Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-06-29
MONA'S CHOICE.
BY MRS. ALEXANDER.

was bachelor. and busy man. ! never
approved Of my brothers marriage. He
took a wife from a class that despised his
own. so JUS let the poor wean go. |
loved your father" he continued looking
at Mona. almost like a son. You have a
look of him, and a bonnie reed held like
his. Your mother was n pretty, dark
haired lassie; but | lost him when he mar
RED. She was too fine for me, and | lived
away from them. Here's your grand
mothers letter" He took out large
pocket-book, from the receSses OF which he
drew n letter, and, handing it TO Mona, OBJ
served-"it's not over ceevil. She is just
ane OF those aristOcrats that think a the
worlds dirt but themselves"
Mona took it, and read the short, sharp
statement of Mrs. Newburgh's require
ments, which was addressed to "Mr. Alex
Gndcr Craig"
1T is indeed poor grannic's writing" she
said passing it TO Mime. Debrisay. Il am
glad 10 find you, uncleI' and she gave her
hand to her new-folnd relative.
Thank YOU he exclaimed, holding it n
minute. ct was just the guidin' o Prov
idence that brought you to yon fearsome
street to help me. When looked in your
face felt you were nae that strange. But
whar's your grandmithcr?"
"In her grave" said Mona, sadly. "She
died suddenly-in my arms"
q hope she was weel prepared And
when was she cnlledy"
"She died last NOycmberr'
''Ah, aweel! she'll have fund DOT by this
time that the poor and lowly Of this warld
are the elect of the next"
Mrs. Newburgh was true Christian
and real lady" put in Nine. Debrisay,
emphatically.
They dinna always hang together, re
turned their new acquaintance.
''She was very, very good to me-" said
Mona.
ANY way, you've had n wise-like up
bringing, You are not ashamed Of your
uncle Sandy, though he is Il plain bodice"
"Ashamcdl No, indeed"
"Now''-he called it "n0o"-'tcll me
how ye come to be here with this Icddy2
Thought the Honorable Mrs Ncwburgh"-
with somewhat sarcastic stress ol the
Honorable" to leave GU fOrtin'"
Alas my dear sir, my dear young
friends story has been IA real TRAGEDY, =" be
gan Nine. ID .brisay, who proceeded, with
suitable modulations Of voice, to ''recirc"
the tale of Mrs. Newburgh's losses. and
MonH's consequent poverty-of the neccs-
sity for her labOring in order to live, and
being reduced to her present position.
.'Reduccd, ye ca it, he said It's no
reducing for IN honest lassie to earn her
own bread, which IS mair honorable than
the honors Of the pccragcl 81 you live
here, my dcaiir! All, there's good drap
Of Craig bIuid In yer veins, or you would
..,,t, IA,
lassie. If ye can keep II roof like this over
your head, you Gamma be doing 50 bal"
"Prrhaps,' said Nine ID tbrsay insnu-
ntiugly, perhaps your uncle would stay
md share our modest midday rcpast We
have but IA little cold roast beef salad
and 'oHleicttc uILr tines hcrJcS but at least
it viii avert the pangS of hunger"
"Rodst beef, did you say asked Mr.
Craig. anxiously. ~ Gamma digest boiled!
But you're varra good, and shall b. happy
to join you. am varra frail. | worlcI |
hard a my youth under fine man, Mr..
Kenneth Mucrachrru, of Maccachcrn 81
l."slie's, the great iutc manufacturers. He
retired, but he just missed the occupation,
and went off like puff of wind. | kept it
on, and saved n bit, and my old master re
mrmbercl me in his will, 50, IA ! found
my health failing, and new men coming
into the firm, thought would rest and
try to recover | took II cottage an n bit
farm AVA in the west, but got rhcumatiCs,
and grew worse, So cam up try Il great
London doctor, and was recommended to
yun place in Camden Town. The son OF
ON" of our clerks lodges there; but lac is out
n day, and suspect n the night, too. |
nm just wcaryin' OF; but | am not half
cured yet wonder now if this place is
much further from Harley strrrt?'
by no mcanA my dear SIR cried Nine.
Dnhrsay "It is Il shorter aud plrasanter
drive. presume you are consulting the
famous Doctor Swaithcms"
That's the man. lie is awfu' costly"
''What matter SO longas You can regain
your precious health. | think you would
find this neighborhood more salubrIous,
and in every way preferable"
Here Mime. Dcbrisay slipped quietly from
the runm-to make some addition to din
ncr, Mona did not doubt.
TEL me, said Uncle Sandy the hoarse
whisper in which he usually spoke intcnsi-
tird-"tell me, what does she make you
pay her for living here"
she does not charge me anything.
pay my share of our food and tire-that is
NIL"
"Ahl and she Is no OF your blood2'
mo; came to know her seven or eight
years ago, as told you"
go is just wondcrfulI" lie calculated,
and sat silent Tor some time, with a curl
Gus. half-satistied, halfmocking smile in
his face.
Then the prim hguro of Jane appeared,
AMI She proceeded to lay the cloth.
The dinner was very successful. Uncle
Sandy was exceeding communicative rs to
what he might and might not eat. At first
he said he would take nothing but cold
water to drink; then he faucird there was
n slight tastc-he could not exactly define
what in the water. and when he per
Crivcd this, he had always been warned 10
qualify the water with drop OF spirits
lie supposed they hadn't any whisky? No;
well he would do with "a tribe OF brandy.
The next time come to see We" he said,
with an air Of great generosity, IN bring
You bottle of real good stufT-it's far
wholrsomcr than brandy" He seemed to
enjoy his repast, and afterward made
many inquiries into Nine. nthrisay's his
tory. lie was also profoundly interested
in the prices current of all articles of con
sumption in London. Then uoticin, the
piano. he begged his niece to sing him "A
song. She complied Before she was half
through it he stopped her by observing that
he had m uncommon ear for music. hut
that il must be scotch music. - Mona
changed her tune to OH vert thou in the
cauld blast, which gave him great de
light. lie nodded his head and tapped the
carpet with his stick in time to the music
and declared with feeble energy, that there
were no songs like Scotch songs-nO in
tclliECnce comparable to that OF = .otSmen
no church system like that of Scotland
Then he looked ut his watch. and said he
was sorry, hut he must leave them: that it
was the only cheerful afternoon he had
spent since he came to London, and cx-
pressed his resolution to look for lodgings
in their ncighborhooi
Pray, let me get you n cab" said Mona.
You will be SO very tired walking all the
way to the station second time"
"Hoot, to1t! | am stronger since lately.
and money is not 81 plentiful rs to let me
hire cabs everywhere go Nav, nav! I'll
just walk to the station. have my ticket
to Cover street, and will get on fine from
that for tjppenCe. Good bye. my laSs:e.
III no forget how We helpjt Your uncle.
Goodbye to You. Nom. MAY be you'll help
me to find 4 respectable lodging. can't
come again till the day after tomorrow.
for have 10 see the doctor; but il il is any
way fine. I'll not fail YOU"
Mona went out to open the garden gate
for him. and watched him hohbling down
the road for a moment or two. and then
returned to Mns DehriSav.