Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-05-11

ana more Suppery. Wn6n, unnanOunc-
ed, and with powdering of snow on
his cloak, a tall figure dashed among
the dancers, seized the squire's hand
and wrnng it violently, fell on Dame
Ursula's neck, and gave her hearty
kiss before any one had time to think
what the disturbance could be about.
But the squire's eyes were keen, and
after the first moment he returned the
grasp with a hearty "God bless you,
my boy. welcome home.n and Wei
come to Derby, grandson" said the
some tears of Joy shone in her soft
eyes.
cousin Jack, Cousin jack" came
from twenty mouths, ard the favorite
grandson threw aside his cloak, and
! flung away his hat to shake hands with
all the aunts and uncles, and many of
the guests who remembered him.
/ And one Of these guests, seated IN
der the holly decorations of great GAL,
panel, leant her white, Reconstruction
face against the woodwork, and pressed
her slender gloved hand against heart
beating strangely fast
/
"Why am 1 so struck at the appear
ance of an utter stranger!"
And yet it was not a stranger The
| face of the favored grandson was the
one whose image lay between the leaves
of her Lara, up stairs. All, Maggie, it
is dangerous to have dealings with as
trologers. Here was the girl, who had
answered mysterious advertisement
for mere fun's sake, astonished and
terrified beyond measure at what seemed
the sudden realization of the astrolo-
gers mute prophecy.
Not the folds of her crepe dress look
ed winter than her face; all the Joy of
the Christmas party was gone for her.
and sickly feeling of superstitious
terror possessed her. The spirited girl
was now a faint, dropping figure, with
only just strength enough to creep up
stairs to her bedroom, where she
crouched down before the fire, crump-
led mass of white lace and clinging
crepe, shivering with fright at every
wall of the wintry wind bowling around
the house.
"Oh that | had never written to that
terrible astrologer, that horrid, mys-
FERROUS man Fancy the very person
appearing in my path-the very person /!
[ declare / should have known him
among a thousand, though he is not
terrible, for he looks very nice Oh it
is dreadful I have heard of such
things as fates in the stars, told by wise
men, but | never believed it. ] do
now, though. How fortunate it is that
nobody knows it. | will take good
care they never do"
With this thrilling secret at her heart,
Maggie sat and shivered another TWEEN
ty minutes. Then came footsteps, fol-
lowed by troop of girls rushing in.
"Why, Maggie, where have you
been?' cried one. "We wanted you
for cushion dance"
ooh, Maggie, where are youl Have
you seen grandpapa's pet-such TO.
mantle stir when he arrived !" exclaim-
ed rosy girl, with forget-me- in her
! hair
"And he's adorable" said third
"He's dear" chimed in another
Hes the son of grandfather's eldest
| daughter, and she is dead, so the old
gentleman thinks worlds of him." said
a matter fact young LADY, adjusting
her chignon
81 have heard he is terrible scamp, y
| said another.
Rubbish !" said another. ''He is
a regular jolly fellow, Mary. I never
saw such eyes; and he gazes so anx
iously around, one would think he was
looking for somebody"
And SO he was, you know, reader.
The girls fingers had been as busy as
their tongues, and, wreaths being set
tied to their satisfaction, they made
move to go down for snap dragons
and Miss Barton, with the awful secret
locked in her breast, went too, for fear
of exciting surprise.