Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-07-18

had taken me, fair damsel, captive.
and was about 10 compel me to be your
wife. | lived for days on the meanest
diet. to keep up the idea that the knight
was starving me into submission. OF
course | rejected all intercourse with
my captor, and even threw my glove in
his face. Did ! not act the part of the
heroine well?' she asked. gleefullv.
But" continued Kate, grew tired
Of it, and SO, with the elasticity with
which we can use our Imagination.
transformed YOU into another brave
knight, crst my true lover, who rescued
me from my Imprisonment, killed my
captor and took me home to my faith
ers palace. But now my romance saws
that the king, my royal father, has
another husband in store for me and
so, my dear colonel, that it may have a
fitting finale, suppose we astonish that
stern and overbearing parent of mine,
and have an elopementg
This proposal was rather too much for
even the colonel to believe, and he really
rubbed his eyes TO see whether he was
dreaming or not. At this Kate laughed
heartily, and again began -
"Oh, won't it be 50 novel to run of.
and be married the day before the set
time, and then send message To dear
pa to forgive his erring children-that
we won't do so again--although it will
be too bad to 90 off for SO long tour
without his blessing
The colonel had. by this time, over
come his astonishmcnt, and eagerly ac-
quiesced in her proposal, only wonder
ing what would be the next freak of this
changeabe bride of his.
Well, but where are we going to be
tied-Gretna Green?' he inquired
80, you naughty boy p answered
Kate tapping him lightly with her fan.
" How dare You say ticd2 | don't like
that word bit But, on won't we be
happy" She cried, dancing merrily
around the room. And Gerald, |
know the prettiest little place to go to,
away down in Westmorehnd-a sweet
little church | went to when down there
visiting Aunt Rachel Nobody knows
me, however, in it-aunte being high
church-so we can take the train in the
morning, get there in the afternoon, and
the whole ceremony be over before pa
gets his wits together Oh, won't It be
niceY'
What a precious schemer YOU are,
little wife " answered the colonel, adj
miringy, really astonished at the girls
audacity.
Do you think so, Gerald dear? Oh,
those are not half my schemes ~
"More yct?' said the colonel.
"Oh, yes You'll find there's more
yet.
'Well, he answered. II onl, hope
they may be rs full of happiness to me
Us this"
Il hope SO, said Kate.
OF course it rather astonished Mr..
Warren and his neighbors to hear that
Kate and Darcy had cloped; but when
she wrote him loving letter explaining
all, he was perfectly satisfied
1t was about year after this when
Frank Seyton arrived home at Seyton-
vile, and it was not long before he was
made acquainted with all the country
gossi p about the matter. Frank looked
older considerably, and handsomer, and
as he had realized far beyond his ex-
pectations on the continent-indced re-
turned wcalthy-he was considered
quite prize now to matchmaking
mothers and their daughters. But it
was a sad fact to these wcll-mcaning fc-
males that he very seldom came to their
entertainments, and, when there, seemed
to be very needless of the charms Of the
young ladies. Indeed, he came to be
set down as q confirmed woman-hater,
and this verdict, in his present state of
mind, was not far off the mark. He
had scarcely been home three months
before he heard that Mr. Warrens
daughter had returned home, that the
colonel had deserted her, and that she
would be present at Mrs. Wallace's ball
the next week. Now Frank had re-
ceived an invitation to this ball, and had
just prepared an answer, pleading "A
prior engagement, or some other polite
fiction, when he heard this. Tearing it
up instantly, he substituted one of ac-
ccptance, resolved at least to get one
more glance at the only lady of his love.
ht' oeStOll, MISS W aiIen, salu MIS-.
Wallace, introducing the pair on the
evening Of the ball, not being cognizant
of their past intimacy.
Miss Warren" repeated Frank, in n
rather incredulous manner.
YES, Frank; did you never hear the
name before?' said blushing Kate, in
her old audacious style.
Il understood that it was Mrs Darcy
now. Then why this CHANGE said
Frank, grayely.
Then you were misinformed.
What, Kate did you not clope with
the colonel?' inquired Frank, eagerly.
Eyes" answered Kate.
..'Ilnn,, ,,.lnt Ia 80, ,,nn,, ~