Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-04-14

II would like to 60, if it were best, but
1t is rot You were on your way home, you
said?'
yes"
"Will you give this to your cousin?"
handing him the note.
Eyes, certainly" and Frank thrust it in
his vest pocket. Goodbye, Ralph you'll
regret staying ashore to-day"
The week passed. Ralph Field sailed for
Paris Lou Evans pouted her pretty lips
in disgust at his impoliteness Never call
ed to say good bys-just left his regrets
with Frank, and tell the ladies he had been
so busy. Busy, indeed! Making up for
the lost time of the winter, l suppose. =
Miss Eta Stuart" with sudden illumina-
ton, Il do believe you are at the bottom
of this. J."
But Eta Stuart's countenance told no
tales.
The long visit came to an end, and Eta
went home az in. Her mother said over
and over, "You are not well, my darling.
The change has not been good for you
Aud Eta answered, II am well, mother.
dear, but a little tired; and so, SO glad to
come back. Home is SO sweet and restful
| don't think | can ever wish to leave it
again.
But the home that Eta loved proved but
a transient resting place. Her mother,
never strong, faded slowly out of life and
the first snow fell on her grave. Her iatn-
er, after two years ofmourning for the wifi,
of his youth, and disheartened by success
siye and crushing financial disasters, fell
victim to sudden epidemic, and passed
away after a few days illness The wreck
of his splendid fortune barely sufficed to
meet his obligations, and Eta was eft
alone and pennlless More than one door
opened to receive her: bat her constant
answer was, 81 am deeply grateful, but ii is
better that | should depend upon myself I
have health and ed1cati d there is no
balm like work for wo heart"
No entreating availed ange her de-
termination; but at the It solicitation
of her Boston friends, consented to
pass a few months witt hem, until she
should be able to obtain /. Desirable situa-
ton.
One day, not long after her arrival it
CHANGED that Mrs. Evans was collecting q
great bundle of cast off clothing, to be sent
to the suffering freedmen. Lou and Eta
had followed her up stairs, and were look
ing over the various articles, as she took
them from the great cedar chest, where
they lad been stored.
"Oh, Eta! see herer' exclaimed Lou;
'here is that very lavender suit that Frank
ruined with lemonade, the day we went out
on the Flying Arrow just after Captain
Tileston came hone-let me see, two
three years ago. Poor Frank was Just pour"
log out glass, when the boat lurched,
threw it over him, from head to foot How
we all laughed! Don't you remember?
Why, mamma, you must not take them
until | have searched the pockets A let
ter, as live! Miss Eta Stuart"
1t was Etta's turn to look now. One
swift glance, as Lou held tbs letter up to
the light, and she had recognized the hand
writing. She snatched it from her cousin S
hand, while the blood surged up to her
heart in one convulsiye throb.
"Ob Eta, dear, that's too bad, plead
ed Lou. 81 found it; so please let me see
it, too.
But Eta had flown to her hor own room,
not daring to wait the scrutiny of Louis
curious eyes.
When Frank came up to tea, Eta said,
carelessly, Where is Ralph Field-in
Paris still? I found goodbye note from
him, in one of your pockets, or Lou did,
rather, written just before he sailed"
How like you, Frank, " said Lou ''nev-
or to think of it, and we all 80 vexed, be-
cause he didn't call.
That's true enough Louline," said
Frank, peritently. Then turning to Eta;
g. II no 10, I u
never wrote to me word. Not in Pans
probably for he wrote to Flint & Chatter
ton, when be had been there only six
months, asking to be relieved from his sit
uation. They urged him to retain it, but
he positively refused, giving no reason, eX-
ce7t that he was weary of business So IN
like him, you know, They have heard no.
thing from him since. 1t is the strangest
thing | ever knew"
Eta Stewart was in Rome. She
had sailed from New York. with the Wal
laces, rs Qoveruess for little Carrie, and
companion for her mother. They spent
some months in travel, but Mrs. Wallace
louged to be near her artist son, so they
had taken pleaAnt suite Of rooms. for
the summer, IN the old imperial city.
scribable color of an Italian sunset still
flooded all the air with az almost tangible
radiance. Eta lay ou couch, with her
hands clasped tightly over her forehead
as il to press tho pain from her throbbihg
temples The door opened softly and little
Carrie came in.
Are you better Miss Eta p
"Mamma said she was afraid | should
tire you, but l wanted to tell you 50 much
about our ride. Oh, if you could only
have gone First we drove to brother
Charley's studio, and he said he wanted us
to 90 with him to see q beautiful Madonna
that one Of his friends had painted. Nam
ma said she should like it very much, SO
we went, and, on the way, Charley told us
about this friend, what wonderful genius
he had and such devotion to his art, but
still he seemed 80 lonely sometimes.
By and by weMere there and Charley
introduced us. Mr.. Field, the gentle
mans name was--he was so tall and hand
some, but with the saddest eyes | ever
saw. As soon AS he uncovered the picture,