Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-06-08

eyes. indeed said Aunt Hepzie, and she
went on to detail the abuses of her favorite.
What the heel was to Achilles, what the
Joint of the harness was to the Israelitish
king, her dog and cat were to my good aunt.
This bow, drawn at venture, had sent his
shaft to the vulnerable point; and by the
time Beppo's leg had been bandaged by the
visitor, Aunt Hepzie's animosity had vanished
won't you sit down an take bit O DIN
ner with an old woman?" she asked, when
they came back to the kitchen.
g Indeed will if you will let me; private
". Mrs. Sinclair. and his face assumed a
confidential expression,-'I hoped you'd ask
me, because I've heard everywhere of your
wonderful butter, and l want to taste it,"
I" oh, bless your soul, my butter amt moth
in to brag of When you go home though,
you remind me, an I'll send along ball ont
to Miss Jones. Your aunt she's alters talkin'
about my butter"
And so Aunt HepZie, fairly conquered by
good nature, laid down her arms, and was no
more to be ranked among belligerent powers
And so, suppose, she forgot her warming"
but not so l. There was not one OF all those
summer afternoons when Philip and | sat
reading together on the porch, not an hour
of all those remembered hours when we went
floating down the river, when for one mo-
ment forgot Neither did l forget my moth
er's story of her beautiful young sister -
Lucy, aged eighteen" the headstone said,
whose heart a noble lover had held and treas
ured, until, one day, there came a gay sutton
from the city and stole the prize, and after
ward trampled upon it. | remembered it all,
and | said to myself many times in the day
that it was only for little while-only for
those summer days, and then Twas sure things
could easily be made TO IA. back into the old
line again.
1t was May when aunt Hepzie came to tea.
1t was September when Philip and | stood,
ore evening, upon the porch. The wood
bine was crimson, and away down the west
the day was burning itself out behind golden
bars. We had been riding up on the hills to
see the sun set.
Goodnight" said, my hand upon the
latch of the door.
g Stop moment, Lou"
And | turned, startled little at the quick,
peremptory tone.
"Your servant, Sir" and made :, mock
cbeisanoe.
Philip stood pulling the leaves from the
vine, and his face was very white. l think
mine was white too, when he said
& Do you know I'm going back tomorrow,
Lou ?"
Back where ?" Of course I knew, but |
had lies plenty in my right hand that night.
Home. Back to New York, and God
knows where then-into the army perhaps, y
speaking quickly.
'Wel it has been a very pleasant summer, y
l said, carelessly enough. And then no one
spoke, and it was very still, only | could hear
the rushing of the brook in the glen.
as that all you have to say to me before
go, Lou ?" he asked.
81 never bid my friends good-by. 1t isn't
pleasant. OF course l wish you a delightful
Journey" | replied, coolly. Il don't recol.
lect that I've anything more to say"
Well, | have then, to say to you" And
he pulled a handful of crimson leaves, and
flung them, a shower of flame, upon my
black habit Lou you must know it
will not bid you good-by for long. You must
tell me when | am to come back and claim
my wife"
80 rank is good, and goldis fair,
And rich and poor mate ILL., -
| hummed from a ballad we had read that very
| day.
Lou, how provoking you are! But why
| don't YOU 20 on?
! sssBut love has never known a law
Beyond his own sweet will
| - Because mine is cOmmOn-Sense, and yours
| is poetry. The latter in wretchedly out OF
| place in this everyday life of ours, but COM
mon sense, fortunately, IS coin current the
/ world over"
& And do common sense and poetry never
! 90 together | wonder? But seriously, Lou,
! YOU must listen to me-"
And seriously, Philip, this folly. You
viii blush for it tomorrow. Besides, beg
giug your pardon, the old play of the city
lover and rustic lassie is becoming stale. If
! YOU please we will not have it acted over
again at my expense"
. Stop, Lou" and he spoke sternly this
time, " this is too much for a man to bear
Can't YOU be in earnest -
6 am in earnest"
Tell me, them" and he took step near
er me, speaking iercely. His black figure
shut out all the glowing sky. Tell me child,
do YOU love me
NO
He stood still an instant, then his hand
touched mine, and then l was straining my
/ ewes through the darkness where he was dis
| appearing through the trees l went in and
/ closed the door behind me. | had done my
/ duty, [ thought.
/ And next morning, of all that bright hap
/ pv summer there remained only handful of
/ red leaves, broken off, and drying upon the
/ floor Of the porch.
AndI? OF course | was very miserable.
/ l never stopped to think; only sometimes in
/ the night, up in my little room, with the stars
/ looking at me through the dormer window
| Daytimes there were things enough to keep
/ off thought.
I The morning Philip went away we sat at
Z breakfast and heard the whistle of the train.
/ Something hard came into my throat
I thought, " He has gone, and he was more to
/ me than all the world" | said Isn't il
nearly time to begin housekeeping mother ~
/ Il was thinking of that last night. @ It's
/ past the middle of the month";" and mother
/ threw a searching glance across to my face.
/ Saul among the prophets, >" her countenance
/ SAID. l have never been notable-the con
! trary rather. l cared more for my books
! Then why not begin to-day :" | asked, adj
/ ding enthusiastically, Il like house-clean.
/ ing -
| Mother looked incredulous, and more than
/ ineredulous looked Aunt Hepzie when she
/ came in, two hours afterward, and found the
/ parlor carpet up, the books down, and halt
! the chairs inverted their sword like legs
bristling at each other in the most beIligerent
manner.
Mercy to me, Loizy eff you amt clean
in house - and aunty raised both hands in
| CONSERVATION.
Certainly; and why not aunty ;"
Why not, indeed Pretty time for YOU to
be askin' that question; but better late'n no
time
Ny want of domestieity had been a great
/ trial TO my atfectionate kin, and to none a
/ greater than to Aunt Hepzie.
l-,,,,,-'+ p}5l-,, /.