Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-03-13

did so.
Ishould have liked to box her ears,
and his too, for that matter, but / didn't
of course not sauntered about with
Ned Parker, and looked up into his
face "a though every moment / discov-
cred some new beauty in it; and when
Meta babe me goodnight (Anthony
could find no excuse for offering to walk
home with her, her brother Dick being
there) | kissed her and hoped she had
enjoyed herself.
"Oh! very much-very. very much
indeed" said she, flinging look which
she meant to be tender, but it wasn't
she has big, black, shallow eyes-at
Anthony. Il never enjoyed myself 80
much"
But as soon rs the garden gate closed
behind them l took my engagement
ring from my finger and flung it upon
the ground, and actually-Tm asham-
ed to tell it, but l did-made my hand
into fist and shook it at my promised
husband. What would mamma, the
dear, meek darlir 81 don't get my
temper from her-have said if she had
seen me?
As for Anthony, he wasn't the least
bit frightened, but caught the fist and
shut it up in his strong hand like some.
thing in box.
II hate your I cried. Nobody ever
treated me so before"
"But how many have you treated
SOP" he asked, with a smile; and !
couldn't help thinking how handsome
he looked in the silver moonlight.
Everybody has always done what
ever want them to do" l went on,
stamping my foot.
And consequently spoiled you,''
said he.
"What did you love me for, if Pm
not-not nice?"
Because | knew the moment l saw
you, you wee thing, you were my fate.
| thought you were nice then, and
wanted to take you in my arms the
moment you smiled at me-"
And now"
"And now think YOU bad-temper-
ed, selfish, wilful, unreasonable little
girl"
" Indeed" and l wrenched my hand
away, but not before he had kissed it
with the most provoking GOODNESS.
"Then Wen part, unless you change
your opinion Immediately, and promise
never to speak to Meta Brooke, again. "
II shall make no such silly promise,
Barbara"
Good gracious the idea of his calling
me Barbara
II have promised to drive her to the
depot Tomorrow"
:" You return to the city together"
We return by the same train, rs we
have done dozen times before"
Co." said /, almost beside myself
with rage. never want to see You
again.
:" Are you sure, Barbara he asked
"quite sure? think you had better
wait for day or two before you ban
ish me. If by the day after tomorrow
your birthbay-you still hate me,
send me word to that effect. and l will,
the moment your note is read, accept a
position offered me this morning. and
start for q home beyond thesea. Good
night Miss Darling"
Goodnight, Mr.. Ditto"
And he strobe away up the road, and
| picked up my ring and stole into the
house, and cried rs though nv heart
would break. 1t was so cruel of him
to be unkind to poor little thing like
me.
The next morning, as l sat on the
front porch darning the children's stock.
ings-dear me it seems to me every
time stocking-darning time comes
around that there never could be an.
other family with so many legs as ours
Anthony drove past with Meta Brooke
at his side.
l hid behind the stocking basket un-
til they were out of sight, and then l
flew to my desk and wrote as bitter a
note as a W )man twice my size could
have written, and sent it to the village
postotfice that very evening by our IT
tie servantmaid.
Our little servant-maid is a pretty lit
tie maid with large honest gray eyes, a
small red mouth, bright chestnut hair,
a pleasant smile, reat plump figure,
and II remarkably cheerful disposition.
And a clever little maid she is, too-can
wash and iron and cook and do a hun
dred other things: but she possesses
one taste which interferes sadly with
the performance of her domestic duties
the most insatiate hunger for litera-
ture, which she gratifies whenever she
finds an opportunity, in season or out
OF season, morn, noon, or night.
Potatoes and stews are burned, bread,
cakes. and pies baked to cinders, doors
left open all night, breakfast delayed,
lunches forgotten, dinner served too
early or late-all on account of this love
OF reading which characterizes our little