Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-04-05
* MESSENGER
Of Love

The snow was falling fast and Pill
ing in high drifts on the doorsteps and
the street car horses labored along
trying their best to carry their heavy
load. 1t was growing dark and almost
time to light the gas, but John Blan-
chard sat In the twilight and gave
himself up to delicious fancies In
stead of going into the future with
its vast stores Of aspirations, he wan
dered into the past and found golden
treasures there.
A picture floats before him, so fair
and 80 beautiful he IL loath to give 1t
up rs II iire-slde fancy.
1t Is Christmas night in the gor-
geous mansion of Oliver Mayfair. A
young girl with frank blue eyes and
q shower OF golden hair Is singing
"Good Bye" while Mt her side, turning
awkwardly the pages of the song Is
the figure OF a young man, pale and
terribly nervous. There Is great con
fict going on in his heart.
VIII he tell her Of his great love
and ask her to be his wife? No! What
has Edith Mayfair to do with poverty
Will he tell her he IL about to nc
ocept position abroad and may not
return for many years? What have
his prospects to do with her bright
ones? The song ended and their eyes
meet.
II am afraid this Is goodbye, Miss
Mayfair" he says, brokenly, FOR
leave tomorrow on little trip abrond."
She folds up the music and lays 1t
aside. He cannot see her eyes for they
are bent on her white gown. One
small hand IL offered him and he
grasps it thankfully. lie grows boldcr
and asks for her picture. which Is
given him In memory of pleasant
times.
AZ he Is about to leave she laughing
lily bcgs the locket from his chain.
Again they say goodbye and he leaves
the house. Five long years and the
youth who went away returns man,
rich In experience and worldly goods.
He seeks the Mayfair residence, but
strange face meets him mt the door.
He Is told the Mayfalrs had lost their
fortune and gone-no one knew where,
He goes home disappointed man,
but never ceases In his search for his
lost love. A whole year slips by and
again 1t Is Christmas night, when MI
hearts should be happy and bound to-
gcther by tho ties of love.
The clock on the mantcl chimcd the
hour of six This woke John Bnn
chard from his rcvery. Suddenly the
plaintive strains of child's voice
came from the street. Surely the air
she sung seemed familiar and as the
little singer drew nearer he recognized
the song, 1t was Good Bye" He hur-
ried to the door and called: Come In,
my child; | wish to see you"
She tried desperately to climb the
steps, but 1t was hard work, and ut
last quite out of breath, she landed In
the hall. He lighted the gas and
gazed into the face of the little one
before him, II he had not been SO
earnest he would have smiled ut this
little piece Of humanity. She was not
more than nine years old, with an old
hat on her head and pair of worn
out shoes OH her feet. Her little body
shiycrcd with the cold aS she drew
her red shawl closer about her. IL
want to know who taught you that
song" he said to her. for there was
nothing about the child he recognized
MY good nngcl taught mo and you
just ought to hear her sing It, She
has the sweetest voice. She always
said whenever | was cross and tired
just to sit down and sing, and | would
feel so much better, and do, sir"
The naive remark won the day
well. come In here by the fire and lei
me hear more of Your angel" h,
SAID, and smiled SO pleasantly tina
she brushed the snow off and followed
him into the room. Nothing ahashcd
she took off her hat and displayed
Il mass OF tangled curls; then seatn!
herself In his easy chair. she hegai
to chatter on In her quaint fashion
II will begin at the first and tel
you all about myself. You see, l wa
Il founding. That means | never hn,
any mother or father or nothing els
at all. One day n mean-looking woman
Saihc anu tooh Hlc OUT 50 Sou'u SWetI
and wash the dishes for her Sh
called me Tiny, cause | was SO little
and when l didn't do the work goo
she licked me SO, you see, l was prctt
smart about It. Well, one afternoon
slipped with the tray and broke mos
all the dishes, and she whipped me III
till l was almost dead
~ was so mad | didn't know what
was doing. | Just marched out of tn
house ana walked until my feet we
so tired | sat down on the bridge I