Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-09-01

have an apprehension Of danger in
this mode Of travelling"
No" She said slowly. Il have
been prevented by no fear of this
kind. Since" she said after a mo-
ment's pause, Il have excited Won,
curiosity by the remarks have made
| feel it the part of politeness to offer
an explanation"
! 'Though | confess to curiosity, yet
| do not wish You to consider it ne
cessary to crafty it.'
There are some reasons" resumed
the lady, "that make me willing to
give you an explanation, though the
cause lies deeper than you imagine.
1t involves something Of a confidential
nature"
Than [ beg you -
"My dear sir, l necd< confidant.
[ was seeking one when my eyes ac-
cidentally rested on you. From what
| have seen Of you, | think | am not
mistaken in Judging that i think l
am safe in = in selecting you as that
confidant."
This was said half slyly, half con-
fidently, and conveyed a compliment
which William was not slow to ap-
propriate.
She is certainly a very charming
girl, thought he, and is a good Judge
Of character L really believe that
she is = ahem! considerably struck
by me-
q on may rely upon me fully" he
added aloud.
Il feel that I may" she responded.
"But will you do me the favor to
withdraw to the other end Of the car;
there are no passengers there, and |
do not wish what l have to say to be
overheard"
"With great pleasure"
They accordingly Withdrew to the
place indicated, and the lady com
menced her explanation.
Il shall be obliged" she said, "as
briefly as ! may, to make you ac-
quainted with my story. Know then
that my father died while |, his only
child, was still very young. My
mother was already dead He left a
large fortune to me - it was at that
time estimated at one hundred and
fifty thousand dollars. Itmust amount
to considerably more now.
William pricled up his ears and
listened with increased interest.
"Of course it was necessary to leave
me in charge of some one. For this
trust, my uncle, my fathers brother
was selected. He was poor, never
having met with the worldly success
which crown my fathers efforts. His
allowance which he received for his
care Of me and my property was Tery
liberal = sufficient to support him in
comfort, not to say elegance. Shortly
after my fathers death he moved tC
q town not far distant from the station
at which | got into the cars. There
1 he resided in a house which con tit
uted a part Of the property of my
/ father.
! "According to the terms Of my
fathers viii, my uncle was to retain
the charge Of affairs until [ reached
the age the age Of twenty-five, unless
i | should before that time form a ma
trimonial connection. This was an
unfortunate provision since it enlisted
my uncIe's cUpidity against me. O.
course, while he receives an ample
income from my residence with him
it is against his interest to give me
up to the care of a husband, anc
would be likely to take every mean:
to prevent such a connection being
/ formed.
His coming to such an out-of- the
way place may be readily accounted
for on this hypothesis. lie lived very
quietly, admitted few visitors, ant
| those either ofmy own sex or married
men. Over my motions he kept {
most jealous Surveillance. Novels he
took care not to let me read - though
| managed to procure some without
his knowledge ! lest | should get in
to my head any fancies respecting
marriage. Whenever he spoke upor
the the subject it was in discourage
ment Of marriage as an evil and moro
unhappiness than good. Notwith
standing my mind was as yet child
ish and uninforIned, my own common
/ sense, | believe, led me to combat the
opinions IS unnatural and heretical
Presumption on my part would in
yariabIy make my uncle very angry
and he would sometimes upbraid n
secretly. and command me to b,
silent. This was the very way to en-
courage such ideas, if he had only
known it. Such people always de
feat their own ends.
"At length | became old enough t.
understand my uncle's real motive
His opposition to marriage, | under
stood, applied to my own case, anC
was based on reasons which | had NJ
difficulty in understanding, From
that time | became more and moro
anxious to get out Of my uncle's
power. While was under his charge