Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-03-23
HBR ONB ERROR.
OR
TIE FISHERMAN'S BRIDE
OR
CHAPTER XL-CoNTINUED.

her part, having fulfilled her share OF
the ceremony, and attested her lodg-
er's responsibility, thought Of nothing
more except the kitchen fire. which
she was sure would be out; and the
. first-hoor, (Which always did come
home to dine when he weren't expect
ed;" and of the tax-man, (Which would
be a-knocking ofthe house down-drat
the whole pack of 'em taX-men, and
purlice, and magistrates into the bar
gain; what did they want a-tal1ing up
of the poor brat for?"
And so eliminating she found herself
lin GosweiI-road, and with all her ex-
pectatic~~' verified.
Thus Nelly came to be left in the
court without any one to whom she
could look for the assistance home
Then, observing Nelly to hest
tate, she added, ''My nameis Stocker;
Tom Greious, the young lad that was
with you, he knows my master and
me we'll" Whether this testimony to
her respectability, or Nelly's increas-
ing exhaustion, moved her to comply,
she did SO; and, thanking the stranger,
at once accepted her friendly offer
Together they quilted the police court.
In the crowd which surrounded the
entrance Nelly looked around, vague
iy seeking some clue to the voice which
had uttered the exclamation, appa-
rently "rlled forth by the announce
ment 0 her name; but she saw none
which she could in any way connect
vito the speaker There were SO many
all equally vile and unprepossessing
III exterior-that it was vain even to
surmise; besides, the ejaculation was Of
a nature which might have been merely
excited by the singuarity OF the cog
nomen. The subject was, intact, soon
dismissed from her mind for tribula-
tion was now changed into thankful
ness that her darling had escaped the
serious consequences iii which SO I'M
foreseen an accident might, it seemed,
have involved her.
Mrs. StOcker lived in court not
above three minutes walk from the
police-court; and before Nelly had be-
gun even to wonder whether her
strength would hold out to reach it,
they were at the house and in the
rooms occupied by the good-natured
woman.
They were neatly furnished, with
even some pretension to luxury of the
cheapest kind; and, to the eyes of Wis
ft0rs accustomed to the baroness and
discomfort OF sheer poverty, looked
positively attractive.
The CRATE was filled with gaily-col-
CURED shavings, there were o few prints
upon the walls, and a group of highly
tinted paper flowers under a glass
shade on the mantelpiece.
In an inner room there was fire;
and, even before taking off her bon
net, the pretty, faded woman hurried
in there, stirred up the languishing
cinders into a bright flame, and set on
the kettle
"There's nothing like a cup Of tea
for cheering one up, is there?" she
said; ''and we'll have one in less than
no time"
Then she united Idas bonnet, made
Nellie lie down upon asmall couch in
the sitting-room, and then, to the
great delight OF the little one, set her
to CLEAR the table, while she herself
ran Out @4onIy just over the way"
Heterogeneous medley it was that
strewed the table; and the punctilious
care of the child to do no damage, oc-
cupied herfully till the return Of the
Mistress, WHO laughed as she saw the
degree OF cautiousness displayed, and
Swept the remainder of the mass into
q cray, which she put aside on achest
on drawers.
Sunny things, amt they?" she
said, pointing to the mimic crowns,
pearl diadems, and dazzling tiaras OF
precious stones, which had Uttered
her table and excited the awe of the
little grl-"but they not quite SO
precious as they look" She hustled
about settingout the table with some
thingdecidedly less deceptive in quail
NY, and soon she summoned them to
.partake Of a meal oftea, with the well
come adjuncts Of cold chicken, tongue,
and some ripe fruit.
"Pooh!" She said carelessly, in an
swer to NeIIy's earnest protest-''it's
nothing; [ should have had just the
same myself, likely as not, for like to
enjoy myself, while lean, lassurey you.
Then, to turn aside the subject
while she attended to the wants OF
her guest, and obliged her TO eat-she
went Oh TO speak of the late misad-
venture ooh, indeed, there isn't a
shing they're harder upon than the
smashing-passing bad money, you
know. i've seen more than one re
spectable person dealt hard with for
lust that accusation, and no other;
and it took plenty OF good witnesses,
too, as to character and so forth, to
get them off But it was a barefaced
thing, and no mistake, to palm it OFF
upon you. alter playing you that
shameful trick besides.
s'Then you don't think the ring be-
lomged to him?" Nelly asked, still be-
wildered as to the possibility OF such
a downright piece OF villany. :. ;,
"Oh, there's not doubt about it, .
said her new friend. "Why, bless you,
there's as many lives by such ways IN
London as by honest callings, every
SsI5 is an awful place, returned the
other; II wish | had never brought
her here. do, from my heart"