Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-06-13


Ideal OF "A grand man: now she saw him
rs he really was. She thought of the
time when, in her simplicity and igno-
rance. she had told Steve Flemming to
90 back to his muSty old books until
ne could tell gentleman when he saw
him. and felt her face burn as she
real2ed that she was the yerdant one,
instead of Steve. Then she thought
OF his mysterious disappearance, but
she had never believed The current Ie-
port of his being Snowman. The old
sea Captain. Steve's uncle. had died:
the Flemming place had passed into the
hands of strangers; and the very name
OF the family had almost gone from the
minds of the few who had once known
them. Then she wondered if that
would be all her life would amount to
n mere existence, a passing away
and being forgotten. So it was long
after midnight before she closed her
eyes. and when she did sleep it was for
such short time that it seemed to do
her no good
She arose next morning about as
tired as when she went to bed. Her
home duties We're performed rather
mechanically, and it was with listess
indifference she heard her mother an
nounce the fact That there ought to be
some pies baked. The first thing on
the programme was a pumpkin, which
she told Kitty to get. Al she started
off with none Of her usual energy and
vim her mother remarked: Pears
like that gal is gittin' rather down in
the mouth guess III have to give her
some boneset tea or liver pills" The
old cat, curled up in the chimney
corner, winked and blinked wisely, AS,
though she was fully convinced that
boneset could drive away the blues,
and that dependency, like indigestion,
could be remedied by physic.
Kitty had just selected a pumpkin
and turned to go into the house, when,
TO her surprise. she saw the dignitied
stranger put his hand on the low fence
and leap lightly over. Surprise changed
To absolute bewilderment as he raised
his hat, made profound bow, and
said: "Stnpld Steve Flemming, at
your service" The pumpkin dropped
from her arms, fell on stone and
cracked in two, but lay UNDECIDED ON
the ground, as the poor girl blushed
and stammered, saying nothing more
ineligible than succession OF vowel
sounds, such as Ga. Why y"
"Oh. yes; know YOU thought ran
away with that circus, but didn't
though. | complied Ii orally with
your request that should go back to-
my books until | learned to know a
gentleman when | saw him. Now, as
a sort of reward of merit, think,
upon consideration of my good con
duet, you might allow me to carry this
pumpkin into the house"
Forthwith he proceeded to the house,
followed by the amazed Kitty Asio
Kitty's mother, that good woman was
struck dumb with establishment when
she found out who he was, and fran
tically shook his whole arm instead OF
his hand, which proceeding covered
his broadcloth with flour, thereby
horrifying the poor old soul beyond
measure.
After her excitement had somewhat
abated, Steve explained to her how, in
"A course Of five years hard study, he
had gone through college But these
years had not been devoted to study
only, "A portion having been given his
pen. SC that by the time We graduated
he was pretty well established as an
author. Then his uncle died, leaving
all his property to Steve, because, ~
the old gentleman expressed It,, The
boy had grit" With this money he
was enabled to 90 through u law
school; he had also specuated quite
successfully, but during all these years,
he assured her, he had never forgotten
her kindness to HIM in his time OF
trouble
This assertion delighted the kind
hearted old lady so much that, Ms she
afterward remarked To "A neighbor.
II was SO glad to see the poor child
once more. that told Kitty just felt
like takin' my Sunday go-to-meetn'
bonnet and stompin' on ill.," How
ever. by violent effort she succeeded
in controlling her feelings enough to
prevent the sacrifice Of hen best bon
net.
All the words in the latest edition
of Webster's Unabridged Diction-
ary' could never convey TO the mind
Of mortal. man one-half the nhprtltica-
ton Kitty felt, as She remembered
how far below herself she once con-
sider.d Stupid Steve, and realized that
now she WAS far more infefi@r to him
than he had ever been to her. But
her embarrassment wore OIL rs she be-
came more acquainted with hlm. Then,
too, it was positive pleasare to be in
his company, for hs. had cultivated the
rare power Of expressing himself 50
that one could know an1 feel his very
thoughts. As nesril. when kitty
spent an evening with him, sine ielt