Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-03-05
Bar was in fair way of being totally sub.

| when the trustees heard OF the affair,
they UNANIMOUSLY commended the school.
masters pluck.
II tell you what, boys" said Perkins to
a crowd who were earnestly engaged at a
game of old sledge in his bar.room, chat
Houghton knows thing or two about
managing boys. He'll fix 'em off, or my
names not Perkins"
Houghton was Hospitality treated by
/ the folks at Russian Bar. They felt him
to be man of refinement, but brought
! down in the world, but showing no often
sive superiority in his intercourse with
| them. The doctors wife pronounced
| him to be the best New Yorker she had
| ever met, and the gossips insinuated that
| Mrs. Blunt, the widow, was setting her
cap for him. Seymour and Walker
were the best and most industrious pupils
the young master had and were happy
when accompanying him on his fishing
excursions. In fact they all agreed in de-
claring that the educational department
in the village was thriving success.
Gypsey Lane, the daughter of leading
man in Russian Bar, and made wealthy
by a saw mill, which all day long groaned
and screamed some distance down the
river, did not express her opinion as to
evenings when the schoolmaster, rod in
hand, wandered along the stream and
threw his line across the mill-dam, Gyp-
sey was seldom far away. Lane, bluff,
hearty old fellow, frequently asked
Houghton to spend the evening with
him, and told his adventures in early Cal
ifornia to patient listener, while Gypsey
dutifully mended her fathers socks on
the verandah.
Mrs. Lane, when Gypsey was but
baby, was laid to rest in Lone Mountain,
long before Lane ever thought of settling
at Russian Bar.
One pleasant evening in June Gypsey
Lane, twirling her straw hat, thoughttully
picked her way across the broad field that
lay between her house and the mill. The
stream was a winding one, and as she
placed her tiny foot on the first stepping
stone she saw a straw hat on the grass
which she knew well.
"How is Miss Lane this EVENING"" said
Houghton, lazily, from beneath Man
zanita bush, where he had been enjoying
a book and pipe.
"Well, thank you. How is Mr.. Hough-
ton ~ replied Gypsey, shyly.
"Warm, but not uncomfortable. Are
you going to the mill?"
Eyes, have letter that just came for
father"
MAY | accompany youy"
Certainly, if you choose"
Houghton put on his hat and helped
Gypsey across the brook.
II had letter from New York a few
days ago" said he, after they had left the
first bend of the river behind.
"a pleasant Onep'
"Well although IN some sense it brought
good news, still | can hardly call il a
pleasant letter"
They walked on and Gypsey swung her
hat pensively, longing, with a woman's
curiosity, to hear more about the New
York letter.
81 am going to leave Russian Bar"
said Houghton, abruptly.
Indeed, how soonY"
II don't know yet; possibly within a
week"
The hat was swayed from side to side
with increased energy.
"Do you care much, Miss Lane?" This
with an earnest look into the hazel eyes
that were kept steadily benton the brown,
parched grass beneath their feet
Eyes, of course we shall all be very
sorry to lose YOU" returned Gypsey, evas-
lively.
"if l come back in few months with
something for my future wife, shall see
this ring on her finger?" whispered
Houghton, capturing the little hand that
held the hat, and slipping pearl ring on
the delicate finger.
Gypsey said nothing, but her eyes
turned for a moment on the schoolmaster's
earnest face, and in the next her soft
cheek was resting on his shoulder.
Russian Bar, to man, turned out to
wish Philip Houghton God-speed on the
morning he took his place by the driver
who one year before had set him down at
Perkins Hotel They knew he was on
his way to New York and that he had
been left some money, and the gossips
more than suspected that there was some
thing between Gypsey Lane and their
favorite. AT all events, her eyes were red
for week after his departure.
Winter had come and the river was
swollen and rapid, and many a lofty tree
| from the pine forest had found its way to
the hearths of Russian Bar. One delicious
morning, crisp aud cold, after a nights
rain, the stage passed by the large white
oak, and, splashed with mud, halted be-
fore Perkins Hotel. 1t had been all
night on the way, for the roads were very
heavy
The worthy proprietor of that excellent
house was in the act of tossing his first
| cocktail, when hearty hand was laid
on his shoulder, and Philip Hough,on
| shouted
perkins, old boy, how are you"
| The landlord returned the shake hands,
Owed behind the bar and had a second
cocktail mixed in moment. "And
now" said he, as he pledged the ex'
schoolmaster, "when will the wedding
| take placer"