Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1852-06-24
IgGt&eE eEgJIWp.
The Mistake Of a Life.

\ tie foot playing against tuft Of flowers,
| she regarded the serious, half-anxious face
/ of her companion, a fue looking youth
who was reclining on a rude bench near
| her
Emma said the young man, with a
sad earnestness in his tones, Emma, 1t
! seems to me that your attentions to Clair
this evening have been more than they
need have been; surely you need not have
given him that choice boquet
The girl tried to draw in the corners of
her pretty little mouth. and really TO look
sober but her mirthfulness was i'll con-
cealed as she answered,
Perhaps | have bestowed extra atten-
tions; indeed, it would be strange had
not; it was a rare occasion; Frank Clair
IS glorious looking creature and [ feel
sort of spell bound the moment l look at
him
Emma Lee was left an orphan at an
early age, and committed to the love and
care of paternal uncle, who INDUCED
/ her almost to weakness She was now
but seventeen, beautiful. generous heart
| ed creature, but witch of a coquet.
| Frank Howard was the only son Of a
I friend of Mr Warner, Emma's uncle, and
had also been his ward from infancy. He
was few years older than Emma, and
/ possessed of all those graces of form and
feature which constitute manly beauty.
And thus they grew up together, com
panions IL sports and studies, and was it
| a wonder that young Cupid's wings should
now o'ershadow them? The doting un-
Gle saw it gladly, for he ever had hoped
that those sweet children, the idols of his
heart, might, when time had far enough
run its course, be united together in the
holy bonds; he would fain love them as
one cherished object
Frequently had he marked with pain
the wild vagaries of Emma, and her play
full love of tormenting the devoted Frank.
He feared she was sapping the fountain of
his love, and that ere long he would turn
his heart from her, and seek another
bride
This evening he had been sitting at the
window of his library, which overlooked
the lawn where they we're and had heard
the teasing words Of his niece, and mark
ed the painful expression on the counten
ance of Frank
And as he heard it, there was the rush
of agony painted on his usually placid
face. For who could have believed that
that quiet and benignant countenance
could have undergone such a change?
| Aye it is alone, in solitude, that we
act out our natures. 1t is then that the
volcano of the soul emits its fires, that the
secret passions burst forth unrestrained.
that the waters of the great deep are bro
ken up
He rose quickly from his seat, and rap
/ idly paced the floor at length he paused,
! covered his face with his hands, and by
an almost couvulSive effort. he became
calm again. his benign face assumed its
wouted look of cheerfulness and then
/ he went out and Joined the company of his
niece and adopted son.
/ He seated himself beside the young
man, and extending his hand to his beau
tiful niece, he invited her to sit beside
him
Ny children, said he, would you like
this evening to listen to a story Of my
younger days2
Yes. uncle said Emma eagerly, and
since Clair has been here | feel just like
la love story aud she stole provoking
glance at Frank. and though you are 4
bachelor. uncle do manage TO tell Us one
You shall hear the story of my life
said Mr.. Warner. seriously that which
has tinged every thought Of 1t with its
own deep colorng
I When boy l knew little girl nam
cd Mary She was a beautiful, interest
ing. fascinating child and it was my joy
to sport with her When she first began
to 60 to school, l always called for her in
1 the morning-aud ave | remember now
! that dimpled band which I used to hold
! in mine as led her along the way.
There is no germ in the hearts young
spring that puts out earlier buds than the
/ bright roseplant of love and we'll [ re
member how proud | was aud what rush
of deep and earnest feelings was there IN
my boyish heart, when Mary's playmates
would call her my little wife.
She grew into girlhood, and her affec-
tions for me assumed a stronger character.
To every other she was kind and good.
but to me. she betrayed all the foudness
of an intense love | was glad OF my en-
tire power over her, and pleased at the
spell in which | held her young affections
But [ knew not that | loved her then. and
believed not my boyish passion anything
but youthful friendship; and often very
often. was cold, distant. and reserved to
her. and bestowed on others the thousand
little attentions which | carefully avoided
granting her Had she once ceased to be
tray her affection for me, had | seen her
give to another, one of those deep, ex-
pressive glances. which she bestowed pro
digalIy on me. then perhaps, [ should
{ have discovered those depths of love,
which, unknown, were buried in my bos
ON.
One night, at gay party, with a
group of mutual friends, we were recalling
childish exploits, when. as q memory OF
those days, | was bantered for my gallant
attentions to Mary. In reply. unmindful
of the strength of the meaning of my
words, I gave a light, almost insulting
jest.
1t was more than she could bear. Ar
a.hv paleness spread itself over her face
and she leaned for support against the