Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-09-09

rough outside. 1t isn't the ruddiest apple
| in the orchard that's the best, Nelly
| There's many better one with a rough
| skin, that's better tasted and firm and
sound, where your handsome, streaky
| fruits bitter, mealy and rotten at the core"
| couldn't help it now. | burst into
| tears.
Has Nop Murray said anything to you,
| iassie?"
mo, uncle" I said angrily; :" and if
he did, l -"
Should say no to him-eh, lassie?"
| "Yes, uncle of course | exclaimed :
but all the same my heart kept beating
strangely
I'm plain, blunt man, my dear" he
said :" and tell you IN sorry for it. Oliver
| Murray's a staunch, true man, well-to-do,
| and as open and honest as the day. Has
Fleming said anything to your
| didn't answer. ! Couldn't was
choking
"Silence gives consent" he said quiet
ly. "Well, my dear, ii must come, | sup
| pose, some day; but don't hurry, my child
don't hurry. | won't t.wart you in your
wishes, but if must lose you some day
should like to feel that you'd gone to
happy home"
l hardly know what followed only that
threw my arms round his neck and was
sobbing on the honest, broad old breast,
where | had so often cried myself to sleep
when first he fetched me, "A poor, trem-
bling little orphan, years before, to his own
widowed home, where he had shared his
| love between me and his one child Cousin
| Philip, ever since. | know | sobbed and
cried as if my heart would break, as told
| hun again and again that ] loved no one
but Philip and him, and that | never
| never wished to go away from the dear old
mill.
was in the midst of one of my most
| passionate protestations when some one
cried;
"Halloo! what's the matter?n
| turned hastily away, for there was
| Philip, with his fresh, young, eager face
and wide-open eyes at the door, fastening
! his pony's bride to the ring, while he
came in to fetch his sandwiches and the
pufis which had made for iim to take to
school.
"Halloor' he said again, whats the
matter; has Cousin Nelly cut herself?"
Here" said uncle grutfly, "you take
your dinner, sir, and be off You'll be
| late"
ooh, no, l shan't, father" cried the
boy.
"Then you'll be galloping the pony all
the way, you dog" said uncle. " Now
look here Phil, you're about going mad
over that pony. You cantered across the
low meadow last night"
Yes, father" said the boy, hanging
his head
and you got jumping the ditch--nsw
don't deny it, sir; there are the hoot-
marks in the soft turf"
81 wasn't going to deny it, father" said
the boy, frankly. 1t was only little
ditch, and Jack Sanders said | couldn't"
"Oh!' said uncle, sharply; but know
| he looked pleased the while; land SO
then if Jack Sanders or any other chuckle-
headed fellow dares you to do anything
you're to break your neck, Ell? Now be
of to school"
"All right, father,n cried the boy; and
the minute after there was a trampling of
the pony's hoofs outside, and with my
eyes now dried | walked with uncle round
to the front of the mill cottage, where we
stood at the gate as, bright, happy, and
eager in the sunny morning, the boy can
tered along and dashed down to where
the glistening river ran bubbling over the
pebbly ford.
/" Look at that young dogm cried uncle,
GROSSLY, but with a smile on his face, as
Phil. drummed the ponys side with his
heels and galloped through the water,
sending il splashing, flying and sparkling
in every direction.
! smiled up in uncle's face, and we
went back into the house together, the
pretty old place standing in its beautiful
garden, with the busy water-mll and the
wooden bridge about fifty yards away,
while the bright little river ran noisily
along its bed, after turning the great,
FLASHING wheel; and all round the great,
high, Derbyshire hills shut us in from
every blast
Don't be in hurry, my child" uncle
said seriously, as he kissed my forehead.
And now for business-Why, haloon' he
said, tapping the barometer, chow the
glass is going down. Rain, my dear, and
lots of it before long. Well, the rivers
very low"
He went out then, and tried to be busy
over the household affairs, but somehow |
couldn't keep my thoughts off uncle's
words; and when once caught glimpse
Of myself in the glass, it was to see that
my cheeks were red as fire.
At last ! was sitting in the little parlor,
working by the open window, feeling
more at peace. when ! heard footsteps
which set my heart to beating furiously,
and, minute after, there was a tap at the
door and John Fleming came in after our
homely neighborly style.
An, Miss Wilmot" he said, I've
Just come back from the town. | thought
Mr. Wilmot would Ike to see the paper.
Isn't he heres"
Now, as John Fleming stood there,
flushed with exercise, fine, handsome,