Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-04-27

man who was looking on at little
distance at the grey ponies and the
yellow hair. "Will you be so good,
sir, as to lift this little girl in by my
side?"
In moment-who could refuse
obedience to such voice?-Ida was
seated by the side Of the lady on the
soft, yielding cushions. The lady
thanked the man; he took off his hat
and felt beautified, | daresay.
ooh, Tom-let Tom come" cried
Ida, extending her hand.
ooh, that's the Tom, is it?" The
lady laughed. DWELL, Tom may get
in behind, if he likes; then, at least.
the folks can say for once, I'm driving
from the evil one"
But Tom did not choose. Returned
away in high dudgeon. He had been
slightly pushed by the officious man
in lifting Ida, he had been reflected
on by the lively lady, as what the
vulgar call printers devil, = and he
had been insulted in his office OF escort.
All these accumulated insults he CEN
tired in Ida, and he somehow blamed
her for them. Hesaw the little carriage
bowl swiftly out Of sight, and heard
the merry laugh Of the amused singer.
He flung down the first alley out Of
sight, that Ida should not see him,
even as she looked back anxiously
after him.
The astonishment of Nelly was great,
when the door opened to admit
visitor so unexpected, but her childs
description had prepared her to bear
the introduction which Ida, running
forward, made of ''the lady who sung
to me-Madame Annina." The two
had made good use of their time upon
the road, and were Fl lends, even to
the interchange of names.
A nameless dread came over the
mothers heart as she greeted the
stranger, and set her chair: and
Madame Annina, with all her natural
freedom of manner, began to make
herself at home at once, and to speak
OF different subjects; but befs.-e long
she preached thereal purpose OF her
visit.
"Your little girl told you, doubt
not" she said, ''of our meeting at
Mrs Stocker's, and Of our singular
introduction"
Nelly answered in the affirmative.
:sDo you know" the lady went on,
l have thought Oft SO often? have
wished so much to see the child, and
to have chat with you about her,
but so many things constantly occupy
me; and indeed | was uncertain how
l should resolve On helping her and
you." She glanced round the room as
she spoke.
"Now [ have made up my mind, and
am come to make you the offer right
away-for Ihate dwadling and fussing
over anything. OF course you know
your little girl there has wonderful
voice-a sweet voice-and, besides, very
uncommon in its quality. Still, like
everything else, it can come to nothing
without the proper training, which, as
you are probably aware OF, is most
expensive, and indeed, difficult to OBJ
tain.
"Now, l am so pleased with the little
thing, that | will, if you please, take
her under my charge entirely I'M
derstand, entirely-as my own child.
| never had any, and this will serve
as amusement and everything to me;
besides that, with me she will have
every advantage of developing her
powers, such asyou, even had you the
means, could hardly procure. She will
have every advantage, too. of society,
of education, of cultlvating her
tastes--H
'And of learning to despise mine,"
interrupted the mother, who, during
this speech, had drawn her child to
her side, where, pillowing her head up
on her bosom, she folded her as the
wounded bird folds beneath it's wing
the young offspring the hunter yainly
seeks to obtain, and even in the death
struggle becomes strong to defend it.
mo, madam not if it were to save
my child from worse poverty than ev-
en- you see here, and that, | daresay,
seems bad enough to you. You need
not tell me you never had a child; If
you had, you could never, never ask
me to do that which even in death it
would break my heart to grant. Give
my child to another! to leard a new
life, to unlearn all she had learned
with me! To be grateful to others for
all that her poor mother has done for
her as we'll as she could till now! To
take her, as you talk of SO easily; to
leave me nothing, nothing, nothing, to
live for, to watch by, to deny myself,
to struggle, to hope for, to toll for, to
say goodnight and bless me when she
sleeps, to wake me in the morning
with her kisses-my child, his child,
his Oh, my God, how could they ask
it? Oh, darling, darling, never, never,
while [ live-never"
She burst into tears and clasped her
child to her breast, who returned her
I.