Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-05-08
did not like: it was not what they

=
wanted.
Mr.. Brinsley communed with the pas
tor, and Philip communed with Nature
in the daytime. In they evenings, they all
sat together on the porch, or in the par
lor, which, it is to be feared, was not what
everybody wanted.
At three O'Clock on the afternoon of the
fourth day. Philip came to the parsonage
with joyful countenance. Can you
walk as far as the north woods?" he ask
ed, because, if you can, | want to show
you something worth seeing. But you
must not ask me what it is"
Miss Arabella and Cornelia were sure
that they could; and Mr.. Brinsley ex-
pressed the same assurance
SO they started together; and the ladies
managed so well, that they kept together,
and bore it with great cheerfulness.
Whether it was the heat of the sun, or the
warmth of charity, certain it is that the
ice of stiffness melted very fast.
Now we must niage!a ia single file,
make as little noise as possible, and say
never a word. l will lead the way" said
Philip, when they had reached the thick
est part Of the wood.
They obeyed, and followed him in 81
lence, till he stopped, and pointed to a
narrow opening on the le1t.
And this is what they saw: on throne
of moss and cedar branches sat the
beautiful Miranda, robed in
white; and on the fragrant pine
needless at her feet reclined the sinful
Polly. A hammock of brown linen hung
from neighboring tree; and few starch
boxes stood about in picturesque disorder.
Polly was gazing at Miranda; but she
Laa % 4
quickly jumped to her feet
Law | declare, Miss Arabella, if we
amt real glad to see you. Me and Miriam
dy was getting kind of lonesome, we was.
You see, we have eat up all the blackber-
ries round here; and our crackers and
things is all gone, mostly: so we was a.
thinking of going home tomorrow"
All this she said with frank smile, and
without shadow of fear or shame.
"Polly, | am amazed at you.' said Miss
Arabella, sternly.
BE you, ma'am9 / don't know what
'mazed is; but don't you fret about us.
Here we be, all right, and had all we want
ed, didn't we, Mirandy? Law. wasn't
we happy, though"
But, Polly, don't you know it was
very wicked to run away?" volunteered
Mr. Brinsley.
Polly glanced at his white cravat, rolled
her black eyes beatifically, then modestly
cast them down, and replied "No, sir,
not why we done it. We come here to
have little camp-meeting all by our
selves, we did"
This appeal to the hi CHER feelings could
not be resisted. Philip laughed; and the
solemnity of the meeting was destroyed.
Miss Arabella was the first to regain
her composure. you will please walk
home with me- Polly. Philip, here is Mi
randa; you have found her, and she be-
longs to you
Miss Arabella, Polly, and Mr.. Brinsley
led the van; and Polly's mind was rigor-
ously improved all the way home.
Philip and Cornelia walked a few steps
behind, only few steps, at first; but, be-
fore long, Miss Arabella's voice was all
that could be seen of her or her victims.
"Nowm thought Philip. What he con-
templated was simply to propose a fair
exchange. He wanted to give up the
Parish Doll, and receive in its stead what
had always been to him the flower of the
parish But, when he began to speak,
Cornelia began to laugh. Philip, holdin g
the doll in his arms like a baby, and try
ing to look sentimental was too much for
her Then he put Miranda under his
arm, like a stick; but still Cornelia
laughed.
A few moments later Miranda was lying g
on the dewy grass, her blue eyes staring
at the solemn stars. Philip and Corndia
- But starlight is an indefinite light, apt
to deceive people: otherwise it might
have been affirmed that-nO, nothing.
1t is a fact, or several facts, however,
that Miranda spent the whole night on
her grassy bed, studying astronomy; that
when Cornela came home, rather later
than Arabella, there was upon her happy
face look of such intense innocence,
that Arabelia understood it at once.
Miss Arabella was sitting in her own
room, in the dark, when Cornelia came
in, and, putting her arms around her, gave
her a kiss. For a little while they did
not speak; then the elder sister said, Il
am very glad, my dear, and | shall be
more glad every day; but must get over
my mourning first"
Cornelia began to mourn, too, on hear
ing this. But presently she frightened
up, and began to show reasons why they
would have had to part even If she had
remained at the parsonage.
"Neverm said Arabella with energy.
II do not blame you, Cornelia; indeed, |
think you have done perfectly right. But
for me it would be utterly impossible. |
disapprove of second marriages"
Impudent little Cornela ventured to
think that perhaps it was first mar
riages to which her sister objected; but
she only said, Father and mother would
be pleased"
YES" answered Arabella hotly, II see
it all, my dear am not blind And it is
grief and a sorrow to me, that a woman
at my time Of life, a woman of sound
mind and delicate feelings, should be ex-
pected by her whole family to jump down
a mans throat | do not understand it."
If Miss Arabella had reflected a little,
she would have know that her whole fam
lily would have been much distressed at
seeing her jump down mans throat, and
that Mr.. Brinsley himself might have OBJ
jected to that form of devotion; but she
was too much excited to reflect
You know said Cornelia soothingly,
that it is not as if he were stranger
you have known him so long
THAT has nothing to do with it, my
dear, and, if you please, we will not speak
of it again
yet some one must have spoken of it
again; for it was soon rumored that Mr..
Brinsley had accepted the call from South
Parish, and that the parsonage was to be
fitted up to suit Miss Arabella's taste.
And any one who might have happened
to be listening at the study-door on GER
tain afternoon would have heard Arabella
bnrca1f COW .GNVbapayar Won think hest y