Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1917-09-20

quilt over the poor bed, n cushion In
the creaking rocker. Before the stove
stood Doris. Her smooth brown hair
was parted away from the broad brow,
her calm eyes met theirs with friend
illness. She wore working dress and
apron.
Blanca was young but worn and bent
with the weight OF the harp. Fran
cesca was little more than a child.
straight, slim and with the clustered
ringlets OF boy. Both were SILVER
ing with cold for the night was bitter
A wave of compassion went through
Doris. She went forward and led
francesca to the stove. There was no
more trouble In the room of the Raj
boldlni. The Italian girls arranged
that.
The next day Doris set out to search
for work. When she came home at
night she smiled at Mrs. Colbert and
told her that she was employed as
cashier at bakery.
at is not very large bakery or a
very large business" she said cheer
lily, "hut Il will be u living, the rent
and Goals and meals. / must make a
start"
The women held up their hands.
Such luck She would shortly leave
them. Three meals? Surfeit! Doris
laughed over their awe. She had them
In to her fire again. Mrs. Colbert came
also. Once she had been fond OF the
Ralboldini girls. Now she would have
Blanca play. Blanca brought the harp.
Her thin face lighted with enthu-
siasm. She would play as her father
taught her once more. So the street
music was forgotten and again she
struck the wonderful and tender
strains that sent Francesca sobbing to
the crucitix.
In a week the Italian girls were
changed and happier. They had put
their room in order and had mended
their clothing. Doris sometimes
thought OF the sewing bees in her fla
theirs parish. How little he coulc
have imagined her impoverishing q
needed sewing bee with two Italians
and clearinghouse keeper
The baker was n young man. On
night he walked home with Doris aft
er supper and asked TO come to see
her. With her usual simplicity sh,
said he could If her roommates were
at home, not otherwise. The next day
he gave her n slight raise in salary
and asked her to change to better
quarters. Doris thought soberly.
81 can do more good there than any
where else just now" she said direct
ly, land l would rather not change as
you desire. | was TO marry. My
lovers family objected as l was poor
l cannot forget and | am only happy
now in living for others"
He had the manliness to continue
her in his employ and to harass her NJ
more.
her high stood in her little office. II
was evening. Transient dodgers came
in, one by one. The place was clean.
cr There WAS fire and brighter
lamp. The door opened TO admit q
tall and stalwart young man. He
glanced around. His eye fell upon 9
text upon the wall over the desk. II
read. God is love" Then he stood
In front of Mrs. Colbert.
Madam" he said, little tremulous.
ly, 81 have reason to believe young
girl, Doris Forbes, lives In this house,
Mrs. Colbert looked at him with .
close scrutiny.
"She does. She has been here six
months. She is upstairs"
A light and delicious strain of harr
music came from above, sweet as ar
angelic assurance.
The man trembled.
81 have had a long search. VIII yor
show me the way2 am an ole
friend"
Mrs. Colbert lighted a lamp from
the shelf back of her and led him W
the stairway. The tender and wooins
harp music was In her ears. At the
door the old woman stopped.
"When she came l asked her two OF
three times If she couldn't do better
But she said. no. She's changed the
house"
She opened the door. Blanca was al
the harp, her worn face rapturous
with the expression of the unforsotter
genius of her father. Francescs
looked with n tender JOY at a rough
sketch of her own head which haG
been given her and which she haC
pinned above the cruciflx. Doris was
seated In the creaky rocking chair
lulling to sleep a crippled child which
had been i'll for days in an upper
room. When the door opened she
gave a bright glance at the newcomers
then held out her hand silently.
Mrs. Colbert's eyes were misty as
she went down the stairs.
~ asked her II she couldn't do bet
ter. IT'S been done for her"