Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-08-20

| WITH u Sill III SNIVaiilJ WuuN
you tormenting thing Well, her hus
band was a doctor, and went off to some
place or other when they'd been mar
ried year or so. and caught the yell
low fever, and died, and left her nothing
but his M. D. And she's as poor as
old lady Psulding, and just as proud;
aud, oh Dick, the funniest thing-she's
filled one of her aunt's windows with
wax flowers for sale, just As though any
one in this place would buy wax flow
ers. Come along
LIB, l think wax flowers are heautl-
tul'- he had never thought OF them in
his life before, and in fact knew moth
ing about them-"and | wish you'd set
the other folks n good example and
buy lot of them from-Mrs. Demlng
for our parlor mantel," and he thrust
bill into her hand.
Dick Foster. are you crazy? Wax
flowers, and mother wanting new
cook stove this minute!-the old ones
falling into pieces and | haven't
"A stitch to your back" says Dick,
smiling. "Iou never have. But buy
the flowers, Lib, dear, and mother shall
have new stove and you new dress
before the weeks out. Iii work nights
''But, Dick -"
But Dick had rushed away Mt fourth
and most furious ringing OF the bell,
aud she was fam TO follow without an
other word.
Day after day Dick Foster set his
shop door wide open, and replenished
thu hon hon hp> IN at w h,H l,,
away behind some tools on a shelf, in
the corner, il hopes that he might some
day again raise his head from his work
and see the fair-haired child standing
before him. But day after day went by,
and June merged into July, and she
came no more.
The wax flowers had been bought a
few days after Dick had SO suddenly
discovered how much he admired them,
and wonderful limitations of nature
they proved to be, but alas! wanting
natures wonderful fragrance, and they
stood between the china dog and cat
that Dick remembered from his earliest
boyhood, on the high, oldfashioned
wooden mantel in the low ceilinged
sunny parlor.
Lib had come back from purchasing
them with Il quick step and snap IN
her black eyes, and had Immediately
as Dick knew she would the moment
he caught sight of her-rushed into the
shop to-as she was wont to express it
free her mind.
"There, hope you are satisfied, F" she
began, with "a toss of her head, putting
the vase of lilies and roses into his
hand; "but think you'd better saved
your money. Not but they're pretty
enough, and | don't see how she makes
'em; | couldn't. But of all the stuck
up things | ever saw, she's the worst.
Your little girl thinks your brother
looks like my brother" says trying to
make myself agreeable; does he? Pm
sure don't know; didn't look at him.
Ny brother is very handsome man,
and an artist. We were family of
artists, although my share of talent
took very lowly form, says she, hand
ing me the vase-she called it
'varse.' Good-afternoon.
To all OF which Dick replied not q
word, but turned away and sawed like
mad, which so offended Miss Elizabeth
Foster that she never referred to the
pretty widow again until the afternoon
on the 3D. Of July, when, with CLEAN
of mischief in her face. she burst out at
the supper table: ooh, Dick, I've mes
sage for you. l met Miss Eva rs the
little servant girl calls her. They say
that girl serves Mrs. Deming for love;
wish [ could get people to serve me for
that. Please tell the--the shavings
man. said Miss Eva. that | wanted 70
come again, but mamma won't let me-"
And, oh, Dick, if they haven't put fire.
works for sale in the other parlor win
dow Wax flowers and fireworks, amt
it funny
But Judging from Dicks clouded
brow and closely set lips, Dick thought
it anything but funny; and Lib, wisely
dropping the subject, devoted herself to
mothers soft gingerbread with undivid-
ed attention.
And the cloud still fingered on the
brow as he, pail in hand just
after supper, bent his steps toward the
old well that stood a few feet beyond
the brick cottage. He had developed
an extraordinary fondness for the water
of this well; it seemed as though moth
ing else could quench his thirst, albeit
until few weeks ago he had been per
fectly satisfied with the cold as ice clear
as crystal water drawn from the we'll in
his mothers garden.
AS he drew near the isolated cottage
he saw the fireworks in the window, and
his heart came up in his throat. $50
poor, so proud, so lovely" he thought.
"I'll buy them ali tomorrow" And at
this moment the pretty woman stepped
out on the old-fashioncd porch, and Dick
turned and fed.
Mrs. Fosters face began to relax, and