Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-02-20
The
Angel-Unaware
BY MADGE WESTON
Copyright, 1918, Western Newspaper Unlon.)

departure.
There goes that stranger woman
again. she said, always galavanting
around dressed up and fancy, when
she might be doing some good TO some
body. The ladies' at the Aid were say
ing yesterday she'd never been near a
meeting, and she here all summer.
Every day, an Sundays too-some-
times during church hour. she goes
swinging along into the country. Vel
Vet skirts and big fur collars hummin'
to herself as If there was no trouble
in the world. Coaxing along the John
sons woolly dog sometimes-acts like
a child out for play. Folks have no
patience with her around here, don't
scarcely return her bow
"The frivolous don't find much wei.
come in our busy town. Folks has 9th
er things to do. But there" Miss
Burrows broke off sharply, "tiSn't like
~ you've noticed the girl from Bar
ker's, or know whom I'm talking about"
Or. Tom Burrows had noticed the
girl
Tom Burrows ADMIRED the girls
pretty, serious gaze. He delighted In
her sudden, flashing smile.
Johnson's wooly dog scampered
joyously at the idle ones side. A child
at play truly, this young woman-a
charming, still irresponsible child.
Mrs. Barker had introduced him to
her niece, Miss Thayer, as the young
doctor passed the house one evening.
Since then at the girls smile of recog-
milton, he had been moved many times
l. stop his car in the road and ask her
to drive. But discretion had won the
day. TO become better acquainted
with this unusually attractive person
ality might be to deepen an unwise in
terest.
Miss Thayer had come to reside with
her aunt. The townswomen-with his
sister as mouthpiece-had spoken. The
girl was an undesirable element.
Doctor Tom turned the car down an
unfrequented road. Even to himself
he would not confess his object. Upon
this lonely road several times ne had
met the disfavored g1rl-she had
smiled at him. Now, back among the
brush, he heard an unmistakable
groan. Old Nance, he vaguely remem-
bered, lived there in her tumble-down
cottage. Perhaps that lazy son Of hers
had gone too far for her call to reach
Nance used to suffer dreadfully from
rheumatism.
Again came the wailing groan. Tom
left his car and made his way to the
hidden cottage.
you doctorr' she said. "oh!
thought is was her"
Herr" the doctor questioned. He
bent sympathetically over the huddled
figure on the cot.
Her" Nance nodded "as comes
every day to look after me. Makes my
cup of tea an puts food handy to my
bedside. Feeds the chickens, too, she
does-tbe angel
Tom wrinkled his brows. you re-
fer to Miss Price, suppose" he said,
Miss Price was the acknowledged
village charitable worker. But old
Nance cast the name contemptuously
aside.
Miss Price was the acknowledged
yet" she said. Everybody left things
for Jed to do an now sence Jed's gone
TO war"
Jed gone !" the doctor exclaimed
why, / never thought of that possibil-
ity. Jed-left you alone"
do you reckon I'd hold him backT
Nance snapped. do you think I'd let
him stay"
But" Tom began.
With a wrinkled smile the old won-
an interrupted. when Jed went out
the door" she said, IAN angel come
In.
81 heard you moanin',' says the
angel Then she didn't ask, Kin | DO
anything?' She went ahead an did il.
Land How watch for her-llke sun
light after it's rained fer months. Sun
days, too. I'd forgot they have church
down TO the village, an they've forgot
me. It's so long sence | had any way
o. gettu' down. The angel comes In
an She opens up that old cracked or
gan-ain't been played on sence my
Lldie died Then she'll sing all them
old hymn tunes, purtiest voice, hers,
reckon heaven singin' won't sound no
better TO me. Angel l call her. an
when | asks her real mare she laughs
an says, like so much to have you
call me that
Well, you are am angel. 1 tells her.
Oh, no. she says, i just like to
do little things that others have for
got. There are so many good workers
in the world she says, doin the real
~ big things
Reckon she'd be here right now II
she hadn't stopped to look after the
baby while Katie's bringing her things
10 from the farm. Katie's husband has
gone, you know, 70 war The angel
gives Katie q free hour to work many
a time
In the shabby doorway suddenly a
girls figure appeared, girl with glow
Ing cheeks and starry eyes. At sight
Of the doctor she hesitated.
Come in dearie,' the old woman in
yited
Perhaps. suggested Miss Thaver.
-.