The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1899-02-14
CHAPTER Iv.-(CoNT1NuED.|

lie in the direction affected by Grand
chester merchants or Grandchester
tradespeople. Here were no Gotnc
mansions. no fair Italian villas, spring
ing like mushrooms from the soil
one year a confusion of lime and NOR
tar tubs, stacked flooring boards, ana
rough hewn stone, and the next all
smiling among geranium beds and rib
bon bordering, velvet lawns and new
IMPLANTED strawberries. None OF the
commercial wealth of Grandchestef
had found it's way to Parminter. The
village was still a village-a mere clus-
ter of laborers' cottages, two or three
old homesteads, and half dozen small
dwellings of a shabby-genteel type.
Among these last was Rose Cottage,
small square house, with plaster
walls, bright with greenery and scar
let berries, even in this winter season.
A bow window below, rustic lattice
above. Just such a house as man
with considerable taste and inconsid-
cradle income would choose for him
self. The small garden in front of the
bow window was in admirable order,
yet the place had deserted look
somehow, Mr. Leworthy thought, as
he rang the bell.
He rang once, twice, three times,
with no more effect than if Rose Cot
tage had been toy house inhabited
by Dutch dolls. This was aggravat-
ing. There was meadow on one side
Of the cottage, where half dozen
sheep were browsing contentedly. Tne
vicar climbed the hurdle which divided
this pasture from Lawson Lane, and
went around to the back of the cot
tage. Here there was small garden,
neatfully and tastely laid out, but there
was no more appearance of human-life
at the back of the house than in the
front.
'I suppose my gentleman comes
home at night and lets himself in with
latch key" the vicar said to himself.
He was climbing the hurdle on his
return to the lane, when small girl,
in very short skirt--a girl of timld
aspect, carrying beer jug-dropped
him a courtesy, and said:
please, sir, was it you a-ringing OF
that bell just now?''
''Was it me?" calculated the vicar,
impatiently Eyes, it was
And, then, smiling on the small girl,
for he had a heart large enough for
ever so many parishes of children, he
said:
ct am not vexed with you, my dear;
[ am angry with Fate. Tell me all you
know about that cottage, and I'll give
you half a crown
The girl gasped. She had never pos.
sessed a half crown, but she had an
idea it meant abundance. Her father
counted his wages by half crowns, and
there were not many in weeks wage.
please, sir, Mr.. Foy lived there with
his sister, but they've left"
ooh, they've let, have they? When
did they leave?''
''Last Monday, sir, and the lady was
very i'll, sir, and he took her away in
a cab"
"And Mr.. Foy has not been back
since?"
mo, sir. He left for good, and he
gave the key of the cottage to my
mother, and the agent is to put up
board next week, and the house is to
be let 1t was took furnished, and Is
to be let furnished again..
did they live quite alone? Had
they no servant?"
mo, sir, no reg'lar servant. Mother
Used to do the cleaning twice week.
Mothers very sorry they be gone. They
vas good to mother"
"How long had they lived there?"
Nigh upon a year.
'.And the lady was Mr.. Foy's sister,"
Eyes, sir"
tAnd now take me to your mother"
The girl looked wistfully at the jug.
eff you please, I was to fetch faith
er's beer, SIR
Il see. And if you don't. father Will
be angry
Eyes, sir
aThen you shall go; but first tell
me where your mother lives"
The child pointed down Lawson
Lane "It's the last cottage, sir"
''All right"
Just where the lane struggled off into
plowed fields and open country there
was row of laborers' cottages, and in
the last of these Mr.. Leworthy found
a plaintive woman with a child in her
arms who owned to being the mother
Of the small girl with the jug.
The vicar wasted no time in prelim-