Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-05-28
THE HEART OF
MEMORIAL DAY.

'I really WISH" said Mrs. Maxwell to
her daughter Belle, that you would be
more polite to Mr.. Curry"
ST suppose, mother" replied Belle, with
the independence of true American
girl 'that could be polite to horse or
COW, if there was anything in particu-
lar to be gained by it. Now please tell
me why should try to be polite to that
sarcastic, cold, heartless creature, Lean
Ger Curry"
"Why, Belle. you ought to know. He
In worth a quarter of a million"
'Tndeedl I'm glad, then, that he's got
one recommendation. / don't know of
another"
The widow sighed and looked rather
distressfully at her handsome but plain
spoken daughter.
Belle Maxwell" she said, "more and
more every day do you grow like your
poor father. He was just so proud-spir-
ited-just so independent"
I'm glad 10 hear it, ma! / hope l
may always deserve to be spoken of in
that way. To be the. daughter of one of
the heroes who fell at Chickamauga.
fighting for the Union and the old flag,
and to resemble him as / grow up-I
kirk IudL 10 EIOI9 lOT pOOE
cir! like me. Poor, dear father!-how
well / remember how fine he looked in
his majors uniform when he took me
up ard kissed me, as he went back from
his leave Of absence, just before that bat
tie! l was only a little thing; but the
recollection will never be blotted out
from my memory"
Such "reminiscences as this very nat
urally set good Mrs. Maxwell crying, and
for moment the subject of their con-
versstion was forgotten. 1t was brought
Up again by the ring of the door bell.
That's his ring" said Mrs. Maxwell,
hurriedly drying her eyes. Now do try
and treat him well. just think what a
chance it would be for you, Belief l
know he likes you"
This vas rather more than the widow
had said yct to her daughter on the sub
ject. She was a good hearted woman,
but tire prospect of having Mr.. Curry
for a son-in-law had rather upset her
usually level head. She had made q
great many plans in secret, based on that
desirable event. The death of her hus-
band in the war had LETT her poor, with
nothing 10 rely on but her daughters mu..
steal abilities, the exercise Of which now
gave the two a very comfoI taoie sup
port. Belle was a good girl, as well as
handsome and clever, and cheerfully la
bored for her mother and herself She
was probably as happy in her indepen-
dence and in the love of her work and
her home as any girl in the city. Some
years having passed since the fall of
Major Maxwell among the country's he
roes, the widows grief had become blunt
ed, and she, too. was enjoying a certain
happiness. That is, she had been, until
the advent of Mr. Curry and his marked
attentions 10 her daughter threw the good
woman INTO a futter Of excitement and
anticipation. Nothing is so disturbing
to the average person as a remote and
uncertain prospect of wealth; and the
truth is in this case that Mrs. Maxwell
lay awake the greater portion of several
nights, specializing about what would
happen when Belle would become the rich
Mrs. Curry.
The young lady herself was not IN the
least disturbed by any such prospect. The
man was positively disagreeable to her
he was gentlemanly IN his ways, cold
and International; one - whom generous
Impulses were strangers. He was devot-
ed TO the care Of the large fortune that
had been left him by his late uncle.
great war contractor, and was constant
u looking out for chances TO swell it
by speculation. This was the last man
that Flight naturally be expected TO fall
in love. But beauty draws Us by
kagle hair" and the first sight OF Belle
Maxwell effectualiy did the business for
Leander Curry He had been prevailed