Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-04-27
HER ONE ERROR.
OR
THE FISHERMAN'S BRIDE.
CHAPTER XLVI.
MADAME ANNA.


and how we may be affected close at
home by events with which we are
wholly acquainted, and over which
we have no control, would be quiet
.superhuous to my intelligent readers.
When the second floor front at Mrs.
'Grejous' found for seven consecutive
mornings his boots cleaned and his
breakfast ready without having had
to raise his voice once in supplication,
condemnation, or threat and that he
might actually count on being able to
give a whole half-hour to the discus
sion OF his meal before starting on his
professional duties, instead OF, as
heretofore, swallowing a cup Of coffee
boot in hand, and choking over a
crumbling roll while arming himself
with that one which accompanied him
in his morning rounds when all this
gradually became realized to the
senses Of Signor Sponetti, he was far
from attributing the genial state OF
things to the influence Of the shaggy
villain then living in durance vile, and
abusing his i'll luck and enemies, who
would not allow him to plumber and
maltreat in peace to himself
Yet so it was; if Mat Yawmans had
not, by the fracas which he had caus-
ed, compelled Nelly to remove to a
greater distance, the faithful follower
and ally, Tom, need never have risen
by five A. NJ. daily to acquit himself OF
certain domestic duties-among 9TH
ers, the providing himself with an
early and substantial breakfast; and
Signor Sponetti would have failed to
reap the result in boots betimes pol
ished, and water boiling any time after
half-past five.
The fact, however, is undeniable,
and, as Toms mother said, though
ignorant of the precise quarter whence
the favorable breeze proceeded, ''it
was an i'll wind that blew nobody
good, for she always found breakfast
ready and everything to her hand
when she came down though that
scapegrace was off and she never set
eyes on him. He made tremendous
fires, too-but there it wouldn't last,
she expected"
Tom, meanwhile, had made rapid
tracks for his little friends new home;
for it was in accordance with his earn
est desire and solemn promises of new
Ida was permitted to resume her work;
for which, much as she loved to be
with her mother, shepined constantly.
Truth to say, the little one entertain
ed hope OF one day again seeing the
lady who had so fascinated her young
SOUL and she often entertained her
companion with her hopes, but Tom
seemed little disposed to encourage
the wish.
But. oh! those were glorious morn
ings for the lad, when he had earned
his claim to the pleasure, too, by
self-denial and industry. Often Tom
had not given himself time to eat his
breakfast-at least, so he said; and
then his appetite seemed to fail him,
for it was literally shared with his
companion, who, poor child, made
but a faint show of resistance, for,
alas the home supply did notincrease
in proportion to the wants OF a grow
ing girl.
Nelly's eyes had failed her of late
/ fear weeping by night had much to
do with it-and the work made slow
progress in consequence. 1t was this
fact which had helped to induce her
girl earned, it was a help, and the
pleasure and zest it afforded her
young existence doubled it in value.
1t had been, however, stipulated
that Ida should return home at an
early hour in the afternoon, accom-
panied, as the case might be, by her
mother, who made her visit to the
warehouse at the time, or by Tom, if
his engagements permitted such q
sacrifice to friendship. One fine after
noon, about four o'clock, as he had
arranged in the morning, Tom had
called at Suckers, and found Ida
awaiting him, with little packet of
work, which he had insisted on carry
ing home with her. Tom was in haste
he had some proofs to take on the
road-so they set out at once. They
had got to the end of the principal
street out of which the one turned
where Mrs. Stocker dwelt, when Ida
started, exclaiming, in tone of
delight
atom, Tom, it's the LADY," Tom
needed no further explanation to un-
derstand that the lady whom he per-
ceived driving towards them in a
basket-work chaise with a couple of
grey ponies, was Madame Annina,
even before hehad seen and recognised
her by the never-to -be-forgotten vel
low masses of her peculiar hair.
Ida had clasped her hands, and
made a full stop, as if under the in
fuence of a spell.
"Come on, Ida," said Tom. Don't
notice; she mayn't want to see YOU"
But the lady, as soon as she saw
them, made straight to where they
stood, and, drawing deity up to the
curb, she beckoned them to approach.
"The very thing' she exclaimed.
care you going home, fairy?" Ida
managed to answer that she was.
"And so am /. | want to know
where your mother lives, and you can
show me. So Jump in, and you shall
be my eyes, and |, orrather the ponies,
shall be your legs. Know that fable?
I'll tell it to you as we 60 along. Now,
then lift her IN there's q oOOd lad