushed downstairs without further ex-
PLANTATION.
Another minute and rapid and it
must be added, stumbling footsteps be-
gan ascending the stairs, accompanied
by the cries of Sophonisba Ann and The
fainter sobs of her mother in the rear,
and Mr. Maudle entered, supported by
his son and closely followed by a rough
and-ready-lookiHg person with paper
in his hand.
stared.
Mr.. Maudle waved his hand.
"I-I-My dear friend-sir-- 'scuse-
abrupt visits" he cried, in hazy sort
of voice. "F-friends may-waive
sheremony"
Here Mr. Maudle swerved suddenly,
but Cincinnatus propped him up again.
"And II believe I'm correct saving
(This very rapidly spoken.) Under
these shircumstance, I'm bound to
forego parents feelings"-
eyes, Maudle, that's it," cried Mrs.
NJ, from behind the apron she held to
her eyes; 1--WE know what you'd say
what we'd both say, and feel likewise
and thank our stars as sent you, sir,
to our aid, which I'm sure we can never
repay, as it's 14G Us. Cd. -
"G14 It's. 81 Inter rupted the rough
and -ready-l looking person, with a
hoarse cough.
Eyes, take my child, and bless youl"
cried Maudle, extending his arms like
the "heavy father" in play "and tell
thish-minion of the law, that-that
his claim shatisfed and helpless,
aged parent saved from-ruin and
distreth y
Here Mr.. Maudle broke off, weeping.
"Happy dav!" said Cincinnatus, Il
said you were like brother when first
/ saw you, and I'll put it all in my great
work, that an 'ollow-hearted world may
read and be ashamed of not doing like
wisel" with which rather ambiguous
speech Cincinnatus again dutifully
propped up his swaying parent, whose
emotions were too much for him.
MAY you both-be-happy~ MUIR
INJURED Mr.. Maudle.
80 la, fatherp cried Sopho.isba
Ann, Historically.
what does it all mean2" I was fore
ed to ask the bearer of the mysterious
paper, who was the only coherent one
of the party.
"Why, sir, this here's q distress for
the sum of GA It's, I'd. owing to the
parties as sent me here; and the old
gent, he says-leastwls he don't seem
to know exactely what he's sayin' half
his time-he says as you're goin' to
marry his daughter and pay up square,
but l amt goin' to be gammoned no
more, so if so be, sir, of course | have
your word as well as his'n"-
/ waited for no more. Gracious
alive ~ axcIain1ed ftara Won all IDIOTS