Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-06-07

Z
OF fortnight Changed your mind about
a new machine?n
no" said the widow, II only thought
| would have new hemmer if you could
bring one"
With his usual imperturable cheerful
| ness, Azariah Noted down the new order
and prepared TO depart, when through the
open door flashed vision of beauty-a
tiny sIx-year-old girl, gold haired, azure.
eyed, music'yoiced. She stopped short at
| sight of the stranger then fed to her
mothers side.
Il swsnny" said the sewing machine
agent, under his breath.
II ais is my little girl" volunteered
Mrs. Twitchell, smoothing the sunny
head.
Azariah sat down in the nearest chair.
You could knock me Gown with feath.
err" said he presently. "Fhat child is
the living image of one knew 30 odd
years ago. What's your name, Sissy9"
Annie 5. Twitehell," solemnly answer.
ed the little one, with a steady lock out of
her deep eyes.
This little girl / used to know was
NAMED ophrony-Sophrony Miller. You
haiat got no relations named Miller, have
your" he asked Mrs. Twitchell.
Yes, but they're far removed she re-
piled, with unconscious bitterness. Far
removed, indeed, was the beautiful child
Sophronia, from the middle-aged, worn
widow Twitchell.
Azariah seemed to have forgotten his
usual energetic haste. With sotsened
voice anG ingenious coaxing, he enticed
l.
Mrs. Twitcheil took up her sewing and
listened TO the talk going on between the
two.
"Where did you know those Millers you
spoke Off" she said, after a while.
"They lived in the same place where l
was born" seid Bzariah. "Sophrony
Miller was the prettiest critter you ever
see. She looked just like this little one
of your'n, and when she was just about
as large as this one, she and used to go
to school together, and Sabbath school,
too. She hadn't no parents, so her aunt
brought her up. It don't seem but
little while since Sophrony and went
along the road hand IL. hand together,
picking blackberries, or wiuter-greens, or
misunderstanding 20 the season-or
sat together in meetin' with my old
grand'ther feeding us pep'ments to keep
US quiet. He was a master hand for
pep'ments--loved 'em and always carried
'em. Fact, he smelt so strong of 'em all
the time they used to call hin old Pep
mint Adams"
Annie had been regarding him with
great gravity and now asked, do you
love pepmints? l dow
AzsrIah burst into n laugh.
"You see if / don't bring you some
next time | come" said he. "But there
is a woman a mile down the road here
that's expecting machine, and if don't
get it to Der this afternoon she'll give me
bally hack, so | must go now. Give me
kiss, Sophrony-Annie, mean, and good
by ma'am.
He came again and brought the hem
mer, and some peppermlnts for Annie.
Then he called to show new attach
ment to sewing machines, and insisted
on leaving it for a trial. Then he called
to take it away as Mrs. Twitchell did not
put chase it. Then he called to see little
Annie. Then he called boldly to see Mrs.
Twitchell herself. The nearest neighbor
looked out of the window at the frequent
visitor and observed, II b'lieve my soul
Wilder TwitchelPs got beau"
The courtship was short; Azariak made
his appearance one evening in Mrs.
Twitchells front room, and at ouce re-
sumed his favorite attitude, one knee
crossed over the other and balancing the
chair on two legs.
"See here!" he said abruptly. "You
know I told you once about a girl named
Soghronv Miller
"Yes," answered the widow, in the
GREATNESS way which seemed to be habit
ual.
"Well, didn't tell you she was my
girl" continued Azariah, "but she was.
We was engaged. We was going to be
and / went to the city to get job; l was
gone longer'n | expected, and when |
come back, 10 and behold Sophronia was
gone. Yes, gone! never knew where,
nor why, except that her aunt had died
and she hadn't no home-but she would
have had home if she'd waited till | got
there.
"Well, never mind Sophrony now-on-
ly she's the reason why | never wanted 20
get married since-till now! You re-
mind me Of her, and ! took 10 you the
first time see you. Say what's the rea-
son you and / can't get along together.
Mrs. Twitchell was yisibly trembling,
and her voice shook as she replied: "lf
you can't have Sophrony youli take
me?"
mo matter about Sophrony-I want
you"
Suppose you could have Sophrony
and me toom
"Well, amt no Mormon" commenced
Azariah, but the widow interrupted him
by leaving the room abruptly. Azariah
stared after her for moment, letting the
two forelegs of the chair drop to the
floor. She reappesred as hastily as she
had departed. But was it the widow
Twitchell, with spectacles and cap DIS
carded, transient flush lending the
bloom of youth to her pale cheeks, her
hair arranged in the fashion of her girl
hsod smiling, yet with tears sparkling in
her eyes, making them bright az of yoref
Azariah made two strides across the mar
now room, and his long arms closed
ABOUT her slender form. No doubts were