Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-09-22

room had drawn close around the ire,
for 1t was cold night. An old lady
sitting next to Sally whispered: cts
lucky that it's turned so cold. He'll
keep until they can get the preacher
from Upton. How's she a-bearing
up? should say she's not likely to
go to bed as some Of 'em do"
"She," answered Sally. ''Inever see
g. woman like her in all my born days.
To look at her you'd think she was
only fit to set in q rocker; but she's
been on her feet day and night, and
she don't take on as some of 'em do.
She helped to lay out Jacob and then
she locked herself in the spare bed
room"
GIVE heard" ventured the old lady,
"that you and her don't git along so
WELL"
"No more than we DON'T" snapped
Sally. "I am plain Sally Norton,
none ofyour cologned and calarocomed
ladies. faint no use with my freckled
face, but I'll say this for her, she's
kept to herself and let the child run
about pretty much as she pleased,
and pa, he's took to Lillian so as never
was, but ma don't seem to Spite her
much"
"The child amt bit like the Nor
TONS"
"About as much as I'mlike queen,
and, as things is, it's go much the
worse for her. Poor folks" but
the words died on her lips-the sound
of slowly descending footsteps could
be heard; g. deep silence followed the
whispered conversation. They were
bringing down the captain. His tall
figure was stretched upon the table
and covered with snow white sheet.
Such was the custom in the country
in those days. Those who wished to
look upon him turned back the sheet
and saw the set features and the sim
gular look of pain which had settled
upon them. Perhaps it was his last
earthly trouble which had fixed it's i'm
press upon his face.
The women were dying of curiosity
to see the widow, and one elderly per-
son offered to go upstairs to keep her
company, but word from Sally de-
tered her, and she reseated herself
with the consoling thought that Sal
ly's rolls were of the lightest, and on
such an occasion the coffee would be of
the strongest. About midnight it
grew bitterly cold, and the watchers
found it more cheerful before roaring
fire in the adjoining room than in the
one in which the body lay. Into the
silent chamber old Mr.. Norton en-
tered, holding the child in his arms.
She was asleep, her curly head resting
on the old mans shoulder. He seat
ed himself close to the fire, so that
the little one's'feet might keep warm.
Meantime Sally was with her moth
er, urging a request which the old
woman at first obstinately refused.
eff she's got anything to say let her
come to me-"
"You owe it to Jacob, ma, to do
what she's asked you. For his sake
COME"
Then she rose, and disdaining Sally's
arm, entered the room with firm
step, closed the door between the
and her neighbors, who
were sadly disappointed that they
should miss this moving spectacle, and
sat down beside her son, not uncover
ing his face to look at BIN, but allow
ing her eyes to follow the CHASTITY out
line of figure beneath the sheet. SO
my son, my son." she moaned, 'is
this all that is left to me in my old
age?"
At that moment, silently and al.
most unnoticed, the captains widow
joined the group and stood at the feet
Of her husband, placing one hand on
the table as if to steady herself. Her
face was perfectly colorless, her eyes
circled with purple rings, and her
abundant golden hair pushed back
from her forehead.
GIVE asked you to meet me here"
she said in a low, faltering voice, "be-
cause | wish to beg your forgiveness
before | leave the house." Pausing,
she let her eyes rest for a. moment up
on Mrs. Norton. sYou are honest,
God-fearing people, and such as l have
no right here. | want to tell you how
it happened, that you may have no
hard thoughts of him."
"Why don't you set DOWN." asked
Sally in loud whisper.
"Than ks; will stand until I've said
what | have to say; it won't take me
long. Five years ago this man met
me IN q ballroom where men were free
Of speech and women listened unblush-
ingly to their words. Twas young and
pretty and there for the first time,
but soon grew afraid of the rough
company and refused to dance with
some Of the men. This gave offense
and / was insulted. Jacob Norton
stepped forward and announced that
I was under his protection, though I
had never seen HIM before. There
were oaths and pistol-shots, but we
managed to leave the place unhurt.
He and I never parted afterward un-
til now" She paused a moment to
overcome her emotion, and then con-
tinued: "He deceived you, his old pa
rents, but he did it for love of me.
God knows why he should have
wronged himself for such as I am. I
never deserved it. I allowed him to
marry me, as people get married in
those wild parts, and then after weeks
of what he called happiness-poor fell
low, he knew little enough of it re-
horod v,ov hoh - Mro Nor%0,,