Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-02-14

lut pIoto llullilSslllle uId"l,
to him from babyhood.
He trudged ON with a better heart
bent chiefly ON finding a refuge for
the night. AS he approached pretty
cottage, with a lawn before it and a
garden behind, a pony carriage passed
him and drew up before the gate. 1t
was driven by lady in mourning,
who looked inquiringly round before
alighting. Everard ran up, touching
his hat, and held the pony's head,
while she got out entered the wicket
gate, rang the bell, and was admitted
by smart maid.
Here was luck at the very beginning.
The lady, whose face he had not OBJ
served in the hurry, but whose dress
and appearance as she walked up to
the door he had ample leisure to
study, was good for at least a shilling,
and would ask him no questions; he
might soon hope to buy shirt. He
patted the pony's sleek neck and
knocked off fly or two, and wished
he knew of a high-road studded with
ponies waiting to be held.
Then he looked at the two pretty
children the Lady had left in her car
riage, and their sweet faces filled
him with a sense of old familiar home
happiness, and his memory called up a
pleasant summer scene on the lawn
at Malbourne-of the twins, with lit
tie Marion between them, pretending
to chase the big boy, Harry, who fled
backward as they advanced. lie
which they wore for one of the
brothers they lost in infancy, and the
scent Of the lime blossom overhead.
The children In the pony-carriage
were prattling merlily together, and
making comments on all they saw,
himself not excepted He had ncau-
tiously taken off his hot felt hat for a
moment to cool himself as he stood by
the pony, and this action greatly in
terested the younger child, Il blue
eyed boy.
"Why is all 90 hair cut OFF," he
asked earnestly regarding him. HAS
100 been to pizzen"
81 have been Ill, sir, aud my head
was shaved" replied Eyerard, color
ing with dismay, and quickly jam
ming his hat well on, while the little
maiden rebuked her brother for Ills
rudeness.
"IIe did not mean to be rude" she
explained; "but we are staying with
our grandpapa in the ck-yard, and
Ernest sees the convicts go by every
day, so we play at convicts, and he
cut his little brothers hair off to make
1t seem more real. Wasn't II
naughty?"
every naughty" replied Everard,
charmed with the music Of the sweet
little retired voices, music lie had
not heard so long. The little girl re-
minded him of his old pet, Winnie.
"Why didn't 90 die?' continued the
boy. "Mine uncle did die. The sol
diers put him on the big gun, and
shootcd HIM when he was in the
ground, and the music played, and
mamma kied."
"lIush, Ernie! | am glad you got
well. poor mani" said the little maid,
demurely.
"When l grow up" proceeded the
boy, 81 shall be admiral, like
grandpa, and have sips and guns and
sword"
Everard congratulated him on his
! choice; but his little sister said he had
better be clergyman like their
father, and make people good and
preach.
II don't want to peach" said the
little nan, pathetically. II want to
be n admiral, and have sips and guns
and swords"
Then the door opened. and the lady
came out, accompanied by another
lady in widows cap, who nodded to
rhe children and smiled though she
had just been weeping, and went In,
and Everard. with an intelligence
Sharpcned almost to agony by the
chidrens conversation, looked search
ingly from under the hat he had
slouched over his brows at the dark
haired, dark eyed lady. as she returned
to her carriage, replacing the veil,
which she had raised during her visit,
evidently sorrowful one, since she
too had been shedding tears.
Everards heart throbbed almost to
bursting as he met the dark eyes, once
so full Of mirth and life. and observed
! tho familiar carriage of the still slen-
der figure. 1t was Marion, beyond all
doubt; Marion, altered indeed, but
still Marion, the favorte sister, the
darling Of his youth-that traitors
wife, as he muttered between his
tiercely ground teeth. Twice nine
years might have passed over her
head, to judge by her looks. The joy
Gus elasticity was gone from her car.
riage; she was pale, and there were
lines OF settled care on the once-Spark-
ling face
She smiled on her children, a tender.
sweet smile, but with no happiness in
It, and hoped they had been good, rs
she got into the carriage and took the
reinS, not observing the man, who
stood by the pony with his breath