Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-12-18

upon which all our hopes and conf
dence had gradually concentrated, and
if that were lost we had nothing more
to lose nothing but blank despair To-
encounter, which we burst not antici-
pate.
The lawyer who, at this time. con-
Quoted our suit, was an old friend of my
fathers, successful, rich, Independent
and surly; and, as he had taken the
case more from friendly than pecuniary
motives, did not attemptto disguise the
truth and probabilities from me; but /
could not, would not, look forward to
anything but triumph, and chose rather
to regard his discouraging tone as one
of the means he employed to enhance
the value of his service in achieving
success. He was a good man st heart,
that old lawyer, and his penetration
was wonderful: but he was not apt to
spoil his medicine by Overwhelming
1t, and my pampered palate rebeled
not little against IT'S disgusting but
wholesome bitterness.
| had a long hunt after an important
female witness, whom found at last in
a garnet, dying of consumption, And
whom should | find, sitting like min
lsterlng angel at her bedside, but the
beautiful black-eyed lady whom / had
recently met, the champion of the little
abandoned orphan girl
sit Is in such pla ces as this, where a
good angel Is more needed, and not in
the circle of gayety and fashion, that |
must seek you, | see," exclaimed /,
gazing upon her with irrepressible ad-
mlratlOn.
The lady blushed deeply; and, as soon
as she had recovered from her momen-
tary confusion, observed quietly that
she was simply performing a duty to
which an old friend Of her mothers was
fully entitled
While obtaining the deposition of her
patient, had several opportunities of
conversing with this excellent beauty,
and her modest elegance and graceful
ease captivated my soul.
One evening | was permitted to ac-
company her in search of an omnibus,
and, as | had resolved to express my
sentiments freely to her on the first
available occasion, | was, as is usual in
such cases, much embarrassed when it
presented itself.
Your patient is dying, fear"
" She Is conscious OF the APP roach of
her delverance: and as such she re-
CARDS it."
at is an angels Office you fill in
soothing her path to the grave"
" DO not ilatter me sir. 1t is but lit
tie | can do, and hattery seems to me to
make that little less than nothing"
" | assure you / express my admira-
ton in most stinted terms; were | to
tell you all think and feel | might in
deed surprise YOU"
Then let me entreat YOUR forbear-
ance."
" 1t is unkind. not to say harsh, in
you to forbid the utterance of heart
Sc sincere and full as mine
" 1t is my kindness and my consider
alton for you that induce me to check
this excessive laudation, because |
know you will repent it."
g Impossible! not only admire you
more than any being | ever saw, but
feel that You are worthy Of my worship,
and that | love YOU"
Say no more, | entreat. If you
knew who and what | am yon would
repent the folly of which you are gull
ty You tell me you are unfortunate
and unhappy; pity you-but there is
a gulf between us, and you would only
render yourself more wretched by at
tempting, blindly and rashly, to cross it.
Are you married.
" Do not ask. Here let our acquain-
lance cease. You have no more occa-
sion to visit my pationt, and you surely
would not deprive her of the presence
of her last remaining friend, as you will
do, if you persist in intruding upon her.
Here then let us part, and forever"
She stopped a stage, allowed me to
help her into it, and left me in misery
and gloom. She had crossed my dark
path, like n heavenly apparition, and
her disappearance rendered everything
about me hopeless and dreary as des-
pair