Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1893-09-16

@RFAAF '%=E 49, - liz
papers together; and often, as the
sound Of music and laughter hoated up
ward from the parlor below, the lonely
old man, on his knees. spent the re-
hlainder Of the evening. md indeed
much NJ the night. in 8g6niZed plead
ing for release, for help. Tonight. his
only wish, his ms plea, was for death;
and with tears falling from his eyes ne
begged %piteously that his Father in
heaven would take him to himself.
Sleep. however. brought unconscious
ness, and with the morning came a
new desire 10 live. II came-fOr so
%curiously does the trivia, mingle with
the tragic in this checked life Of ours
from an invitation out to tea, The in
yitation came from Widow Bickford.
one Of the Practitioners, rich and child
less, and as full Of whims and oddities
as q woman can possibly be. Doubtless
She had summoned him TO say that his
dismissal was richly deserved, reflected
the parson, but at all events ne should
get a good supper. and the widows
squash pies were famous.
Afternoon came. and Parson Wade
brushed his threadbare clothes, tied
and rc-tied mis- rusty necktie. with stiff.
eager fingers, and smOothed his thin
locks with infinite pains. He was
trembling all over with delight. this
foolish old man, FOR IL was nany a
weary month since anyone had invited
him out to tea, and he was as pleased
as a child at the prospect.
A little smile stole over the wrinkled
face with It's sad lines and burrows Of
care, and ParsOn Wade decided, in this
new, Intoxicating pleasure, to say moth
ing to his daughters Of the parish com
mittec's decision until after his return
from Widow Bickford's tea So off he
started, with something akin to brisk
ness In his gait. and his head quite
erect, as became a pastor invited out
10 tea by a wealthy member Of his
flock.
All through the meal, at which the
pars0n was the only guest, the CHEEKY
little widow watched him narrowly
with her sharp eyes, gossiping gayly
the while about this thing and that.
And the parson forgot mis- sorrows.
forgot his shabbiness: yes, forgot his
daughters even. and laughed his weak
quavering laugh which no one had
heard for years, as he told long anec-
dotes of by-gOne days.
me widow II seems, had observed
me old man for many months, with
Mingled PITY ana Indignation, ana had
come 10 a somewhat startling deter
~hlihailon IN her funny, whimsical fash
ION. 10 be sure, h had been beset
bE a doubt or two, mainly in connec-
ton with her husband, dead some 20
years. But she was not q woman to
hesitate long when n saw her duty
plainly II these doubts were there
Tore disposed OF summary.
~ The Lord wants me to marry the
paFson and take care OF him, why, !
guess heu take care OF Hiram Biek-
Iords teeilnss' ana | don't nave no
lreu 10 trouble hnSSeL ABOUT en- Ana
iilt"'h WAS 'lerS Sueh "a senS'ple crit
yer.
20 'ne o'' lauF' ia her Crisp pIacA
SIM gown ana pest lace cup Su.lled on
we S,Ia"py' S'u "il man WINE she
lieip'1 MN llD'ramE 10 Ihe sweets on
lne l'u'e' anu ni"i'F saiu'-
oa ont f,r and no Tord soz f,r mo 70
AZ #
me ai'aHp" Iar'oI' lalII| EaSp'a lor
an Ins''l'' pul He il" "eel ruleu an
nus me .! woman A'i'"' 80 ne uleeNl!
H'utI'uLea' lc' m
- Nliiy' lol'F "l'nouIel ,lau
'ou' One pI'''' anu l""l 'oNt' ne :
""',ieSS nlesS mere " MAJ" 10 Sc
''I nun LOU anu I 'ISou' "'s orr
gio"-n 10 u" "l.uou' ",|n-l'Iu'Iu vIiN
poul io'e anu Slvu' "iu ~ ! say '"e
So%,'cF We r. I,oIII'u t'g 'e.'eI,
me W','" NV " S,Nu u !t,''L oS
sue rlIu'u; 10 ,,'l,N ,,rlI low u'e ,u"l
yer vas an S'lli,.'' lug p"csgn w.
~ HP'1'",'' am" N""' '''h'""S' "'N
pi'NS you
\ niue later as tley sat before the
hlaZlhs fireplace me pa'soh lai,Cted