Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-01-30

A
pretty dress and to learn 'rithmetic!!1
| Hush, dear!" exclaimed Lizzie,
| looking cautiously around. Your
grandma is very good to me. She is
the best friend | ever had. She took
me out of the asylum when | was lit
| tle.''
The two students worked silently
for some time. Ida made childish
movements of impotence and cover
ed her smooth white paper with crude
drawings. Lizzie looked despairingly
on the figures on her rough brown
paper. They did not hear Zephas till
| he was quite near.
Well he said. with an amused ex-
preston. as he sat down by Lizzies
side, ''if you amt both figurin'! And
Lidy, saw your Uncle George sitting
J in the barn door, and he was figurin'
too. But he didn't have any 'rithme-
| tic"
Eyes" said Ida with grave dignity,
| my Uncle George figures a good DEAL
He is building new house. you know
and he has to.
II should think you'd rather read
| Zie.
$50 would" she said wistfully, IF
! l could only do both. But | always
did want to figure. 1t makes your
mind stronger"
Does it make you wash kettles any
hot 10 Sol
asked Zephas with merry smile
Eyes, it does 1t makes things seem
more important and worth while But"
despairingly. Il don't seem to make
any progress lately. I've been on this
problem week and it won't come
right"
I'm afraid | can't help you" he said
as he moved himself closer to her,
and they looked over the work to-
gether. Suddenly they laughed out
merrily, as they both discovered the
mistake at the same instant.
A sharp imperative cry of "Lida!"
| rang out, and the child said petulantly,
81 do wish grandma wouldn't call me
when | am the happiest! She always
| does,"
They watched the white dress and
hat slowly moving not the shortest
way homeward. After little they
heard whistle, and Zephas peeped
out through the trees Then he turned
to Lizzie and said. 81 guess George Lor-
| ing is going to take Jennie Allen to
ride. I wish l could take you to ride,
| Lizzie!"
A vision of the rides Lizzie had al
| ways hitherto taken made a vivid con-
| trast to the vision of herself riding
with Zephas. When driven by George
| Loring or his mother on some house.
| hold errand, she had shyly shrunk
| back in her seat, i'll at ease. before
| them, of her shy ways and faded, ill
| fitting dress. But for the first time
in her lifes experience, here was one
person to whom these things made no
| difference: by whose side she would
sit, not because of necessity, but
through his own choice.
Suddenly there began to be awaken.
ed in her Wild worldly desire such
as she had never before known. She
would like to have blue and white
shirt waist like Jennie Aliens. Plain
as she knew she was, she yet felt that
| Zephas would be pleased at her added
Improvement He evidently had no
idea how much better a woman looked
in fresh, well-fitting dress,
Lizzie" said Zephas. gently, strok-
| ing the callused thin hand, some day
l hope to save enough to make a first
payment on a little home of my own,
| if the woman | want will be willing to
share a poor home for loves sake. Do
you think she will, Lizzie?"
"Lizzie's heart sank, but she an
swered bravely. "Of course she will"
Would you, yourself. do that for
| any MANI"
IF loved him.
would you do it for me, Lizzie?"
Mrs. Loring and Ida, sitting on the
| side piazza, saw George and Jennie.
| in the formers smart new team. drive
up the street. George had on his
| broadcloth suit, and Jennie wore a
beautiful white hat trimmed with
white chiffon. with roses at the back.
and also a fascinating little Jacket
got in New York that spring. Their
faces were lit up with the indefnable
fove-light of happy, care-free youth.
Jennie laughingly threw a kiss at the
two observers, as the spirited horse
dashed by.
Mrs. Loring laid aside her religious
paper and took off her reading glasses.
How they love each otheri" she ex-
claimed aloud. What a pity the we'd
| ding had to be postponed because the
| crops have turned out so bad"
Grandma said Ida. thoughtful
| ly watching a man and woman slowly
! coming across the field, don't you
think Lizzie and Zephas think good
| deal of each other?"
! Mrs. Loring looked on the Ito herr
uncouth man with the faded yellow
overalls and broken straw hat, and the
woman with the awkward gait and old
wrapper. then at the plain faces all