Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-08-07
TOM THUMBS COURTsHIP.


~ T.. . EAnSUAI, Ia rackard's Monthly for
5u.y
The General met us at the depot in
Bridgeport on Saturday morning,
aud drove us 10 my house III his own
carriage-his coachman being tidily
dressed, with "A broad velvet ribbon
and silver buckle placed upon his
hat, expressly for the occasion. la
vinia Was duly informed that this
was tile Generals 'turn OUT" and
after resting half All hour at Linden
croft, he took her out To ride lie
stopped a few moments at his moth
81 > house, W here she SAW the apart
ments which his father had bullt eN-
prer-iy for him, aud filled with The
alss,t gorgeous fIrniture-:tll cores
1,uuding Ia his own diminutiNc size.
Then he took her To East bridgeport,
aud undoubtedly took occasion To
point out ia great detail all the hou-
ses which he owned, for he depend
ed much upon having his wealth
make some impression upon her
They returned, and the General stay
t,l to lunch. / asked LavlnIa how
~he liked her ride she replied:
id WAS very pleasant, but, she
atded. III seens "a If you and Tom
Ihumh own about all of Bridge
t.nFt
Tie General took his leave and re-
turned at . O'Clock to dinner, with
his mother. Mrs. Stratton remain
al until o'clock. She expressed
herss II charmed with l.aVinia War
fen, bnt not a suspicion parsed her
mind that little Charlie was endeaH-
prnng To give her this accomplished
Nonn4 lady as "A daughter-In- law
he General had pri ivately asked me
~ invite him To stay over night, ior,
SAID he, IF | get II chance, / intend
tp pop the question before the Com
nlodore arrives" d" SO told his
mother | thought the General had
letter stop with us over night, a. the
'"ntmodore would be up IN the late
train, adding that il would br more
pleasant for the little folks 10 lac to-
esther, She assentrd, and the Gen
,ral WAS happy.
After tea I.avinia and the General
sat down To play ckgammon. a.
nihe o'clock approached | remarked
that It Was about time to retire, but
somebody would have to sit ul, dntil
nearly eleven O'Clock, in order 4" let
iu the Commodore Tie General re-
piled
81 Will sit up with pleasurr-if
Sass Warren Will remain Also
laSinia careles-ly replied that she
- a7 accustomed to late hours, and
size would wait and SEE the Commo-
'tofe. A little supper WAS placed up
Dn the table for the tonlmodor.', and
fle family retired.
Now, il happened that couple OF
nischievous young ladies were Wis
lting at my house. one Of whom wa~
- sleep with Iavinia. They Mere
suspicious that the General wa~ gp-
Ing 10 propose To Iavinia that even
ing, aIId la ii spirit of ungoveruahlt
curiosity they determined. notWith
standing its manifest improperly. Ia
witness the operation, ii they could
possibly manage To do so Oh the sly
ar course this Was inexcusaiie, the
Inare 30 as so few of my read r., had
they been placed under the same
temptation, would have been guilty
II such an impropriety. Perhaps
should hesitate LO use the ties timony
oi such witnesses, or even to trust /. .
Rat few weeks after they told the
little couple the whole story, were
forgiven, and all had a hearty laugh
over IT,
Il 80 happened that the door of the
sitting room, in which the General
and Lavinia were left at the back
sannion board, opened into the hall
Just At the side of the stairs, and
thrss young misses, turning out the
I'ghts in the hall, seated themselves
upon lhe stairs in the dark, where
they had full view of the cosy little
couple, and were within easy ear
shot ot all that was said.
The house was still. The General
>oon acknowledged himself van
pushed at ckgammon and gave it
~. After sitting a few moments he
eSidently thought il WAS best "a put
cliueher on the financial part OF
his abilities so he drew from his
>oez"t policy of Insurance, ana
A14ading il To Lsyinia, he asked her
sf size knew what il was.
Examining ii, she replied, at is
al insurance policy. / see you keep
your property insured -
But the beauty of it is, il is not
my property" replied the General.
aud Yet get tue benefit of the i'm
surasnee IN case OF fire. Nou will see -
lac continued, unfolding the policy.
thls Is The property of Mr.. Williams /;
1ut here, you Will observe. il reads