Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1865-08-09

| But, Anson, isn't it dreadful wicked
place? Amt they hcathens and canni-
bals, and bad as the Hottcntots most?'
/ Don't know, I'm suro Maggie. I only
know that there's Gold, and that it's a
great country out there. Oh, you ought
to hear Jim Bartlett talk. You'd think it
was mighty slow work gotting living of
these rocks, he said.
! Il know-but, Arson, seems to me
'twould be better to stay In q christian
country said she hesitatingly.
declare, Margaret, you're well nigh
as bad as Uncle John He says I'd better
steal Q horse, and get sent down to Wind
sor to make scythe snaths.' Arson laugh
ed his old, merry laugh. Margaret remcm-
bcred it. 1t was years before she heard
that laugh again.
| Then there was a pause. The cat doz-
ed upon tho settec, and the tca.kettle sang
out upon the hearth.
And when will you ever como back,
Anson?' asked the girl.
When | can bring something with
| which to make homo of my own he
said and there was another silence.
The peas were shclled and Margaret
was sitting with her two hands folded upon
the top Of the basket Anson sat gazing
at her with a hungry look in his eyes
That little figure in Its brown dress, the
small head with its heavy coil of hair at
the back, the long lashed, downcast eyes
he took them all in with q look. How
many nights In the years that came after
did he see in the darkness, that little figure
parting TIE shadows como and 20 before
him
Here's something ! found for you,' nc
said at length, laying in her hand a small
gold cross. Iou'll wear it sometimes, and
remember the, / know
She did not move Only her fingers
were like ice as lie touched them, and her
face was pale.
Il must SO now he said, rising
Margaret stood up, leaning against the
deal table. She raised her eyes now. and
Anson stood looking down into them
those clear, brown eycs-and holding her
two hands in his. -.. -..--
{ i4a->'i 5'An think you can wait for me,
little girl ? he said 'It'H be u long while
We shall be old men and women by that
time, perhaps, trying TO smile. VIII you
wait for me until | come back?'
4 will. wait for you forevcr!' The
words were low and her lips were very
white.
Bless you, child But please heaven
you sha nt have to wait as long as that,
| and hc drew her closer to him.
Good bye, and God bless you Mar
garet.'
She felt his nrm drawn tightly round
her, knew that his lips touched her cheek,
and she sank down upon the floor, her face
buried in the cushions of the old chair
Why Margaret, what are you doin' 2
cried good old Mrs. Frear Here tbs
twelve o'clock this blessed minnit, and
the fire all out What will yer father
say p
Mrs Frear had begun vigorous attack
on the cooking stove, but stopped short rs
Margaret rising wcarily, stood before her
with blanched bewildered face
why, what ails tho child Bles, me,
she looks as if she'd had q stroke + y
stroke, indeed, but not exactly of the kind
to which her mother referred.
Margaret passed her hand across her
eyes heavily, as with an effort. It's moth
| ing she said. | must have been little
faint, That's all
All! enough l should think You
just come into my room and lie down on
my bed, and II make you q CUP Of sage
tea. Mercy on me! l hope 'tisn't the
black tongue Your aunt Mary told me
that was prcvailin' in Barnet Just let
me look o yer tongue And the good wo>
man hustled about, bringing blankets,
| brewing herbs, in her solicitude for her
child, quite oblivious of dinner and all other
minor considerations.
And Margaret buried her eyes in the
snowy pillows, while Arson, all his world
ly effects packed in one valise, took his
way on foot to the next stage town. And
the next week tall man stood on the
ships deck and watched the blue New
England hills grow dim; and little
figure, in its Drown dress, sat still in the
Vermont farm house, and worked on rs
before, only her check was trife whittier
and instead of her old song there was sill
ence.
Ten long years Long TO look forward
to lock back only the brief dream of q
summer night But time enough TO create
new joys, to forget many old ones Hat
Margaret Frear forgotten Why We vii
sec.
The same tidy kitchen; tho same o4J
chair, and seated therein pale woman il
a mourning dress. She had sat down ii
the kitchen; she could not stay in the
sittinr>room to-day. They had carried
out from there yesterday a oofin-hel
/ mn s-qr1 In that rlace between I'll,