Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-07-09

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are throwing away chance you will
never have again. There are not many
Young men like him, can tell you.
What cen be your objection? Ism he
handsome, well-born, young, rich,
agreeable, and very fond of you9 The
fact is, YOU are proud. Nothing will
suit YOU less than prince. But let me
tell you, rs an old, privileged friend,
that it is one thing to JOIN girl in her
walks. and pay compliments, and take
a chair by her in the gardens, and dance
with her, and so on: but quite another
thing to ask her in marriage. Even
since that Prince de---has been intro
duced to you have observed a change.
Don't be offended, mon annie, | speak
for your good. 1t has made me SO sor-
ry to see that poor young man 50 low
and cast down, and after each visit he
gets more and more so. Flesh and
blood can't stand il, and | agree with
him that 1t Is best to end itat once. He
says he shall return home, and is COM
ing TO say adleu. Now, it rests with
yourself, Elise, if he really goes or not
And-there he Is, | know his step"
Giving her an extra friendly hand
pressure. to make Up for his rough
words, he left the place clear for a final
explanation, and hrrried off for brisk
walk. He felt the necessity for quick
motion and fresh air, for he was agitat-
ed.
He could not help being keeniy IN
terested IN this affair. He liked the
young man much, and Elise was OF
course quite a pet of his own. Poor
girl, her lips had quivered as he spoke
50 bluntly; but how pretty she was
looking-such graceful winning style
of beauty, lighting up the gloomy,
formal old room with her pretty gentle
ways and womanly occupations Yes,
he should miss her terribly, no doubt.
Rome was - long way of, and he al
most wished that carte-de-visite had
never caught M. A. de Nallanis eve.
After al, why should not Elise remain
as she is? Then he checked these
thoughts, and began TO wonder how ii
would be settled. He turned back, feel
Ing anxious and nervous, and 10y this
iime the interview must be ended.
1t was so. and M. de Belandi entered
his own villa in time to see bis guest
just few steps in advance, and from
his attitude he read that all was over.
The tale was told in few words, and
the next day M. A. de Vlani set off on
his journey home, trying his best to for
get that carte-de-visite.
There followed much commotion
l.. e.. Il al ID
did it end there, for it became the gen
eral topic of conversation. M. de Be-
landl felt dull, having lost his guest,
ana then there was the reaction and
11tness consequent on the unusual
excitement. Besides this, Elise was
never now seen In her old haunts; when
he went to the house she was not in the
drawing-room. He feared she was
annoyed with him, and purposely
avoided him whenever she could do so.
When meeting was inevitable there
was a greater reserve and an uncer-
tain manner, SO different from the old
gentle pleasantness, that it made him
unhappy.
81 don't know what ails her." COM
planned the old father one day to NJ. de
Belandi. "She pleased herself, or might
have done so. But she is no longer the
same girl. l was saying to her mother
| wished you might call; for if any one
can rouse her or find out what is the
matter, it is yourself"
To please the poor old gentleman,
NJ. de Belandi went at once to find
Elise in small boudoir where she
sometimes sat. He had often been
privileged to enter this room; and now,
rs his knock met with no notice, he
pushed upon the door without scruple.
Elise had been crying; but as she
turned and saw him blush covered
her face, and she nervously tried to
hide what looked like a photograph,
which she had evidently been looking
at.
"What, another photograph" he ex-
trying to carry off the little
awkwardness he felt by Joke. "Wby,
Elise, Is 1t possible that there was
reasons for your failing to see the
charms of Villain? Have you, too,
been caught by a carte-devisite p
To his surprise, instead Of meeting
his joke with smile or saucy retort,
she bent her head, striving to hide her
tears, and the hand which held the pie
ture actually trembled.
my dear, Elise, what is it? Your
fa'her is quite unhappy about you.
You are not an undecided person; but is
1t possible that you regret a.ing No?
A lady is allowed to change Ter mind"
Still her agitation seemed to increase,
aud she could not keep down her sobs.
Presently she snatched her hand to her
head, stammering some uncnnnected
words about not being We'll. She forgot