Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1858-04-20
5 ELEG TED STORY.

A I OV E STORY


was SIXteen-brIght. Joyous, and hap
py, yet mine was no envied lot, according
10 fashionable ideas for no stately man.
sion reared its lofty columns above INV
young head, no velvet carpet Welded TO
the tread Of my bounding feet. was the
eldest of family of eight children. |
knew that L was not needed at home, and
day after day, as | saw the weary look of
my father, and witnessed the self-deniaI
of my mother, longed 10 earn nv own
living. An opportunity soon presented
/ llsG't, and In company with two or three
of my srhoolmates. away | went, several
mlies from home, TO a cotton-factory. Nv
mother gave me much parting counsel =
my father looked grave and anxious and
my brothers and sisters gathered around
me and wept; but | resolutely cholied
back the great, swelling sobs, with which
my own heart seemed bursting, and turn
ed for the first time, away from my home.
| was successful lived economically =
and every month placed a small sum IN
the savings-bank.
One evening was reading in my cham
ber, when Nellie, my roommate, came
/ bouncing gIeefully in. and, twning her
arms about my necs, a,nd putting her face
between the book and my eyes, she said
Matte, I've compliment for your
! " Hush you silly girl, replied, ''ks-
sing her upturned face and take your
saucy head out OF my way You have in
terrup,ed me in the middle of an interest
ing passage"
But, Matte. dear, this is real good
one" she cried Il know you don't care
a fig for compliments about your rosy
checks, black eyes, or beautiful, soft,
/ brown curls. This Is something different.
Alfred Fletcher loves you!' and The saucy
girl looked into my eyes as though she
wO'ld read the secre. of my heart.
/ There was no need Of 50 close a scruli-
/ ny. The most casual observer might have
discovered it, from the crimson blush that
almost burnt my cheek, neck, and brow,
but Instantly recediug. left me pale as
! death.
"Why, my dear Matte, what als you?''
said Nellie, IN alarm, and stroking my
cheek.
Nothing" replied, rising, and os-
| tensibly usying myself with arranging
the books upon the table, but really taking
! time to recover my self-possession
I" You haven't told me whether you
were glad or sorry," said Nellie. -. /
thought you would be glad, but you lool,
SO demurely, I'm afraid | was mistaken .
! | was glad, at least, that she had not
discovered my secret. 50, resuming my
seat, drew her near me and asked her
how she had learned what she h,d JUS,
told me.
'' Oh, he confessed as much to An
drew" said Nellie, q Enough | knew il
we'll enough before.
" All, yes" / retorted, q the secret was
exchanged for one as precious, concern
ing my own lille Nellie. In that case !
fear it will not do 10 take il for granted
50 | shall think no more about it,
Her attention thus turned into another
channel, ! felt sure that she would no
question me further. When we had LAID
our heads upon the pillow, there follow.
ed Il long, gir!ish conference, in which
Nellie confided to me all her love affairs
and before she had come TO ask my conf.
dence in return, she fell asleep. | lay
awake for long hours, thinking, until tho
became a burden; but towards morning
fell into a troubled sleep.
Alfred Fletcher was the son of a farm
er OF small means, residing near the viii
lage which had sprung up around the fac
tory. | had frequently met him al chursh
and elsewhere. He was year or two
my senior. Nellie had often scolded ms
for stunning him as | dld, and alway:
turned her off with a pleasant jest; FOL
had | attempted to explain, or justify my
self, could not have done so. Indeed, ]
was impossible TO find a reason for my
conduct towards Alfred. | knew nont
myself why | should. did 1t instructive
ly. Tlmid and shy as | was to all, wa:
a thousand times more so towards him.
Sometimes when leaving church my hear
would leap to my mouth on seeing hin
coming towards me. As soon as | at
tempted to speak, ali my self-posS essiol
vanishe ed; and l was painfully consciou
of saying and doing things for which
severely reprimanded myself afterwards
Often had sought my pillow, to wee
unseen over some inexcuSably awkward
, act, of which, at such times, had beel
guilty. | frequently said: "What woult
he think of me g. | felt as if arraignet
before the bar of Justice for some Grimm
al offence, as if verdict of guilty ha
been returned. Thus more than yea