Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-12-20

our inquiries, replied that he had a
place 10 sell.
"lf you like a lonely spot he add
ed. "Most people object so to it that
I'd given up the idea of Il purchaser.
The majority of buyers want to be
near a village. I'd be glad to sell it,
he added. at belongs to little or
phan, to be sold for his education. Tho
best thing we can do for the child. He
has not relative in the world that we
know of, nor another penny, but we
could do we'll for hir with the money.
I've tried to find purchaser in vain,
for more than six months. How YOU
heard of it | can't think. Who told
you of it'd
We mentioned the lady. He shook
his head.
Il cannot guess who it was" said
he. "Some kind body. | suppose,
who was interested in the orphan
Then he took bunch Of KEYS from
nail, put on his hat, and went with us
TO the house.
We Were delighted with il, and
bought il as soon as the necessary pro-
ceedings could be gone through. We
saw the little owner, slim boy of
eleven. and knew of his being put TO
school, and we proceeded to arrange
and furnish our new possession with
all the ardor usual on such occas-
ions.
Meanwhile, as opportunity offered,
looked about me for the lady who had
so briefly directed us to our new home.
! felt that | should like to thank her.
and to know more of her. Had not
Mr.. Mumford told me that the child
had no living relations that would
have been my solution of the my sterv.
imean that we would have thought the
lady some relative of the boy; for tha
big blue eyes and small, pointed chin
OF the little fellow, his pale blonde
hair and pencillod eyebrows, reminded
me Of my visitor.
However, | saw nothing of her aud
heard nothing Of her. aud finally
gave up my efforts TO discover her
identity.
We had furnished all the upper
rooms but one, that needed some al
terations. We intended to make q
spare bedroom Of that, and we were
going to have it papered and painted.
The hearth, too, wanted re-scttiug.
and the mantelpiece was a little
sunkeu.
A carpenter was called in, who, in
day or two, made great improvements,
put shelves into a closet, and made a
new door into the hall. IL was as no
finally took his departure that he turn
ed, with his box Of tools upon his
shoulder and said to me;
"Oh, / found u photograph behind
your mantelpiece., ] forgot to tell
you left il on fthe closet shelf"
And then he took his departure.
The next time ! went into the room
took the photograph from the spot
where he had placed it. 1t was the
portrait of a lady in mourning.
The instant | looked at il gave
little cry. 1t was the lady who had
called upon me to tell me about the
house. She looked grayely into my
eyes as she had that day, ! saw the
pointed chin, the delicate light eve
brows, the short straight nose. Now
| should know who she was, and GER
tainly she was very like the little or
phan boy.
saw Mr.. munford that day l
made it my business to see him. osten-
sibly about buying a COW of another
neighbor, who had referred us TO him
as knowing the animals good quail
ties; and while sat in his Office took
the photograph from my pocket, aud
,,,.,ti,,.I ,,-lava D haI huaf, f,tnl
"Whoeyer it is, it is the lady who
told me of this house, - said l.
Mr.. Mumiord took it from me, and
looked at it with a snake Of the head.
"There You are mistaken. ma am,
he said, THAT is utterly impossible.
This is a photograph of Mrs. Muller.
Her little fellow will be glad 10 have
it, for it's the only portrait of his
mother | ever heard Of She had it
taken for him when she was quite
poorly. She died Of consumption, you
know, and he looked for it, and almost
cried his eyes out about it, You see
it slipped behind the mantelpiece;
that's how it was he couldn't find it,"
liam glad it is found, said. But
had Mrs. Muller no sister no cousin2
Is there no one resembling her who
knew Of this house, who might be in
mourning for herr"
"No, ma'am,n said Mr.. Aumford;
"not soul. Mrs. Muller was an or
phan Her father and mother both
died Of consumption. There never
was another child. Tho mother only
lived week, the father a year after
she was born. Mr.. Muller came from
Germany. All his people live there.
She hasa a relative on earth"
"May see the photograph AGAIN.
/ said.
He handed it to me. looked at tho
neck. could see what would be the
right side OF the sitter. The veil fell
on the left
Had Mrs. Muller any mark on her
neck?' i asked.
"Well, yes. She bad a big brown
mole, said Mr.. Mumford; "but you
must have sharp eyes. ] cant see a
sign Of it in the photograph"
/ said no more. A little cold shiycr
that began at my head seemed to run
all down my spine. For n moment |
was actually frightened. Then ! hand
Al. ii s.t. d