Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1867-04-03
From Godey's Lady'sBook.1
APRIL FOOLS QAY.
BY s. ANNE FROST.

sensible person to be tricked on the
first of April And pretty Mabe
| hughes looked defiance of all Jokes
| tossing back her sunny curls with q
little white hand, and flashing mer
~, saucy look at the company around
| her
There was quite group of young
folks, assembled to dance the old wear
out, and the new year in. Mabel
Hughes took precedence at most ot
the village gatherings, by right of &C.
knowledged belleshfr, and her father
large hospitable house was the rendez-
vous on the present occasion. The
young folks had been discussing ami
versaries, and while on that theme,
April Fools day had had a place in
the list of memorable DAYS of the year.
Mabel had been fooled the year before
by gift of an exquisite basket con
tanning apparently clusters of rich red
strawberries, far IN advance of the
New England season. With little
cry of pleasure she had put one of the
luscious looking berries into her mouth
to find it a painted deception. Laugh
ing. yet thoroughly in earnest, she had
vowed never again to believe IN a gift
or speech of that date
AS she now made her speech she
looked full in the face of the supposed
perpetrator of the last years joke and
was answered by pair of sunny ewes,
that looked fully equal to fun of any
sort
Il can deceive you again" he de-
clared, in answer to her implied chal-
lenge. You have no idea how pret-
ty you looked. when you curled up
your nose and puckered your lips over
that berry"
WHY, where were you 2"
q In the hall ENJOYING the Joke"
" Well, make the most of the rec
ollection, for YOU will never see me
in a like scrape again"
Until next April"
Never !"
F" Well see, shall take the next
three months to invent something alb
solutely impenetrable.'
9. defy voui'
"Hark J"
Slowly the peal of the bell from the
nelghboring church sounded the mid
night hour. As the first stroke fell
upon the air, the group rose to their
feet, Joined hands in a ring, and stood
motionless till the last echo died away
Then . Happy New Year" burst sim
ultaneously from their lips. and after
Joyous greetings all around, the party
separated. and. the house was soon
wrapped in darkness and repose
4" So John Martyn will play me an
other trick this year" thought Mabel
the next morning, as she stood before
her glass, twisting the bright curls a
round her fingers :. He NAV try his
best. but he Will not catch me again.
High-ho he viii have other things to
think of by that time, and perhaps
viii forget me altogether"
For John Martyn was going into
the world to seek his fortune. Ore
wear ago he had left college, having
spent his whole small patrimonv to
obtain an education. He had left
home frank bright boy, with uniform
ed manners, rough ways, a country
bred youth in all senses. He had
come home frank and sunny as ever,
but with the quiet courtesy of gen
tleman. and an education won by in
tense application during the entire
college course. One year he had
gwen to home, though alone IN his
little cottage brotherlcss, sisterless
orphan He had not intended to stav
so long, but there was a magnetism IN
Mabel Hughes dark eyes that bound
him to the village, until the aamira-
tion deepened into sincere. eaInest
love. and then the conviction grew
that he must win wealth before he
dared tell his passion.
Mr.. Hughes was wealthy, lawyer
in good practice, but there were nine
children in the luxurious home, an6
the estate would give but moderate
competency to each one.
John Martyn was not the man tc
WOO Mabel from her home. unless hc
could offer at least comfort in his own
and he had drained his purse IN the
wear following his return. from col
( lege. Somewhere In Texas he haC
an uncle who had written to him tina
he had an opening for an enterprlsin:
! Young man. as stock farmer.
Il am verv old, so the letter ran
{" and very poor. SO you must no
come out here with any idea of find
/ ing wealth made to your hand. lo'
will have 10 work hard-yerv hard, bn
If YOU are not afraid of that. l vii
/ give vou start. some practical ad
vice drawn from experience, and
/ shake down IN my rancho.
So he had written, and his nepheN
gladly accepted his invitation IL
had remained to see the New \ ca
in. hat Mabel knew his cell on tha
dav would be to say farewell 70
| months. years, perhaps :" perhaps
she thought, sadly, = never to NEE
again. She had never questione
4 her heart about John Martyr, conten
to take his pleasant attentions, r
gallant speeches, his deferentlal WORD
or. in other words. his half saucy joke
his laughing bandinage for the anus
. ment of the hour. But on that Ne
Years day she was restless. nerTou.