Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1865-01-11

ioned canopy" bcdstead but they were
all quite new, and of very different style
and material from those that had been Ia
ken away, redolentto to Alice's fancy of as
sociations with the ghost. Fanciful trifes,
of her own making or presenting. many of
ther, and gaily bound "keepsakes," and
late publications. covered the shelves and
tables and made the room seem a little
more humana'y habitable.
Her first tremors Of apprehension over,
she slowly unlocked her travelling trunk,
and began to make her little old maidish
preparations for the night She had al
ways been brought up to all sorts Of T.i4a
little ways and observances, till the was as
thoroughly pattern good girl as any
Of Miss Edgworth's model h2roines. In
every act of life there were certain GUS
toms to be regarded, for every deed there
was a certain manner Of doing, without
which it had no efficacy or meaning what
ever. In going to bed, therefore, there
was a certain order in the going. There
was first little laced cap, and snowy
robe, a pretty, blue cashmere morning
gown, lined and trimmed with silk, and
glorious with heavy cord and tassel Of the
same at the waist, and pair of slippers
with bows of the exact shade, to oe laid
ont with all the rest Of the clothes for to-
morrow wear, or hung up in their sepa-
rate 2 aces-a formidable array Of brush
cs and combs to be disposed in their prop
er order on the dressing table, and sin
liar garniture Of pincushions and SCENT
bottles TO be arranged upon the bureau.-
Piles Of snow white linen were smoothly
folded away in the drawers, and all her
dresses shaken out and carefully suspend
cd in the wardrobe, before she felt at lib
erty to retire. Her cousin maid would
have been delighted to have done al this
for her. but neat little Alice would trust
no one but herself Her busy prepara-
tions at last finished, she brushed out her
long hair, that fell in ripping masses be-
low her waist, and twisted it up in a loose
mass Tor til night; took her prayer book
and a volum Of 'Meditations" her mother
had given her, and tried TO quiet and com
pose her thoughts, so that none Of the
.'perils and dangers Of the coming hours
should be present to disturb them.
'If had the blinds open, and could see
across the room, don't believe I should
feel afraid" she thought, rs she rose to
make her final preparations for led She
drew back the heavy curtains and looked
timidly out A flood Of mel ow moonlight
poured into the lower end Of the long
apartment, and made all the objects near
it appear with tolerabIe distinctness even
after the lamp was cxtinguiShed. With
out, the dar3, old evergrecns, oaks and ma
pies that surrounded the house, were light
ed with O lustre that showed their every
twig and leaf, and all the outlines Of the
landscape seemed drawn in silver Com
mon-p'acc, familiar objects were quite
glorifed in this beam. and gave new and
/ strange and picturesque effects rtain
clock-tower, at one end of the building
stood tall in the full white radiance, the
dead night silence, and on its long unused
+ dial q lonely finger pointed ilnmovabIy to
some unearthly hour that struck no more.
'iSuppose it should be midnichtr thought
Alice, starting goiItily, and fastened to
her pillow, to lose consciousness before
the chostly hour came
( She succeeded beyond her hopss. for
everything was 50 calm and still, thc bed
WIS so soft and comfortable the rest AMI
I reposc so soothing TO her weary limbs after
/ her days journey, that she fell asleep al
I most instantly, and dreamed Of Pau's last
visit to her. They were singir- together
in the parlor Of her own home in the city ,
( ne had just brought her the Alice Woltzcs,
I and written her name on the cover, and
now stood looking o-er her music-the
handsome stately strap ing so different
in his noble growth. his manly strength
and spirit, his easy careless grace, from
the lanruid city men she knew. with their
white hands and feminine accompIish-
ments She would like to see any of them
sit horse, or aim rife like Paul. or
feathed m oar, or leap a ehasm, or rein
IN pair offery, fnminC co IS, with nerve
and cool courage she adored but cou'd not
initiate Yes he was altogether admirable; /;
and while she aisparel Of ever being suGi-
cicntlY heroine tomatch her hcro's per
fections, she was very happy in feeling his
dark eyes fixed on her face IS she sang.
and in knowing that she was cared for by
him and chosen as the reward of his am
Lition. That he did care for her, and that
there was nobosS ike bim-tho usual
summary Of such rcaections-wera truths
as plainly pleasant TO her mind in dream
ing as awake, ani brought n frequent r.
4ret in their train. An why should Tn
cIe Carter make him = physician, bat ply
Sicians must command practice before
they can marry.
She started from her slumber here with
6 frightened impression Of some noise,
some movement, somebody in the room