Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-04-06
HER ONE ERROR.
OR
THE FISHERMAN'S BRIDE.
CHAPTER XLII.-CoNTINUED

tNS y S0llClUlllS Si1SIlCtJ NlIlG oIlC llSOC1l-
Ell with the most profound intentness
and evident delight, though she now
and again knit her brows and drew in
her breath Wien false notes fell on her
car.
She tapped once very lightly at the
door; then. as no answer came, the lady
opened the door and entered.
The song was just coming to close
with humble imitation Of an origin
III bravura, at Which the lady smiled,
gazing around the room in amaze
ment, for at her entrance she believed
it empty.
Advancing, she espied. in a corner
oppisite to the window, childish fig
ure seated on a stool. dressed i'll q
blouse or pinafore of white holland,
;snd a black sash. 1t was stoopingfor-
ward, in such posture that the face
was lid by the long dark curls, which
the one ray OF sunshine lit with
gIeam of gold.
Advancing on tiptoe again, she
crossed, and saw that the child's
fingers were moving deity over some
long strings Of pearls which lay in her
lap. "What bonnie picture she'd
nake!" the lady thought to herself;
and, indeed the new conner herself
the artists study. She was dressed
in black vevet-dear to artists-trim-
med with sable; she wore bonnet OF
rich white silk, with a snowy leather
lightly tipped with scarlet; her hair
was Of the purest fiaxen. and clustered
nsuch rich profusIon Of thick, mas
sive curls that, although worn in the
very simplest mode Of nature, it gave
ier an appearance Of singularity.
Her eyes were dark and sparkling, her
face pale, her features not particularly
attractive, The mouth rather large
but with such an expression Of winning
good humor upon it, thatnone could
fail to be favorably impressed. Her
figure WAS rather inclined to fuiiness,
but she moved with Jightness and
alertpess. il not grace.
Such was the apparit!on which net
the astonished gaze Of Ida, as she lift
cd up her head at the conclusion OF
her song and her work together.
Don't be frightened the visitor
FASTENED to say. 0Where is your
mother?"
AZ HOIilC, llld dlD, iSpIiGu CllG
child; then 81 sudden fear Selling her,
she exclaimed, us she i'll, ma am? oh,
is anything the matter with herr"
"What do you mean? how should
know" the lady said hall laughing
III she's at home. where is she?" she
added, looking around
My mother, ina am, here?"
Isn't Mrs. Stocker your mother,
tEen?"
"Oh, no, ma'am, Tdareplied, much
relieved. but she IS out, and"
Ard you are threading my pearls,
and singing my song YOU old-fashion-
ed little mortal, you.';
The lady burst out laughing at the
evident dismay which spread itself
over the countenance o. the child, as
she retreated a step rtwo backward,
and repeated the words. "Your song,
ma ami
"Yes; where did you hear It, you ex-
traordinary witch OF the world, you?
Why one would not imagine SO much
sound could be contained III that mite
ofq body. Where die you hear it. ]
say"
house, where Tom aud Mrs Stocker
took me one night. =
Sand who sang it?'
IA lady
Ida paused her large eyes opened
wider, she gazed again at the figure
before her, looked more particularly
at the masses of fair hair that hung
down before, and behind, and around
the lady's face.
"Ma' am, she had your hair"
NHad my hair, had she! Like her
impudence, think"
at was you, ma'am! Oh, if Tom"
At tn. t moment Mrs. Stocker ran,
out of breath into the room.
sob, madame oh, dearl Isawyour
carriage at the end of the street: oh,
dear! ran all the way; I've been to
your house, madame. To think-to
think of your coming bere-oh, dear!"
pray take breath, Mrs: stockerr,
take breath-though, in faith, here's
one here has enough for any two. You
just interrupted a very interesting
communication of what Tom-what
was it about Tom?"
She turned to Ida, but the child had
apparently forgotten all but the fact
of who stood in the flesh before her.
She stood with parted lips and cheeks
flushing, her eyes fixed in a sort OF
alteration upon the singer whose
power had enchanted her in that art
which was already the passion OF her
life.
''Do you know I caught this young
lady singing away here to herself as If
she had oOt a. whole audience in the
chairs and table? At least, | saw
none here; but she may have the pow
CT OF calling them up at her pleasure,
for such q weird, old-fashioned, little
piece of mortality never saw.
WHO and what is she, Stocker?.'
Mrs. Stocker had recovered and set
a seat for the lady, who, as If used to
such visits, threw aside her heavy
mantle: but neither the lustrous sheen
OF The costly velvet nor the glitter OF
diamond solitaire that flashed over
The room were seen by the rapt child
70 +hn loHIr ClC