Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-02-01
she awoke screaming to Fred to save

I
her.
her face, and to the horrid dream sue
ceeded the pleasant realty that the
! odious brother-in-law" was certainly
gone, and the dear husband would re-
/ turn IN a few hours.
! Poor Ellie had never passed such a
wretched day in her young life as the
preceding one, and so she confded to
Betsey, In the course of the morning The
strangers bed had not evidently been
slept in, and the only trace of his visit
having been rather spirituous and spir-
itual was the empty brandy bottle and
reeking atmosphere of the usually pure
little apartment sacred to love and
Ellie.
She flung open the windows, and
with Betsey's aid hastily removed all
trace OF the intruder's recent presence,
half shocked with herself for the re-
pugnance with which brother Char
lie" had inspired her, SO different from
the sisterly affection Fred had assured
| her she would feel for him.
! In the course of the morning the
gloves were mended and all the after
noon Ellie sat and watched for the abb
sent husband. 1t must have been near
! ly five when wheels were heard APP
preaching, and a cab with a weather
beaten portmanteau on the top drew up.
Two gentlemen jumped out, bat Ellie
had only eyes for one.
ooh, Fred, dearest, 1 am so
glad !"
ellie, darling, how are youl Char
lie, come here, old fellow. This is my
little wife. You may give him a sis,
ter's kiss, pet, and think yourself a
lucky dog, my boy!"
1t was dreadful to poor Ellie to be
pushed into the arms of that horrible
man, but disgust was merged into as.
constituent at the heartiness of the
fraternal salute, the pleasant, genial
tone of the voice that acknowledged
her favor Then she summoned cour-
age to look up. What did it mean9
"Why, Ellie :" laughed her hus-
band, "vou seem thunderstruck 7!
What's the matter, child Isn't he
like what you expected"
"Y- e e-s-no, no." stammered Ellie,
as she gazed spell-bound at the bright
face smiling with just Fred's smile at
her persistent scrutiny, and with a beat
ing heart and few tears, followed the
tale of the preceding evening, not omit
ting the smallest detail, even to her
own dream
At first, her husband seemed perplex-
ed, afterwards little angry;and finally,
catching his newly restored brother S
twinkling eye, they both gave way to a
burst of merrimont
Then spoke Fred: "My darling
| little wife, you've done hundred and
one foolish things since we were mar
ried, but this beats all. You've posi-
lively allowed swindler to get into the
house under false pretences, and do
You out of a five-pound note, to say
nothing of bottle of brandy, etc.
Charlie, shall we ever make this little
woman fit to govern household, or
fill any post of responsibility think
yong
Ellie would have pouted, only her
husbands arm was round her, and the
tone of his voice so gentle and kind.
How many would have scolded and
stormed under similar circumstances
for five pounds we're by no means COM
mon articles to Mr.. and Mrs. Fred.
Wilson; it appeared on subsequent in
quiry, that the teaspoon which happen
ed to be silver-with which the beard
ed adverturer had stirred his grog, had
mysterously parted company with the
glass Qike the gentleman himself) and
never was more seen.
"Well, all / can say is, it's the neat
est case of swindle L ever heard of, ="
said Charlie dryly, "and does the ras
cal infinite credit Of course, he ascer
tanned from the Servants of tradespeo-
pie where you had gone, and all main
points, and traded upon the informa-
ton. I thought when / left England
the London swindler had attained a
pitch of perfection not TO be surpassed,
but find in ten years the "march of
intellect has taken rapid strides with
these clever chaps. Never mind, my
dear, we live and learn, even from
thieves. The excellent idea of my
dropped anger, or double self, shall
be carried out, and you and Fred must
invest in wedding gift from your un
worthy but veritable brother, ten
ner," which / promise you shall not
crumble'to pieces, but resolve itself into
/ to hard cash, and substantial reminder
err of the piece of experience and world
" wisdom You have gained from your
" Husbands Brother