Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1917-09-20
A Soul Fair
and Fine
n
By E. c. WALTZ
BY E. c. WALTZ
Copyright. 1877. by w. G. Chapman

MIS-. tOlDerL sat on STOOL DenluU
tall desk, making out such business
accounts as the keeping of a lodging
house demanded. The fire In the small
office was banked against any waste OF
coal. A worn shoulder shawl was
pinned under her thin chin. AS she
shivered and drew this about her
young woman entered and closed the
door.
Mrs. Colbert looked up. Never had
there come In that door such . fresh
and glowing creature, never one so
well dressed, although her clothes
were not OF city cut. The two wom-
en- looked at each other q moment.
The younger actually smiled at the
lodging house keeper. This Is the
place to get rooms, isn't it?' she said,
in n pleasant voice.
Mrs. Colbert came around from her
desk. There were two wooden chairs
behind the railing. She opened the
gate, set out a chair and turned the
stove damper. This was unusual cour-
tesy for Mother Colbert. yes, l let
rooms" she said slowly, "but you could
do better"
my name IS Doris Forbes" said the
girl. my folks are dead and l came
to the city to hunt work"
"Yes?" said Mrs. Colbert, question
ing her beady black eyes.
my father was a country minister"
she continued. HE died last year and
my mother has been dead n long time.
/ feel as If | must find work"
She spread out her hands toward
the warmth with another bright look.
Folks Is poor in different ways"
began the old woman. Don't you
really think you could do better?'
81 saw your sign and l came In be-
cause you were Il woman. Have you
Il furnished room?'
The elder woman shrugged her
shoulders as If to say, IF you will,
you will" took bunch of keys and
went upstairs.
"There are many empty rooms, too
many. Some of my best dodgers have
been out of work so long. Here is a
room ON the side street, with two win
dows, but you can't reach it unless you
go through the room Of those Italian
girls"
Are they working girls? asked
Doris soberly, because II they are,
that would not be SO bad. / should
not be so lonesome and l like COM
pany.'
"They sing on the streets and in
concert halls sometimes" replied Mrs.
Colbert, with compressed lips; they
used to go with their father, who is
dead Blanca plays the harp, Frances
ca Is younger. Today she went to the
Art league. They want to paint from
her, suppose"
She threw open the door Of room,
dirty, meagerly furnished Beyond
was another, no larger no better.
Doris looked at the rusty, flreless
stove with a shudder.
"There was a woman who couldn't
pay the rent lived with them. They
used to warm one stove for ALL"
When the trunk came to the place
few hours later, Mrs. Colbert went up
with II. She had been hearing curious
sounds. The new ledger had on a coun-
try girls working dress, roaring fire
in the cracked stove and had actually
washed the windows and floor. There
was such a subtle change in the room
already that Mrs. Colbert stared
"Can you go on with coals?" she
said, hasking in the welcome warmth.
Goals are so dear, you see."
I'm going TO make coal somehow"
responded Doris cheerfully. "See If l
don't. I know l can make my own
way in the city. Do you suppose l
can't find way In this great hive?"
There's too many people," gasped
Mrs Colbert Doris was unpacking
her trunk. The woman sat down. I'M
able to resist this excitement. ITS
death struggle from day to day, in the
winter especially"
Doris looked up gravely.
Does 1t have TO beT
81 keep asking. l watch the people
coming going You're the first crea-
ture Of hope. that's come In here for
many long day"
"Who was the lastT
These girls father. He never gave
up, He was a musician but got lost I'm
drink. There was something in him
that never died. The girls do not un-
derstand no more do l."
When the Raiboldini girls, shawls
over their heads, stumbled in at dusk,
Mrs. Colbert said 10 them:
There's q new lodger in your back
room. l won't have Pietro or Rebo
Nanni or any other man up there.
laughing and drinking If you do not
like Il, Blanca, there are other places. |
She Is from the country and must be
respected"
Doris heard two pairs of timid foot |
steps Ia the outer room. she opened |
the door.
Ut Is much too cold here. Ny stove
is hot. Come, warm yourselves
Madonna mia :" cried Blanca as
she stepped In. "what heat, what com |
fort"
For a few cheap purchases and the |
magic u woman's hand had made |