Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-06-11
FAINT HEART.

since he could remember; they had
o n to school together; he had spelled
above her and refused to take the first
Mace: he had envied the more daring
boys who walked home with her through
the green lanes beneath empowering
elms, as if it were the most common
Mace thing to do in the world, while he,
with his heart in his mouth, tried to
find courage for the effort, and found
himself left behind for his pains. Later,
when they first began to go out into the
world together, what toItures he endur-
ed when she danced with some hand
some stranger; if she rode with bis
Drawer companions: if Carl Hughes took
her off in his wherry down the silver
length of the river, and lost his way
among the creeks of the silent marshes,
only returning home when the evening
was far spent, and the stars trembled
in the heavens, and unwittingly brush
ing past poor John, waiting on the wharf
in the shadow of some warehouse to
see them landed safe! Life began early
to seem like a pleasantdifficulty to him
He was always wondering what she
was doing; how she passed the long
DAYS while he was busy in the counting
room; what were her every day thoughts,
her dreams, and did he hold any share
thtr,in. Sunday, too, soon became the
first of holidays, for then he was sure
to see her. His fathers square, old
fashioned pew almost faced the congre-
CATION, and not a breath or a blush, the
hutter of an eylid or the ghost Of a
dimple, was lost upon him. In the
meantime, 1t is probable that Elinor
was not blind. Chances are easily inter-
preted; actions sometimes speak louder
than words. There is little doubt,
when Carl Hughes or any Of the others
stepped out of a concert or lecture
room and offered an arm to her at the
door, but she understood that John had
been waiting and wavering and longing
for the favorable moment in which to
anticipate this attention, which moment
would have arrived, sooner or later, but
that Carl, intent on his purpose, and
unhesltatlng In its performance, had
pushed to her side, and had gained the
day before John had thought of losing it
But by insensible degrees one out
grows this sort of faint-heartednes, and
pushes out before Carl Hughes and the
mdulgent crowd, and wins the prize for
the nonce. but delays to take the next
decided step in the right path. And so
1t was with John. One day he Aheard
that Ellnor had given away her heart
to Mr.. Denormandy, now on his trav-
els. However much pain this an
nouncement gave John, his faint-heart-
edness-which, perhaps, was only an
exaggerated appreciation of the object
OF deslre-became a something super
fuous, sisce, ifhe had already lost her,
why should he fear? 1t is at this stage
that n ceases to doubt and begins to
sutier. So, now that he had nothing to
lose, he went in and out of her presence
With a fatal fascination, as bold as a
lion. He asked her hand in the dance
without a qualm; he took her out to
supper or down to dinner, as the case
might be; he strolled with her on the
mo nllghted terrace; he played melo-
dies Of his w composition upon the
Ilte; he even ventured to take her in
MS own wherry down the dazzling reach
OF the river; and though he failed to
entangle himself among the ribbons of
me marshes, yet the wherry sprung a
.eak, and while he pulled home against
me ude-as it seemed to him he had
Always been doing-Elinor bailed the
boat with her slipper, which he begged
Nhen they were safe ashore, az The
supper was of no further use to the
owner.
- should like to keep it myself" she
%ld, as a memento of the day in
NhIch we made shipwreck together;
out you may have it.
one day he happened to say some
1nhg about the time when Mr.. Denor-
mandy should return from abroad and
'fry her beyond his reach.
Mr. Denormandyi y said she, knitting
1e' oroWs; what should possess hinl
"carry me anywhere"
me right OF possession"
don understand you. Mr.. Denor-
"@"urQY mas no right of any sort in me-"
Excuse me; but | thought had
n mat | was going to marry him -?
TToht believe what you hear again.
me truth is he V asked me. though
qr59 iIIehds declare that he wished it,
rau l myself had some reason to ex.
''St II; but faint heart, you know"
lever won fair lady. And you -
I vas relieved when he left for Eu-
N.Y., 1t Is so hard to say No that
eac, Is IN danger of saying Yes from
6g passion. Love is SO sweet that it is
hut I refuse it; and then one has
9@auhtlng fear Of some time needing
ana a woeful waste makes a woeful
nar5. what a pity that Mr.. Denor-