Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-09-09
MY HERO.
BY ]. MANViLLE FEM.

IL shall build the wall, Nelly"
why, uncle dear | said, how
| changeable you are. 1t was only yester-
day you told me you had given it up al
agether.n
Yes, had yesterday, Nelly; but I've
altered my mind to-day. | shall build the
wall and carry it right round the house,
and have high gates, and a big key to lock
en- up, and keep it in my pocket"
Why, whatever for?n | said, laughing.
Because" he answered, as he put his
! arm around me and began stroking my
| hair in his dear old loving way-only it
! does tumble it So" because it's quite
|time; else shall come home one of these
|days and find it amt home any longer, as
some of these fellows have carried off my
little housekeeper.
ooh, uncler' | said, turning all hot and
red, as | bent down cutting Pills sand
wiches; how can you talk such foolish
ness"
"'Tain't foolishness, my little lassie,"
he said, watching me very hard; its ma
mc, Nell. Murray put it to me plump
and plain yesterday-spoke right out"
What about, uncle?n | said, feeling
hotter and quite angry.
What about, pussy!n he said, chuck.
| ng, "Of course, you don't know.
| Told me like a man he loved you, and
said he thought he ought to tell me so;
for if he didn't he felt as if he came TO the
mill under false pretenses. Ila, la, ha"
I'm sure, uncle" | cried angrily, II
never gave Mr.. Oliver Murray the least
encouragement. Oh! don't, uncle, you're
coming off all tioury on my dress
ITO be sure | am, Nelly" he said,
laughing, same as | have hundreds of
times, like a jolly miller should And so
| you've never given him any encourage
nent ehY"
Never, uncle" / cried, Indignantly;
and in spite of all | could do the tears
would gather in my eyes, and one fell pat
On the bread and butter between which |
| WAS laying slices of meat
Why, You wicked young fibster,' he
cried, laughing; every look out Of those
eyes Is an agement-every wave of
! that sunny brown hair; there's an encour
aging dimple in that cheek, another in
that and one in your chin. Why pussy
pussy, you are a wicked little encourage
ment to all the young men for miles round
| IRON top to toe-and don't wonder at
psson saying what he did"
What did Mr.. Wilson saw" | cried
eagerly, for ! loved our dear, gentle old
clergyman, and many time had been
round with him in his visits TO the sick
and aged in the village, where his beneyo.
ent lace and silvered head were always
. Welcome.
What did he say?n laughed uncle,
pacing his great hand under my chin and
'oNng me full in the face; "why, that
We should forbid you the church-have
you locked out, because the lads were all
Na!Ing at you instead of listening to his
sermon"
it, all nonsense" | said angrilv, for
m sure | never thought was nice-look.
"t-, anu what uncle said seemedto trouble
le
It's all nonsense, too, about John
'"mng, | suppose said my uncle,
aa.gAing me very narrowly. Wonder
how fond that chaps got of me latelyr'
Has he, uncleY ! said, bending over
4a sandwiches.
las her Yes. he has; be calls when.
wy De S going into the town to scott he
W N' anything for me; calls of an even.
..5 20 ask how the horses are; calls oE a
nl1- to tell me the price of wheat
him, he's always calling, he's 50
y. OF me-eh, Nelly: You've seen it,
wen YOU"
70. ---!ve-I think I've seen that Mr..
'..'l1G does come very often, uncle" |
ANA | know my neck grew scarlet as
- The sandwiches up in little packet
... though | tried 50 hard ] kept getting
.s Dantlsed-the more 20 that / knew
,-Hsle was watching me narrowly.
les he said drily, i should think