Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-12-04

times talk in your sleep!"
The bold eyes of Albert Melrose
dropped for moment under the steady
gaze Of his wife, but the next moment
they were raised detiantly.
1t was scarcely gallant of me to sleep
in yoar presence, my love. and apollo
gize. But where is Cellar"
II do not know. We might as we'll
understand each other fully now. Celia
Is away from my control entirely; her
property is in the hands of a new
guardian, and do not know, and shall
not know. where she is unless" and
the mothers lip quivered, "she is i'll.
1t you were to kill me, l could not tell
you any more"
skill you? What sensational stuff
are you talking? am not an assassin,
though you appear to honor me in your
thoughts by suppOsing So"
The rest of the breakfast was a farce
for both, but as Mrs. Melrose left the
dining-room, a pair of halfclosed evil
eyes followed her, while q low voice
Kissed:
"Baffled this time, my lady. 1t had
best not occur again!"
Society spoke Of the second marriage
of Mrs. Melrose as one of those com.
pletely congenial and happy matches
seldom: seen In perfection. The appear
arce Of the handsome middle-aged
couple was always a delight to their
friends, they were so admirably at home
in all society demands, so pleasantly
cordial to every one, so exqui,itely
courteous to each other. 1t was whis-
pered that Roger Melrose's fortune was
melting very rapidly in the hands of his
successor, his vile being too deeply in
love to deny Albert any qualification
her money could purchase Tor him, but
no hint of this event passed the lips Of
Kate Melrose.
Nine years had almost gone, and in
two years more Celia Melrose would be
of legal age, and her guardian would
give her property into her own hands.
In all these nine years Kate Melrose
had not once looked into the face OF b er
idolized child, and her face had grown
wan and pale in the weary heart-sick Of
her hollow life.
But, one morning, standing in her
own room alone, she read letter that
had fallen accidentally into her hands.
Mr.. Melrose had dropped it upon the
floor, where a lawyers sign and a few
books represented all the business tran
sacted. HIS boy had brought the letter
in the house, and the servant there had
handed it to Mr.. Melrose.
With st.rt she recognized the hand
writing. White as corpse, with star
ing eyes and trembling fingers she open
ed and read it.
Read it, to know that all the sacri-
fee, the Notwithstanding Was vain, If with
in few hours she had not met the
second great emergency Of her own life
and Celia's.
| She was not q woman to stand shlv-
ering and helpless when action was
called for, and in less than an hour her
carriage was once more at James Car.
ter's door, and she was with the old
lawyer.
In grove of trees not far from the
seminary of Mount Hay, just before
dusk, upon an October evening, fair,
beautiful girl stood talking with an
elderly man, of great personal attrac-
ton. and with sweet, winning voice.
"Your mothers GOODNESS and indifier-
ence must be proved to YOU, my dear
child, by nine years of exile from your
home, and by her present plan 20 force
you to enter a convent"
"Oh, mono! Ihave no vocation for
nuns life. l should die, shut up for
ever in a gloomy convent"
"Your death would please her we'll!
She is not willing to introduce beauti-
full child to society, but fully aware
that she must do 50 if she allows her to
come home. Your mother. Celia, is a
heartless woman of fashion who lives
upon admiration, and she will never
endure rival upon her own hearth
stone. love you dear child, as your
uncle and your step-father. Trust
yourself to me and 1 will take you to a
home where your mothers inhuman
plan can never be carried out"
At this moment an old gentleman
with silver hair stepped into the small.
clear space where the two were stand
ing.
Cecilia" he said gravely,"it is scarce
| ly seemly for you to be away from the
seminary at this hour, and with a stran-
ger"
The young girl blushed deeply, but
instead OF greeting her guardian loving
ly and cordially as usual, she drew
back little, saying:
"This is my uncle and stepfather,
Mr.. Carter. He has come to take me
from the seminary to save me from my
mothers heartless plan for me-"
"Your mothers heartless plan? l
am your guardian, your mothers rep
resentative, but have heard of no plan