Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-11-11

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who had only his strong hands and
strong heart to reply on; then the long
lingering illness of the woman, dur
ing which the first mortgage had fallen
on the farm; then the sudden death,
by sunstroke, of the man, and the
helpless widows efforts to educate her
only child, before allowing her to take
up the weary burden that now she.
had borne for four years with gentlest
patience.
cit breaks my heart to see her work
at her sewing from morning till night,
and often half the night" Mrs. Venue
vale said, in conclusion, her eyes dim
with tears. 'sAnd sometimes she has
to take such insolence, too. That is
very hard to bear. TO day Miss Gus
sic Elliston came for q dress she had
lett for Louise to make, and she found
SO much fault, and said such cruelty
unkind things, that my heart ached
for my daughter. Did you notice
louise had been weeping when you
came In" <
81 noticed that she locked very pale
and weary" be answered, wondering
If he had mistaken the character OF
Miss Gussie so completely, when he
thought she would peso sweet a. minis
terss wife, so truly a. helpmeet to one
who had chosen that most arduous OF
all positions-to be the spiritual ad-
wiser of a village full of people.
1t was with a panga at his heart that
he began to think the blue eyes and
fair face of the girl who had smiled SO
shyly at his coming might but be a
mask for selfish heart.
'sThere is a picnic in the birch grove
on Monday" Mrs. Vennevale went
on, 'and it was for that Miss Gussie
wanted this particular dress. My
poor child cannot go, or, rather, she
will not, for she never leaves me, urge
her as [ may. She was just saying
how hard it is to be q woman and
poor, when you came, Mr.. Grant"
Yes, he had heard her say the
words, but he did not say SO. In
stead, he stood up and took the weak
hand OF the woman.
Il do not think I will join the rner-
ry-makers on Monday, either" he
said pleasantly. "My dear madame,
you and I have been strangers too
long. Let me come here on Monday
and become better acquainted with
YOU"
So when Gussie Elliston, arrayed in
the pretty, dainty muslin, which was
really very well made and well fitting,
and set off her blue eyes and fair COM
plexion to advantageous watching
for one face vainly in the grove OF
birch, that masculine face was turned
towards window in the little cottage
of the Vennevales, at which a girl sat
sewing with bent brown head and eyes
alight.
Gussie met him next after the morn
ing service on the following Sunday.
She chided him playfully for his alb
sence from the picnic, but he only
smiled, and after few words, passed
on and Joined Louise Vennevale, with
whom he walked through the village,
leaving her at the cottage gate.
1t was only three months later that
a pretty gothic dwelling shotup rapidly
beside the church.
And when it was completed Jerome
Grant took.his bride and her mother
to it one golden day in late autumn,
and Louise Vennevale, the sighted
dressmaker, was that bride.
Strange to say, Gussie was one of
the first to call on her, as she whispered
to her intimates, "out OF pure curlosl-
ty."
OF course, as the minister's wife,
Louise had to be civil to her, laying
aside the past.