Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-09-07

days work after that. Wen we tried to,
! but never could get back to old times.
| There was "a good deal of rivalry among
us, and some cutting things were said.
/ The Judge sent letters in all directions
to VIII, but three weeks had passed
without word in reply. We had all
in turn offered to accompany Miss
Browning to San Francisco but she
said she knew no one there. VIII
would be sure to come before long, and
would be disappointed if she should
/ leave besides, hadn't she eight Of the
very best brothers in the worldf she
would stay awhile longer and she would
help cook and mend for us, so as not
to burden us too much, She
had few new books she had bought
| for VIII, and she would read to us
| evenings. We came up an hour earlier
! than usual, and our table was always
ready for us, and 1t had many an extra
! touch that none but woman could
! think OF. We We're a silent set of men
I during the day, but each did his best
! when he got home Stories were told,
I songs sung and with her readiness we
were all entranced. She always called
us by the names that were first given
given her, and ever so many times she
went through the Introduction, acting
out all the parts. 1t seemed funnieI to
her than it did to MS. She talked to
South Carolina about the beauties of
the southern sky, and Of the flowers
and trees, which eclipsed anything at
the North. To Nutmeg she praised
New England, and she had some favor
tie topic to discuss with each OF us.
"Of course we were all IN love with
her, but none dared to boast of having
received any sign of preference from the
lady. We had all proposed toher once,
and some of us a half Il dozen times
She Just made light of it said we were
crazy, and didn't know what we We're
about; but she came to know after a
while that we did.
"There was open war. We all acted
like madmen, except the judge he
would not answer any of our taunts, but
was most pleasant to ALL Yet he grew
to look real eareworn, and every time
he met any of us alone he would say he
wished VIII would come soon He
talked to rs about keeping the peace,
and appealed 10 our honor rs men, and
our love for our old comrade. Kate
herself had quite little talk with each
one. [ don't know how she managed
it, but she left the impression upon us
all that we We're most likely to be ac-
cepted if we behaved ourselves and kept
quiet; but twas no go, we could not.
"One evening she refused to sit down
with us to the table, and SO, little was
eaten. Slo walked up and down the
room ana then said emphatically, q
am going off don't know where; but
| must go away; this is getting nnbear- .
able. | cannot meet one of you but |
am importuned to marry you. Don't .
you know, gentlemen, [ cannot marry
you all, and if | choose to show .
one bit of pleasure in the the society Of I
any one, the rest are all angry. Now L /
ask You what shall 1 dol VIII dosen't .
come, and am all alone / wish yon
would drop all this nonsense and be-
have yourselves. Why won't youf"
" She looked from one to another,
and finally asked Jack, Come, Won
own to being very wicked, and You
have been an awful tease; won't You
reform, and then all the rest willl"
"Aunt Betty said; eff you care for
any of It's, make it known, and then the
rest shall behave or-there viii be a
row.
That's Just it you viii fight anyway,
YOU are getting so savage. In being
lovers | am afraid you have forgotten
to be gentlemen.
Wasn't that stinger for rs But
we didn't feel it then as we have since
We all promised not to say word after
her decision was made known to rs.
Each one may have been elated, think
ing he was likely to be chosen.
"She sat down and put her face on
her arm. but it was only for a moment.
Then she said / shall ask for two
days TO think Of it. Next Sunday
there viii be a wedding here, and a sup
per afterward, which we viii help to
prepare If any one speaks TO me ON
the subject between this time and that
his doom is scaled.
There was an oldish man over to the
other cabin, who seemed to have a
fatherly care over Kate. And | might
as well say here that all Of us who were
unmarried had offered themselves to
her and been refused.
"Well, Kate and old man Howe had
long talk together, and then he went
off and did not get back till Sunday,
and he brought minister with him.
There was some kind OF services in the
afternoon out under the trees, but none
of us paid much attention. Our eyes
were all for Kate, and she was crying
softly all the time When it was over
she took the preachers arm and walked
with him some time. Then she went
into our cabin, and We we're all follow
ed. Mean, wasn't it But we did not