Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-11-21

down on the bed in the little chamber
on the landing, while she hurriedly pre-
pared a cup of tea. The girl drank
thirstily, but ate nothing, and when
Mary babe her rest quietly she sank
back among the pillows and closed her
eyes.
William heard the story from his
wife at breakfast. Poor wenchr lie
said. ut was cruel hard to take awav
her means O. Twin, Did she saw as
how she found her way up hither?"
AYE" said Mary. she had watch
cd tn way we went. Ours were tn
first kind words she'd heard for many
q dav, an she were q bit tOuchedlike.
You see, lad, her mother died a month
ago, an her father she can scarce rec
lect, for ne only lived till she were a
year ovid. She's had to support her
self wi fortune tellin, an, as there
were naught dom + town, she thought
she might make summat tn country.
Half starved she has been. Lord.
there's scarce scrap O. flesh on her
bOneSW
WELL" said William, II reckon she
must stop here till her strength comes
back anyhow"
II knew you'd say that, WILL" re-
sponded the old woman, for you were
ne'er one to shirk doin a kind deed.
Aye, we'll look after her. You see, tn
little birds as good as said fine news
were comm, an it would be ungrateful
not to reward her"
Later in the day Giuseppa's talk be-
came so wild and unintelligible that
William was dispatched to the village
for DR.. Hattersley. When he came
and found that the girl was in Il high
fever, he suggested that the work.
house ambulance should be brought.
Mary heard him with some Impotence
and fatty refused to take his advice.
TIL poor things agOin to bide here
till she's better" she said. I've al.
ways been reckoned decent nurse,
an l can look after her as we'll as any
young madam WI white cap"
"Eh?" said the doctor, with a
grimace. Il suppose you'll have your
own way, but you must know that 1t
will be a great responsibility. You're
far from strong yourself
ooh, I'm right enOw at last, Doctor"
replied Mary. You see, it's come to
me as our lads alive after all, an so
I've got summat to look forward to.
1t would be unlucky, besides bein
wrong, to turn away Giuseppe when
she made her way here, Lord knows
how, because she thought we'd help
her"
The kindly doctor had nothing more
to urge, and so Giuseppe became an
inmate of ScraperlOwe. She was Seri-
Ously i'll for several weeks, but her
constitution was good (she came from
fine Tuscan peasant stock, and before
the time of the first snOwstorm she was
able to be moved down stairs and to sit
in big armchair by the fire. AS she
grew stronger she began to speak of
her departure, but Mary always 81
fenced her tenderly.
ITS for you to choose, wench," she
said at last. "My master an I'd he
main sorry If you left us, for we've
come to care for you more than y
little. Why none stay WI us for good7
There's many an many n thing as you
can help WI. You see, Giuseppe, 1 be
gettin ovid"
The girl thanked her with luminous
eyes and from that day began to work
in the place as if it were her own
home, taking such an active interest
that the old folks could scarce express
their admiration. The healthy life de-
TelOped her southern beauty until she
was regarded as the lOyelieSt woman
OF the countryside. The respect and
devotion which she showed toward her
protectors was really touching, and as
the months passed they began to look
upon her as their own flesh and blood.
She had the daintieSt imaginable hand
for butter making, and the poultry I'M
der her care was reared with admi-
rable success
Mary's idea Of her having brought
luck was confirmed. In the follow
ing spring William received a letter
from London lawyer, declaring him
heir to the property of an almost for
gotten kinsman. The fortune was
large enough to keep them for the rest
OF their lives without working, but nei-
Their cared to give up the life on the
old farm, and they resolved to leave
1t untouched till Will came back. Their
faith in his existence was rewarded
at moving time by letter addressed
in the lads own bold handwriting. In
1t they found that he had been cast
ashore on the South American coast
and that he had lain some months In a
hospital. He had written as soon as
he was able, but be feared that his let
tiers had miscarried. His left arm,
shattered In the shipwreck, had been
amputated, and even If he had desired
t he was no longer fit for a seafaring
life. In short, he was longing to see
his old father and mother again and to
work on the little farm with all his
might.
After that not day passed without
their expecting his arrival. 1t was
not, however, until the harvest that he
appeared at Scraperlowe. On the third
night OF the Wakes, just a year since
Mary had dreamed Of his return, as
they sat together at supper she heard
his hand upon the latch. She rose and
ran trenblingly to throw her arms
around his neck and chung to him so
fervently that William was obliged at
last to beg her sight of his son. And
Giuseppe, when her eyes fell on the
comely young man, felt her heart be-
gin to beat very wildly; while VIII,
after embracing his father, thrilled
with the curious pang that comes to