Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-03-05
gke PASTORS Daughter
u. FetmbHrs
CHAPTER l..
u. FeimbHrg

with the white net curtains and the
numerous pots Of geraniums. 1t is
true she was no longer beautiful
young girl, nor will there be any ex-
citing scenes or romantic episodes in
the story; it is only a simple story
that I am going to write down, very
simple; but it is true, for she told it
to me herself, and my heroine is an
old maid.
Do not be shocked, dear readers.
You do not know what wealth Of
poetry I found over there in that little
room.
How many long afternoons have l
sat at my window, and, while ap-
parentIy busy reading or sewing, have
watched my lonely neighbor; and,
when the still dainty figure, in her
simple dress Of gray lute-string, her
snowy can on her smoothly brushed
hair, sat at the window and read the
paper, knitting the while, was over
come by a deep feeling Of compassion
for her loneliness.
never saw q friend with her, never
even caller; only the little children
OF her landlord ] saw sometimes at
her window busiIy engaged in MUNICH
ing apples. The old lady, kindly dis
peuaer Of these daintics, stood behind
then beaming with smiles as she saw
how the little creatures enjoyed them
then She would softly breathe a kiss
on one Of the little golden heads, as if
she would bless it.
Every afternoon at q certain time
/ saw her come out Of her house door
to go for a walk; a few hours later
she would he sitting again, knitting or
sewing, in her armchair by the win
dow.
Sometimes, on warm summer even.
lngs, when She had opened the win.
dOw, I could see her sitting at ner old
fashioned spinet, and old, Iong-fOrgOt-
ten melodies reached my ear. Oh, J
could have listened for hours. while
my fancy was busy with her past.
How happens it that she is 50 en-
tirely alone? [ thought to myself The
ucighbOrs called her old FrauIeIn
Siogismund," but beyond that [ could
learn nothing in spite OF my in
qu.rias. she does not know a single
soul. she lives entirely by herself:
she is utterly unSociaL' were the re
plies 10 my questions.
The more closely and the longer !
secretly Observed the old FrauIeiu,
the greater was my interest the deep
er my compassion he IivcIjer my wish
TO learn something about her.
IT SO haDDcucd that once. lJw9rdz
ny.uing-aud if was q vondarrD1Iv
lovely summer lyonjng-T went 10 tnc
Garrison lhuran.var1 t3 urf n wreath
OH the crave of a friend who had
lately died. III was miot and lonely I'm
tho weIIcarod.ror churcbt ara. the
roses were i'm full bloom. ami were
shedding their fragranco Iavfshlv over
The quiet graves There had Eeon a
thunderstorm in the afternoon. and
.ha air was so clear, and the trees
and grass SO fresh and green, that
one could hardly believe in death. The
sun was SHINING out again through
the ragged clouds, and was playing in
the dewdroDs ON the flowers and
grasses, which, in this place, seemed
Ike countless tears.
My r0se-garland was soon hung
over the simple marble cross; l seat
ed myself for moment on the little
seat under the weeping willow. and
thought of her who had lain under the
the green mound for nearly a year;
she had been so fond of roses; and
she was SO young and had been so
suddenly snatched away from her IA
diant happiness. Parents who would
not be COmfOrted, a bridegroom, al
most desperate from grief had stood
beside the coffin Of the lovely girl l
had been greatly overcome at the
time; the first shadow had been cast
on my life, when l saw the companion
OF my maiden days so suddenly torn
from me. How happy she might
have been! how long she might have
ltyed-ah, how long!
But is life ALWAYS hanDiDnsS2 All
not ALWAYS. when ono lives like tba
lonely old maid oDDOsite Is if No, bat-
ter to die Young. beloved bitterly Ia
mented than to live +brorpb sucb
long lonely davsq
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