Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-05-27
THE HEART OF
MEMORIAL DAY.

81 really WISH" said Mrs. Maxwell to
her daughter Belle, that you would be
more polite to Mr. Curry"
81 suppose. mother" replied Belle. with
the Independence Of true American
girl. that l could be polite to a horse or
a COW, if'thcre 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
is worth a quarter Of n million"
Indeed. 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"
Pm glad to hear it. MAJ hope
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
think that is glory enough for a poor
girl like me- Poor. dear fSther!-how
well | remember how fine he looked in
his majors uniform when he took me
up and kissed me, as he went back from
his leave Of absence, just before that bat
tle | was only a little thing; but the
recollection will never be blotted out
from my memory"
Such a "reminiscences as this very nat
urally set good Mrs. Maxwell crying and
for moment the subject OF their CON
versati0n 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
aud treat him wei. Just think what a
chance II would be FOR you, Belle!
know he likes you"
This was rather more than the widow
had said yet to her daughter on the sub
ject She was a soOd-hearted woman,
but the prospect OF having Mr.. Curry
for a son-in-law had rather upset her
usually Lowell head She had made a
great many plans in secret, based on that
desirable event. The death OF her hus-
baud IN the war had left her poor, with
nothing 20 rely on but her daughters mu-
steal abilities. the exercise OF which now
gave the two a very comfortable sup
port. Belle was a good girl, as well as
handsome and clever, and cheerfugly la
bored for her mother and herself. She
was probably as happy in her indepen-
dence aud 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 countrys he
bN H.Nxs-ss ~~faF 80
ed. aud She. too, was enjoying a certain
happiness. That is. she had been. until
the advent OF Mr. Curry and his marked
attentions TO her daughter threw the good
woman into futter OF excitement and
anticipation. Nothing is so disturbing
60 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 sach prospect. The
man was positively disagreeable 20 her.
lie was geRtlemanly in his ways. cold
aud unconditional; one to whom generous
impulses were strangers. He was devot-
, cd 20 the care OF the large fortune that
/ had been LETT him by his late uncle. a
/ great war contractor, and was constant
1 ~ looking cut for chances to swell il
by speculation. This was the last man
that might naturally be expected TO fall
in love. But beauty draws as by a
lSingle hair and the first sight Of Belle
/ Maxwell effeetually did the business Tor
I.eander Curry. He had been prevailed
upon. against his custom. TO buy a ticket
Tor charity concert. in which home tai
eut" was largely to be represented. The
gem Of the evening proved 70 be 8 song
Wy Miss Belle Maxwell. which was heart
sly spplauded and eneored. The grace
and beauty, as well as the pure, sweet
vol>e OF the singer. made a deep impress
sion upon the vast audience. and they
a.. lslly struck some sparks from MIR.
NCurry's fiinty heart He came, saw,
Neafd--and was conquered. He became
4 freQu~St caller at the humble Maxwell
Rome; and ibis condition OF things had
been In progress for some months st
the time that our sketch opens.
All this time we have left Mr.. Curry
standing az the door, while our necessary