New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1921-01-26

The: name was a rank misft-As-
pasta Gay presupposed personality
ilearnealy light Instead, poor Spasia
held learning in horror, and regarded
real hearty mirth as snare Of the
Evil One. Consequently she found ex-
sistence SO dull, drab and lifeless her
natural sweetness fermented in its
vacuum to a sour verging on bitter
mess. Very human, very timid, wholly
wanting in conceit, apparently She
was foredoomed to tragic spinster-
hood-tragic because she had warm
heart withal tender, and filled with
yearnings for her very own. A hus-
band, little; children, snug place to
keep spotless and comfortable such
were her dumb desires which she.
would have gone to the stake rather
than admit. "a born old maid" said
her world, unsuspecting that is to
say its kindlier half. The other half,
led by Jerry Dayton, sneered: "a
monument to mems discriminate
what could anybody, even blind
man, find in her tosattract?"
Jerry was wicked spirit, tongue
and temper. Hated things and peo-
pie simply for the sake of hating. Rich.
stormily beautiful, avid of conquest
and dominion, she chose to feel af-
fronted by Spasia's meek existence.
Possibly the seed of affront had been
planted in childhood, when Spasia had
ventured to put her small. niece's pic
tnre in local newspaper contests
where 1t had won first prize over sew
eral presentments Of Jerry. Jerry had
cried herself into spasms over the
hurt to her vanity mysteriously that
night, the prize picture was defaced,
nobody could tell how. But shortly
afterward q. Dayton footman left serv-
fee to set up in business for himself.
Tongues wagged Observation-Disclosures
hands to be sure-but nobody got
further than saying the Daytons
would never let money stand between
their girl and anything. she might
want to- do: or have done.
Timid though she was, Spasia had
texture witness that when she was
left on. the small place she kept on
living there, making enough, through
her garden, chickens and dairy to live
decently and keep far~from debt. This
In spite of feeding, clothing and hous-
Ing Black Maria and her blind twins.
Maria did the milking and marketing:
working out in spare hours for money
which, added to her modest wages,
would send Bill and Jimmy through
the blind school when they were big
ger. 4 s
One fine day a, bomb fell. into this
lslet Of content-the conyalescent
wrath Of a very pretty girl. Still very
pretty in an elfin way. with infantile
curls beginning to crisp above white
brow. and faint roses to show in hol-
low cheeks. The sometime prize win
|ner, grown up, had been mighty near
death. She had oyerdone piteously
after the manner Of fresh youth,
working by day In the art school, GO
ing the pace Of Bohemia at night. Her
dead fathers gift Of artistry lay COM
peIlingly upon her then too, she res
sented her SNUG stepfather and the
small brood which seemed to- have
crowded her out of her mothers heart.
The mother had remembered Aunt
Spasia in this extremity-and sent
Leslie to her without the formality of
asking a welcome for her.
Spasia, doubtful through minute,
In the next took the girl to her heart
Of hearts. It somehow warmed Curl
ously, and the, queer pain in it lulled.
But habit held her dumb-she could
only stroke the fairy curls as she babe
Leslie good nfght-yet though she had
long ceased praying. she knelt that
night crying voicelessly:: Save her,
Lord, save herr
Leslie was up very early-she had
run through the dewy garden, with
Dashdog at her heels, inspected the
cows, and shamelessly let out 5roods
Of tiny, peeping chickens. She was so
rosy and bright-eyed health seemed to
have come back magfcally. But toward
noon, she tainted dead away--and next
day and next stayed abed, claiming to
be not i'll but merely lazy -, 81. 4. .;l
Halfway the second morning she
lay alone. in the cold spare chamber
opening from the porch, smiling lit
tie and signing more. At a vigorous
knock, impatiently repeated, she
called: "Come in! Or out! Auntie,
I think, is lost" ..
Entered tall young fellow, brown
and wholesome, good Il to- look upon,
bringing with him the outdoor world.
sWhy, you are Leslie 7. he cried, com
ing close: "And you've grown up to
your picture. I fell in love. with it
twelve years ago, and have been wait
ing for you ever SINCE sss
+ tIndeed T., !, said Leslie, meaning to
speak saucily, but achieving 4 only
shakiness:: "Why wasn't I. told Of it?
Knight have taken more palms, t u
WASTED them, you NEAR, .. the Wis.
itor reterted. SIN Doctor
Manton's John, they call me. ! knew
you had come, but didn't expect ITO
find you in. bed this time of day. &c
ST didn' gexpectg toz-be-7-'' Leslie
tried to explain-7but somehow her
voice trailed into silence After one
look John was calling frantically TO
his father; Come like lightning!
Leslie may be Idying. +
~