Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-06-13
A BIT OF REAL LIFE.

Mr. Warner, an old and respected citizen,
had gone off and married Margaret Dorm, u
woman very much his inferior, with moth
ing TO rcCommcnd her but u bright COM
plcxion blue eyes and pretty Irish face.
Margaret Dorm occupied n small but
neat cottage not far from Mr., Warmers
home, and any morning she might be found
picking the weeds out of her little garden,
gathering flowers to brighten her solitary
home or clipping tho withercd leaves from
the bright yellow marigolds that bordorod
the path leading to the little white door on
which the brass knoCker shunc 81 brilliant
ly in the sunlight.
People for miles around would stop ut
Margarcts door with orders for fancy
Cork, mcnding, embroidery, etc. Her
marvellous ability with n needle had been
the means OF supporting her comfortably
for years.
Mr.. Warmers maiden aunt was u pa
troncSs of Margaret, and often asked her
nephew to call for or leave u package on
his way to or from business, In this way
Margaret and Mr. Warner became quito
good friends. The latter, bciuga suSccpu-
Bile bachelor, fcN into the willy clutches of
tho pretty Irish woman.
Ere long Margaret learned to- watch reg
ularly for her admirCr. Months passed
and four or five nights week Mr. Warner
would find his way round to tho littlc cot,
tagc where Margaret strove to make things
as homclikc and coy rs possible, in order
not only to faScinato her lover, but to en-
hanco his infatuation.
One winters eve, when tho wind was
blowing perfect gallo and hnilStoncs were
beating against the pavement, Margaret
and Mr. Warner drove of to the shcritf's
house, situated in n beautiful park where
the courthouse stood.
After knocking and Knocking but all In
vain, Mr.. Warner was about to turn away
and go homo when Margaret, weeping
pitifully, pleaded with him to rap again.
This last frantic knock succeeded in
arousing The sheriff, who grutlly demand
ed, "Who's thercY" II am Mr.. Williams
and want YOU to marry mo TO this WON
an. ="
The sheriff lighted lamp, unharrcd tho
door and admitted the couple. A goldpicco
slipped into the magistrates palm silcnccd
his tongue, and he sullenly and Slccpily
performed the ceremony, pronounctng
them husband and wife
A moro uncanny scene cannot BIO con
ccivcd ms the rain beat on all sides of tho
carriage which conveyed tho weeping hrido
and indifferent husband to their respective
homes.
Mr.. Warner had made Margaret his
wife, and then cruelty left her on that aw
full wedding night--hc to mako his abode,
as usual with his aunt and sho TO care for
herself in her own little home.
As Margaret became less able to work
Mr. Warner sent her checks from timc to
time, which enabled her - employ n mid
die aged woman rs nurse and housckccpcr,
and when, few months later, II littlo girl
was born Margaret felt that at least now
sho had daughter to work for and To love,
even if her husband had deserted her.
The mother rcgaincd her strength, car
ing for and nourishing her littlo girl, who
was such n comfort and II joy In the little
home.
Three years passed, and Julia, toddling
about the house, playing with her little
toys, was familiar figure, or prancing on
the lawn with her pet dog. Passcrsby of
ten halted to admire this bright, Viyncious
little girl who was SO radiantly lovely, her
little gingham froCl and huge Sunhunnct
seeming only to add greater charm to her
freshness and purity
The child had inherited her mothers
beauty which had captured the father In
years gone by.
Mr. Warner kept track of his daughter,
and one morning, when her mother had
just stepped in the house for u moment, ho
enticed the child to follow him.
Julia was installed in tho kindergarten
in connection with the young ladies' sem
mary in the town, and an extra amount
was paid for tuition, with the understand
ing that close vigil should be kept over
her
AS for the mother, when she found that
the only light of her life had been cxtin-
guishcd and fully realized her inability to
recover her lost child, grief overpowered
the poor woman and wrecked her health so
materially that she was confined to n hos
pital for months, and when conValcscent
was removed to a santarium.
The instructors learned to love the child,
who was not only beautiful to look upon,
but brilliant of intellect and an apt scholar.
As years advanced their charge steadily
progressed
II was Julia who was appointed to sing
little songs or play upon the Piano for the
entertainment OF the boy students, who
were invited from ncighboring college to
attend the soirccs given every Friday for
the mutual improvement and amusement
Of the boys and girls.
These evening fctes would close with
dancing and a collation., and the boys and
girls brought together In this way formed
stanch friendships
Julia, like many other girls who were
bright and witty, had dash Of diablcrie
in her makeup.
Her fancy inclined toward one Of these
boy visitors senior, when she WIS but IA
girl Of Is, In one Of the lower grades
When out promenading, she would steal
away from the class TO catch glimpse Of
Howard at his study window, who, know
ing the hour for recreation, was on the
alert for the young ladies with their tutor
Sundays, by special permission, the
Young ladies were allowed escorts TO and
from chapel and on these walks Howard
poured forth his ardent tale Of love into
the willing ears Of pretty little Julia, who
was just about TO enter a new path Of life
full Of adventures
Little did she know how wholly incapa.
BILE she was Of treading the strange fields
that swept before her.
Howard correspondent with his sweet
NI.s. "A n