Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1867-04-03

listening intently for a.sfSotfall and
voice ths. fingered away from her
At last he came, timing his call tc
miss the morning visitors, and wher
the luncheon bell cleared the room oi
the family. Declining Mrs. Hughes
invitation to join them at table, he
kept Mabel for a few parting words
He did not bind her, he did not ask a
return of his love; he only told her
his prospects and hopes, and then said
if he ever had home to offer bride
he should come to his native village
to seek one. Very vague this, but
Mabel, looking into his dark, earnest
eyes, silently resolved that his bride
should he -aitinS for HIM when he
returned. Night found him speeding
over the iron road to New York, on
the long journey to Texas.
My little heroine spoke no word to
any one of the hope in her heart.
Some day, she thought, her secret
fount of hope and happiness might be
open to her friends, but not now
not until words were given that made
her blissful dream a certainty of Joy.
Three months-four-sped away, and
one April morning, when the feet of
May were pressing closely on the
confines of the passing month, Mabel
had letter all alone in her pretty
| room; she rsad the words, her heart
full of joyful surprise over its con-
tents.
John Martyn wrote strange story.
Upon his arrival in Texas he had
found his uncle fast sinking under a
fatal disease, partly the effects of ex-
posure and starvation. In miser-
able hut, with no bed but blanket
spread upon the mud floor, half cloth
ed and half famished, the premature
ly old man lay dying. Shocked at
such sight, John had at once sent
for a physician and some comforts to
the nearest station. but the old man
was so distressed at the expense, that
it was not until his nephew assured
him his own purse still held the need
full funds, that he consented to have a
bed. a chair, a stove. and some medl-
cines. For weeks he fingered, the
Young man faithfully ministering to
his wants, then died, leaving all he
possessed, by will, to his beloved
nephew, John Martyr. The miser-
able hut seemed poor legacy, but
the Young mans amazement may be
ina gined when he found his uncle had
left an enormous fortune scraped to-
gether in lifetime of miserlv accu-
mutation and avaricious boarding.
After this tale. he poured out his
whole heart to Mabel, telling of his
love, his hopes, his plans One word
from her would bring him at once to
her side. His Uncle's affairs would
keep him a few weeks IN Texas, but
before letters could be exchanged he
would be free to hasten to her. Might
he hone? If she did not love him, ST.
lence would deal that blow to his
heart
/ cannot tell the rush of happiness
that flooded Mabel's heart as she read
the letter. She had pictured years
of anxious waiting, had let her fancy
even run upon death during separa-
ton. had thought at best they would
he middle-aged folks before John made
his fortune. and bad tried to think
how emigration to Texas would suit
her little self; and now he could
come home, rich, free. loving, to make
her his bride. Out of her full loving
heart. she wrote him frank letter,
then. before taking both to gam her
parents consent to her answer, turned
TO the date, to be certain of his ad-
dress. With quick passionate cry,
she threw the letter far from her. and
sprang from her seat All the JOY
was gone from her smiling lips, the
! flush from her check. Pale, with a
concentrated anger blazing IN her
ewes, she paced the floor, clehching
| her little hands, and muttering, IN
! hastv, choking accents =
"Unmauly! Ungentlemanly April
FOOLS Dayl This is the result OF his
three months meditation. Idiot !
was to be so tricked by that romantic
story. | might have seen 1t was cop
! led from some old novel. ncle dy.
! inc in a hut and leaving him mil
/ lion..ile, And to try TO win from me
] this" and she tore her letter into
shreds as she spoke. . If l had sent
! it. before looking at that date-Bu'
he shall see that his base. ungeneroa'
trick failed to deceive me.
Then hot tears poured down hel
cheeks. for remember she loved him
keener than a knifc-thrust was th'
pain of thinking he had tritied Will
the love she had made the hope Of he
life. No true knight this. TO make :
lest of the holiest, purest impulses o
her heart. She began to think sh'
had been unmaidenly, and let him Sc
too plainly the affection she bor'
him and the weary day wore away
leaving her pale and sick with con
; ficting emotions and pain. a head
. ache Will answer for the pale cheek
; and red eyes for one day but as week
wore on, and Mabel became more Ian
; guild and wretched each day he
; mothers fears were aroused, and sh
anxiouslv sought for some help for he
bright, winsome child. now so dull an
! railid. 4 spring and summer Of II
: tense heat had added to the depresslo
of Mabels nature. and. after muc
consultation. it was decided to sen
her to New York for the winter, t
visit her fathers sister, and see if cit
eaveties would not restore her rose: