Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-02-26

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! | followed at once.
1--WE reached the room by two flights
| Ct stairs. At the door the waiter paused
Thought he said twenty-nine,' he NUT
| tered, The key is twenty-one.'
"1hen open twenty-one with it." |
said; 4 don't care for the number of the
room
"'No sir-to be sure, sir said the
waiter, and passed along few steps fur
ther
"'Twenty he said, and, unlocking
a door, pushed it open.
"'Shalf l bring you anything, sir he
said.
II answered No, and he left me, hav-
ing put the candle on my bureau.
THE hour had come. AS | shut the
door, heavy sigh escaped me. Alas!
that life had become SO woful thing to
me that l should desire to be rid of it.
an the dim light of my one candle, |
paced the floor, and thought bitterly of
the girl loved so dearly.
at was in the days of curtained beds.
The bed in this room was hang with dark
chintz; so were the windows. Over the
bureau was looking glass, with por-
trait OF lady in pulled sleeves and high
comb, at the top, by way of ornament.
There were four stuffed chairs, and a
brass shovel and tongs stood guard beside
the CRATE. | fancied myself lying dead
on the bed amidst all these belongings,
and felt sorry for myself Then l took
my pistols from my portmanteau, and,
leaving the door unlocked-for why
should put the landlord to the trouble
of breaking it open-I lay down on the
bed, drew the curtains, took a pistol in
each hand, and, as true as now speak to
you had the muzzle of each to a temple,
when some one opened the door, and
There now, JESSIE said a voice, Il told
you you didn't lock it,
az did, said another voice, and sent
the key to the office by the chamber
maid
81 laid the pistols down, and peeped
through the curtains. There were two
ladies in the room. One an old lady in
brown front of false curls, the other my
cruel lady-love, Jessie Grey. For a
moment fancied | must be dreaming.
"'Sure it's the right number ?" asked
Jessie
"'Twenty -one-yes,' said the other
And here's my handbook. Oh, dear Pm
sleepy.
az am not said Jessie. 'Iwish was,
aunt
"You didn't sleep wink last night
said the aunt Nor you haven't eaten
your meals to-day. You'll go into de-
cline if you go on that way. I'll see DR..
Black about you tomorrow.
/ don't want Dr. Black to be Called
signed Jessie. I'D rather die
"'What's the matter?' cried the old
lady. You are not yourself. You don't
eat or sleep, and cry perpetually. What
a IS your?
"I'm miserable,' said Jessie.
"'Why?' cried her aunt
"Oh, aunt said Jessie, its all your
fault You told me over and over again
that girl must never jump at an offer;
that man must be refused at least once
or he'd not value a girl. And liked him
so! And, oh, he liked me! Ana when
he asked me | felt so glad! But | re-
membered what you said, and oh, how
could do it'll said, oh, dear, nor and
he left me without a word. And Pm so
ry!-oh, so sorry!-because l loved
him, aunt
"You little gooser cried the old lady
Gas for me, you can fancy how felt.
had no thought of suicide now. My de
sire was to live and ask that question OF
mine over again. | pocketed my pistols,
and crept down on the other side Of the
bed. stepped TOWARD the bureau and
blew out the candle. The faint red light
of the fire was still in the room. AS |
dashed out at the door | heard two female
screams, but escaped in safety.
81 met the waiter on the stairs.
"'Found out the mistake, sir he said.
Just coming to rectify it,
Don't mention it," said. I'm very
glad-that is, it don't matter Here is
something for your trouble l gave him
five dollar bill.
ale said, Il thank we, sir;' but l saw
that he thought me crazy. He was con
tirmed in his opinion when, as | passed
to the door of my own room, | cried:
"'Heaven bless twenty-onel It's lucky
numberm
"But | never was saner than | was then,
and never half SO happy.
"Of course, | proposed to Jessie the
very next day, and | need not tell you
that her answer was not ooh, dear, no.
and that's why call twenty-one my
lucky number
The Bully.