Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-04-04

and Alice's mother, YOU know, was
her favorite niece. l am sure she
would be gratified at visit from us.
| Indeed, now that we speak of it, |
and the girls may as well run up to
Copley Farm for a day or two. What
do you say, girls?'
Let US go, aunt, by all means"
was Alice's quick reply. II should
like to see my mothers aunt; and you
know it is lovely in the country at
this season.
Isabel shrugged her fair shoulders,
but prudently said nothing; and on
the following day the three ladies were
at the quiet, old-fashioned little farm
| house, some twenty miles from the city.
| It must necessarily be brief visit,
| for Charlie was expected home-Mrs.
! Sutton had not said a word, except to
her daughter, about expecting Mr..
Warrington--and So after day and a
! night at the old farmhouse, they were
| prepared to return to the city.
+" 1t seems pity to leave the poor
old lady 50 soon," said Mrs. Sutton.
"She is so infrm, and that house
keeper of hers is not, | suspect, over
attentive to her comfort. Then she
seems so fond of you, Alice, and en-
joyed so much your reading to her. |
wish that one Of you girls could re-
main longer; am sure it would be a
comfort to the poor old lady"
! Alice needed no persuasion. She
was bind-hearted, amiable girl, and
her sympathies had been enlisted for
this lonely, iniirm old lady, her moth
err s aunt, who seemed so forgotten and
alone in the world. Her own mother
had been Of very delicate health, and
the young girl, accustomed to attend
upon her, had learned many little ways
of nursing and comforting the sick,
and making dainty little dishes to
tempt a feeble appetite. Then she
could read to Aunt Curtis in the sweet,
low voice that had been such a comfort
to her mother, and she felt also, what
the old lady had said, that 1.-The very
sight of bright young face in the ST.
lent house was as cheering as a ray of
sunshine on cloudy day"
SO Alice remained at Copley Farm,
while her aunt and cousin, rejoicing at
the success of their innocent little
scheme. returned to the city to well
come Charlie and his friend.
Ii was a disappointment to find that
Charlie had arrived without his friend
Mr.. Warrington. That gentleman, it
appeared, had had previous engage
ment to spend a few days with a rela-
tive, whom they found awaiting them
upon the steamers arrival; but he
would make his appearance in a week
or so, and meantime Mrs. Sutton
wrote to Alice that she could remain
at Copley until Charlie and Isabel went
up for her
Alice had no objection. She was
greatly enjoying her visit to the farm.
1t was the first of October, when the
country is most beautiful with a lin
gering of summer glory mingling with
the deepening lines of autumn.
She was an imprisoned lover Of ma
ture, and yet, clty-bred. had never be-
fore seen nature in this glorious reve-
lation of autumnal beauty, and it
uawned upon her like the reading of
some new and beautiful poem.
strange that there are people con-
tent to live in the city, when the coun-
try is so beautiful" she thought. one
evening, as, standing knee-deep in
ferns, beneath canopy of Grim
son and gold foliage, She gazcd in
dreamy delight over tie lovely scene
before her.
\ ruStllng in ncighboring thicker
startled her. There was a sudden
shot, a whirring past of a brood Of
partridges, and the next moment q
dog rushed forth, deliberately fol-
lowed by a gentleman in gray shoot
ing dress.
IS his eye fell upon the Young girl
standing IN n graceful, half-startled
manner he lf,ed his cap courteouslv.
" hope that have not alarmed
! YOU he said II should not have
fired had | known that a lady was
near"
The dog bounded back with dead
partridge, which he dropped at his mas
tcr'S feet
Alice took it up gently.
Poor little thing, 1t was cruel
To XIII it" she said, pityingly, As She
lifted her brown eyes. spfteued with
/ tender compassion. TO the face OF the
stranger
He Smiled-a curious smile. in
which appeared both interest and
amusement.
" THU lam sorry that should have
killed IL, and, in penancc viii not fire
( another shot to-day"
Il have no right 10 require that sac
/ ritice OF You. she answered, shyly. us
she turned away.
! But he again addressed her:
lit appears that cur PATHWAYS lie
] I'm TIM SAmLn NErLLLiNn II ,n,. ~.