Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1906-03-21
TIE REVELATION
OF MISS STONE.


cording to report, hard and unrelenting
as her name.
When we moved into our new home
on Greenwood Heights, we found tiny
cottage al it's side, which we learned was
tenanted by Miss Stone
My dear tiuttered little Mrs. Brown,
shes quite unapproachable, | assure
you. Don't think Of attempting to make
up with her; it would only be a waste of
time"
Miss Stone was tall and straight. Her
face was lined, her lips thin and scorn-
ful, her expression defantly stern. And
yet when l saw her watching a bevy of
little girls playing in the street, and her
eyes grew soft and Wistful, and the stern
lines Of her face relaxed. and a smile
tlnged her lips, | wondered if the much
reputed gruttneSS were not largely eN-
ternal l couldn't believe it came from
the heart.
1t was not long until on Il slight ex-
cuse L gained access to Miss Stones lit
tie home. | found she was Il woman
CT refinement, and by her soft drawing
speech, Il daughter of the south We
chatted for an hour or more. and when !
slipped over into my own little nest, my
brain was busy planning a certain course
OF home missionary work.
| pitted that lonely woman from the
bottom of my heart | endeavored to
show her that | felt friendly interest
Ill her. She was very sensitive. She re-
scented the overtures of strangers. be-
cause she imagined they were prompted
by curiosity Consequently she was diff
cult to draw out of her stolid demeanor
After a while, though. | think she un-
derStood me; and when | brought her
over into our pretty home, interested her
III my library, played and sang in the
twilight, and coaxed her to STAY TO tea
a
her face light up and her eyes sparkle
Of Dick she was shy, and she shrank
from strangers, but her trust and conf
dence III me was touching. | felt graft
fed and happy, and more than repaid
for the little | had done
[ surmised there was story hidden
away somewhere in her life, and one
day she told it to me. We were up in
the attic room, where Oaken chests care
fully guarded treasures of two decades;
ago, treasures IN which were woven. in
termingled. the threads of JOY and sor-
row. She permitted me to examine them
all, paint helrloOms, pictures, jewels and
gowns.
1t was the story of the care-free life
OF Il young girl on a southern plantation.
OF fortune swept away by the Civil
war, of a shattered ideal. a man who
won Woman'S heart to cast it aside. a
broken-hearted woman VINO could not
forget, woman who stunned the world
in bitterness of spirit.
And as | listened. under the spell of
the soft. drawing voice. the dusty attic
room faded away. and [ was down
moon shed its silvery light over the old
plantation; the air was heavy with the
fragrance of jessamine.
youth and a maid stroled along arm
IN arm. question low and tender: an
answer so faint that only the ears of
lover might hear. Though the story is
old it will always be sweet to the chill
dren of men: SO was it sweet to the
youth and the maid, for there in the
moonlight he sealed her ips with the
kiss of betrothal.
But, alas. Time with his fleeing
wings, dIms even the memory of beau
teOus southern night and it's whispered
love vows. Unfortunately. the day
daWns too soon, the day that brings for
getfulneSs to one, awakening to the
other.
The Stone fortune was swept away at
bound. Of proudest lineage. the name
they bore had, through generate been
kept stainless. Her father vowed he
would not be the one to mar its fame
livery debt was a debt of honor; every
debt was paid. The old home came into
the hands Of stranger. They were
forced to go. She was left the support
OF her aged parents. She obtained a
she had often been feted guest. Her
pride forbade her leaving her father and
mother dependent on another's bounty.
and to her lovers entreaty to become the
bride came the answer: Il cannot leave
the old folks just now. Tom; we'd better
wait awhile
He grew impatient; later indifferent. and
though he knew her heart was in his
Keeping he cOurted and married another
The girl was young; she bore up be-
meath the blow; but the poor old par
ents were broken hearted for their dar-
ling 1t was not long until the father
passed into the great beyond. The moth
er followed him before year had
elapsed.
The scenes which had been most dear
now held only anguish for her. and the
orphaned girl left the land of her birth
never to return.
Years have passed and she is old and
gray and friendless. With her nimbe
fingers she manages to exc out an exist
ence.
And now, some months later [ smile
to myself as little Mrs. Brown futters in
on her way from Miss Stones and tells
me over and over again: My dear she's
a revelation to me, simply a revelation"
Boston Post.