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

I'm sorry for you, poor wench," she
said in a low voice. Hoo seems to be
doin but little business wi that con-
certina thing"
When they had reached the cage, she
cried out with pleasure as she saw the
Java sparrows:
Lord ha' mercy! Birds as green as
grass Then she spelled slowly the
legend attached to the wires. Your
fortune told for a penny Dear
heart, l must have it done. Dost re-
member, Will lad, how you an me an
tn ovid woman towd as we should
marry happy"
"Ay," said William, 81 do that. An
pow one o these little green birds
shall tell you again"
He dropped penny into Giuseppa's
palm. At her signal one of the spar
rows pertly lifted a folded scrap Of
paper and pushed 1t between the bars.
Mary donned her spectacles and I'M
folded it and read in silence. The mes.
sage affected her strangely. She stag
gered a little and would have fallen
had not William caught her in time.
One hand pressed the paper against
her bosom.
st says good news comm fro across
tn SEAS" she whispered family. IAN
now | know for sure as tn lad is safe"
Then she fumbled in her skirt pocket
and took out q little moleskin pouch,
so worn that the hair only showed in
a
shook out the contents, a sixpence, a
threepenny piece and some half pence,
into Giuseppa's hand.
Its all I've got, wench," she said,
"but you're kindly welcome to it," Giu-
seppa's big, black eyes had filled with
tears. One or two trickled slowly down
the smooth, olive cheeks.
II thank you, ma'am," she said in a
broken English hard for these old folk
to understand. at will find me room
and food for the night"
Some young men from the neighbor-
ing village of Greenlow-in-the-W Water
strolled up to the cage, and William
and Mary moved away.
Poor soulr' sighed his wife "She
Gamma be more than Is, an she looks
nearly starved. It's cruel work-a
pretty lass like that-a black I'm, may
be, but as comely as ever did see''-
Come, loove," said William. "Thou'rt
always findin pity for somethin, even
though it be a lame ducklin. Where
best thou for now-th' Cloudesley or
TIL Bulls Yead?'
81 be for home" she replied. al dun
ma feel as if could talk to anybody to-
night. My hearts so full O. what's
comm. Go you tc where you please.
I'll be safe now gettin back"
William pinched her arm slightly.
~ ne'er were on O. that Sort" he
said merrily. "You Gamma how'd it
again me, as l e'er neglected you. I'm
for home WI you; We'll keep our
Wakes indoors"
So they crossed the green and re-
turned without seeing Giuseppe again,
choosing a different way through the
Hollow Wood and along the Moor
Edge. For the rest of the evening
they sat and talked Of their lads oh i'd
hood-of his FRANKS and his rogueries.
They made surmises concerning the
changes in his appearance since he
went to sea five years ago; they pic
tured him with long beard of ruddy
hue, like the mustache that had sprOut-
ed on his upper lip. When they retired
bedward, they did not toss uneasily,
as they had done since the post had
ceased to bring his letters, but fell
asleep at once and did not waken till
sunrise.
Mary was astir first; the new
strength made her resolve upon TAX
ing up all her old duties. Before VIII
liam had come down stairs she had
"redded up" the house place. AS she
heard his stockinged foot on the land
ing she took a basket of corn and open
ed the door, so that she might feed the
poultry. A sharp cry, however, brought
William to her side in a moment. He
found her on the threshold, gazing be-
wilderingly at the sleeping figure Of
Giuseppe, who reclined in corner or
the porch. A broken hurdy gurdy and
a cage crushed all out of shape lay on
the flags at her side, and in hollow
of her gaudily aproned lap lay two
poor stiff Java sparrows.
Its tn foreign wench," said VIII
liam. Mercy on US, how came she
here, WI her music box all smashed!
An her little birds are dead as stones!
Mary lifted the girls headdress,
which had fallen forward. The dark
face was all stained with tears. The
old woman's touch, gentle as it was,
Weakened a plaintive little moan. Giu-
seppas eyes opened. and she began to
sob so bitterly that William stole away
On tiptoe.
You'd best manage her yourself,
Mary, love-" he said. 81 cannot bear
to hear it,
Then he hurried away, with his
hands pressed to his ears. while Mary
knelt beside Giuseppe, and, putting her
arm around her waist, she drew her
gently to the house.
What is it. my pretty?" she said
soothingly. How came you here, an
what's happened to your birds?"
Giuseppa's tumultuous weeping ceas-
ed soon, and she told the old woman Z
piteous story Of how some drunken
men from Greenlow-in-the-Wa had
taken her hurdy gurdy and kicked it
over the green, and when she had striv-
en- to recover it they had fallen upon
the cage and beaten 1t with their sticks
until the wires were crushed together
and the little fortune tellers died Cf
fright. Mary's hands clinched as she
listened. She was a plucky soul, and