Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1906-01-04

that there was a stranger in the room.
she stood uncertainty in the doorway;
then she went toward him.
Il think. sir" she said with certain
quiet dignity-''I think you must be
the gentleman who's been so kind to-.
kitty cried the man. tlking an un,
conscious step toward her. Then they
stood and stared into each others Won
dering eyes.
She. worn with work and worry, was
the first TO lose control. She dropped
into II chair presently and began to cry
softly lie. for his part, paced the
room in dazed fashion. He recalled
Little Timber Toes innocent disclo-
sures. Father was dead. She thought
she was glad He wasn't fond of chill
dren. and he sometimes used to strike
dear mother
Why he had iiguratively shrugged
careless shoulders at the commonplace
skeleton laid bare by the child. But
now? He turned hot eyes and looked
at the pretty, fragile, sobbng creature
kitty, his Kitty, as he had been used
10 call her. the beautiful. dainty girl
who had flushed under his first kiss.
Something in his throat swelled Zig.
He stood still before the attic window
doing battle with it. In the place of
chimneys and lightning rods. tiles and
states, came green fields and woods.
There was II little vine covered cottage,
too, and out Of the cottage came girl
as fresh and sweet as the morning. \
youth leaned over the gate saying good
by, for he was going off to win fortune
for them both. Then he departed. with
her moist kiss upon his lips, while the
golden morning shone hopefully on the
woods and meadows. And oh, the
long misery of that subsequent misWn-
derstanding. Later news had reached
him that she was married TO an old ri
val; after that, no news at all.
James Fawcett went near to the
weeping little woman and laid his
hand upon her arm. Kitty" he said
again, its years since we saw each
other
Fifteen" said she struggling to be
calm ANA smiling through her tears.
That's Il long time. James, and time
brings many changes"
Does it? ! don't see them, dear. To
me you're Just the same"
AT his words the woman hushei-aS
pretty n wild rose flu ii as any maidcu
might claim He drew up chair for
himself aud placed it hear her. Then
he set about bringing up old tales that
made her cheerful and gave the dim
pies play. What Il dance those same
dimples used to lead the boys, Billy
and Ben and the rest-dil she remel l.
Der? And did she recall the wooden
schoolhouse? There was a brand new
brick one now The old farmhouse
was down. too, ana on its site was n
gorgeous brick villa
Thus, though al the while hunger
was gnawing at his heart, he talked
cheerily on and on. Presently he
arose. He could bear it no longer.
She was such q sc-row laden, pale,
fragile, dear little thing to fight all
alone against the world. He opened
his arms wide.
"Will YOU come now, Kitty? It's not
too late"
When she laid her hands on bis broad
shoulders and said TREMENDOUSLY. I'm
so tired, dear-so tired.' he put his
strong arms about her and fondled her
careSsingly, just as he might have
fondled The child by the wall or any
other helpless thing. Little Timber
Toes" all the while looked on and smil-
ed
And when we go to the woods she
asked presently, 'we'll take dear moth
err along too?'
"Wel, rather" answered the man in
q queer. hoarse tone as he drew the
woman in his arms still closer.