Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-05-15
JUST A WLlLFUL GIRL.

go.
Dear, you look so pretty and so
dainty in it, what can you sayf I'm
sorry, but"
ooh, well, If you like it; perhaps
it's because l have wors it SO many
times: the lace is mended in so many
places; it's really such an old friend,
Esther, that am tired of it and must
get a new one somewhere.
"Tessy, Tessy, l can't bear to hear
YOU talk like that, not even in Jest. "
The pale, sweet face of The older sister
had grown paler still. There was a
panied look in the soft eyes, and her
breath came quick. I'll you want a
new dress there is some money, some
silver laid away in the box lSere-but
we can get along-and you must use
it,"
She stopped; it seemed that the
croWding tears would not let her go
further. Her voice gave out.
esther" the pretty young
girl took that pale, quivering face IN
her two slim hands-you thought l
was in earnest2 You thought | could
take that money! You could think
so badly as that of met No | will
never joke again. / will always be IN
earnest. | have noticed before now
that get into a great deal of trouble
because of my foolish habit of joking.
And now-now kiss me-"
Was not that sad faced, gentle lady,
with the tears not quite vanished from
her own eyes, proud to touch with
soft caress the round cheeks turned
SO pretty towards her.
"You know your pretty way of jok-
ing makes one of my greatest pleas
ures," she answered, and / am fool
ish old woman, but if you want the
dress"
"Willst du mir nlcht einen kuss ge-
benz called a clear voice from the
open window. Both women turned.
A pleasant face-blonde, with blon-
dc beard, and pleasant blue eyes
smiling from under thick waves of
curling, fair hair-was peering at
them.
"Oh, Joseph, is it your two voices
spoke together. This smiling apPari-
ton, Josr phi Miller, held out a dewy
knot of flowers-all green leaves,
white buds and tiny tendrils. Their
exquisite fragrance filled the room.
lit is my contribution" he said,
flushing behiad the curtain that he
pushed back with one hand. II got
them as | came along, at Floyd's."
"Ah, all how beautiful How can
we thank you, oseph2 Oh, why was
not born flower-just white rose
like this2 Then sh suld not have to
trouble about u new dress. Now,
Miss Esther Paynel"
The blue eyes of the young man
had been from the first fixed on this
slim, fair, flower bud of girl, who
WAS towering over his gift in an costa
cy of delight The eyes flashed now
with pleasure, as she took a spray OF
buds from the bunch and turned to
her sister.
"You may put these right there, if
you please-theTe in that bunch OF
curs over my forehead, so; that i'm
proves the matter"
''She has been fretting about her
Dress explained Miss Payne to the
young man in the window.
Her dress Why, what is the
matter with it2' he asked opening
his eyes wide.
at is old, --and it is old fashioned,
and it is ugly" calculated Tessy, with
emphasis.
"Why, l was just thinking how
pretty it is, and l wondered if you
had made it new for the occasion" re-
marked that stupid young man. "All
that green color with the white, just
likeIan apple and a bud II thought you
must be q flower bud yourself unfold
ed"
Miss Payne smiled, but Therese
made a dainty face.
1.-The lace is mended all over, but
then it's real lace-real Mechlia lace,
she observed, bewildering her nascu-
line admirer with grave technicalities.
Happily he only saw the face, the
brown hair rutlllng on the forehead,
tho lovely eyes that laughed at him,
the low, sweet voice that entranced
him. ''Oh, Blume, weisse Blume !"
her epeated rapturously.
please don't talk in that awkward
German" cried out Tessy, pettishly.
ut only makes me think of my school
lessons, and can't understand it.
either. How can tell whether you
are laughing at me or paying me a
complimentR'
The young man laughed. "Ob,
Rlumel | was paying you compli-
ment-a just tribute"
And the other-when you first
cams3"
Joseph blushed and fidgeted.
"That-oh, that was just nonsense;
Unjust ask you to pardon it,, he STAN
mered.
The grave soft eyes Of Miss Payne
looked mt him as if she would say she
had no fear he would say to them
aught that would be displeasing She
glanced at his dress and then said,
douhtfully:
''Were you going to the park-wers
you on your wayT
Joseph shrugged his shoulders,
smiling.
81 shall go presently. But shall
wait till the brass band and speech.
making are over. | don't wish TO be
Seafened and disguised at the same
time"
Both of the women laughed at his
unmistaKable look of distaste. Therese
nodded at him from over ser shoulder,
iCI lltttt WullS hat, Will It's Ulut DCllS
and sno w-drops, making a shadow for
her eyes to shine cut of into his.
"On, querulous musician | won
der that u young man who has such
an ear for discord can't make better
music of his own, especially when he
is the owner of, besides the cat, a
genuine Paganini uIolin. There, |
have got some of the southern wood
ON me, and If they smell me in sd =
vance they will thinks whole village
Sunday school is coming. Goodbye,
goodbye"
The two young people went away
in opposite directions, and Miss Payne,
left alone, sat for long time in the
little room in the lowering sunshine,
silent, but quite sad at least her smile
was stronger than her tears. and held
its place on her placid mouth. For it
was Tessy she was thinking of, the
pretty, young, brown-hsired maiden.
between whom and utter loneliness
and helplessness in hard world was
only her own frail hfe-and Joseph.
Joseph loved the charming, home
sweet Tessy; Esther was sure of that.
But Tessyi Ali she was the "weisse
Blumen truly-the white flower about
which the swan might circle, singing