Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-08-14
will be nearly double when you are

|OUO ats the close OF my minority!
Would to heaven had known it ear
lier!" sajvsb4..h 6s I..a- ie,s
Don't get excited, beg Of you,
Betsy!" commenced Mrs. Smith in her
smooth, slow way. ave thought it
best for your interests to suppress this
fact until there was necessity of your
knowing it. Being placed in my charge
l felt it my duty to give you thorough
domestic training, such as every young
woman ought TO have before she is
fitted for the responsibilities of mature
life." tn A.
"You are certainly entitled to my
gratitude, Mrs. Smith since in strictly
performing your duty by me you have
utterly neglected the domestic educa-
ton Of your own daughter"
"But with Lizzie's delicate constitu-
ton could not"
had not patience to listen further,
and turned abruptly away.
Have you no congratulations for
me?' asked Mr.. Graham.
=" An infinity of them, all struggling
for utterance. But Lizzie. now tn ut
you find yourself so rich, you will, of
course, wish TO return me that shilling.
l cannot deny feeling particularly anxi-
Gus 10 repossess it,"
"And l am fully as anxious to keep
it. earned it, remember, and i, is
unquestionably my property"
But want it fore a keepsake"
So do l, Mr.. Graham"
Bending over my chair, he spoke in
quick low tone:
Let us share it, Lizzie; will you
break the coin with me?'
Possibly l may. But shall insist
upon the biggest piece. You know
when people unexpectedly come into
possession of property they sometimes
grow terribly avaricious. l am. one of
that class"
What will you do with your &c.
Co.,"
donate good portion to advance
humane cause. That means to ameli-
crate the condition of orphan girls
under course of thorough domestic
training"
How keenly resentful!"
"Yes, just at this moment; but shall
grow calm, perhaps forgiving, by.and-
by. Now l am excited, angry, pleased
and, as verify think, half crazed. l
will betake myself to my room before
any sudden outbreak shocks the sensi-
bilities Of his exemplary family. Good
night, Mr.. Graham"
GOOD night, and suspicious dreams
to you. Remember the shilling, Lizzie.
You have promised to return me a
mOiety."
All that long night lay awake, a
constant rush ofthought surging through
my brain. Joy in my newly found
riches, resentment at the reception of
my guardians, pleasure in the renewal
of Weld Graham's friendship, all in
turn agitated my mind. l thought also
with regret and anger, how unfit was
for the higher station which my fortune
entitled me to fill. My education was
limited to the more common branches
of study. / had neither accomplish
ments nor requisite knowledge Of the
proprieties and refinements that belong
to cultivated society. Conscious of
roughness and idiosyncrasy in my
mental constitution, l feared at this late
day no polishing could smooth the
rough points and adapt my character to
a higher social position.
Mr.. Graham was the only person who
manifested particle of interest or
sympathy in the difficulties attending
my changed prospects. The morning
he left / held long conference with
him, frankly stating the perplexities
that beset my path.
"You perceive what an ornament /
shall be to society,"" remarked in con-
clusion. "The world will be literally
astonished at the forthcoming prodigy"
"You are ambitious to shine, Lizzie,
and SO sensitive Of the worlds opinion
that you perversely underrate your
SELF"
"Not so, assure you. Ihave weigh
ed to the minutest fraction every per-
sonal and mental endowment which /
may justly claim, and discovered my
deplorable want"
"Not of mental ability, surely "
ayes, mental ability of the right
stamp. Society demands intellectual,
as we'll as personal grace and refine
ment."
eff you think society SO exacting,
why not disregard its requirements and
live within and for YOURSELF"
because / am human and crave the
social affections and sympathies of my
kind"
"All Of which are within your reach,
if you will not obstinately thrust your
self without the pale of humanity. Lis
ten to me, Lizzie, and let the remem-
brance of that pleasant summer time
which we passed together be warrant
of my sincerity. cherish brothers,
a friends interest in your welfare-to