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

ing OF angels, you hear the rustic OF
their Wings"
"The wheel of fortune has made a
revolution. you see, and here | am.
But no crushed by it."
THAT is we'll. For man is man,
the poet sings, and master of his fate"
IL don't think it means women,
though" said she. "What can | do
tor you? lam at your service. Gloves?
Jouvin's?'
"Yes. Are you going to Mr.. swell's
tomorrow night
Gam l going? The Swells have for
gotten my existence. | have gone an
der, so to speak, as far as they are con
cerned.'
"lndeed! l was looking forward to
meeting you there"
"And you meet me here instead"
"But if you are not to be there, shall
not care to CO."
Thank you; but l should he sorry to
deprive you of a happiness"
should your" leaning across the
counter. "You asked just now what
you could do for me. Shall l tell
your"
"Ct yoh may lSli liz
HIS eyes held hers, intense with
.kmeaniug; his lips trembled with tie
burden of his heart; all his desire was
leaplng up, and shaping itself into ten
der words. What was it that sta yed
them, caused them to falter into COM
monplaces? What power locked the
eager lips upon the halfuttered secret?
Why did the intense eye lose their
sweet significance, the hand relax its
gentle grasp
"Iou may stretch this pair OF gloves
for me, then, II you please" he said,
recovering himself.
"lsn't it q little droll," said she, hid
ing whatever chagrin she experienced
behind her smile" isn't it a little droll
that stretching the stocking should be
such a sin, while sire &c ling the glove is
perfectly harmless ?"
"Confound my folly!" he thought,
walking away. "Why didn't | say i!
She looked almost as if she expected
something. | gave her the right to.
But did she care to listen? To besure,
the place was unfortunate; but people
have made and heard proposals in ball
rooms, III crowds, before this-at street
corners and at book-stalls. There was
Captain Wildes; he proposed to Mary
on board the cars, and, not understand
ing him, che cried: 'WhatP' So he
had to scream it all over again, and the
tram stopped at a station before he fin
lshed. He must have been a lucky
fellow They say that wolnen do half
the counting, but bless me if I've had
any help in this affair. And at this
rate it's like Il snall's journey; | take
n step forward and slip back two. The
deuce l wonder how they get on 1t
must be tirersome standing behind Il
counter all day. with the Guilford pride
on her shoulders, and the home troubles
Juggling at her heart. If | had only
asked her before the breaking of this
bubble! But now it would seem like
taking advantage of her circumstances;
and if | could not endure that she
should consent to marry me from pity,
how much less from prudence? Yet,
if she cares for me-. But how am |
to know? she is not likely to tell me
without being asked, and why should i
ask her unless | am certain"
AID thus, while he let The occasion
slip by, while he dawoled and perplexed
himself, the firm in which he was Junior
partner required his presence in Europe
to establish a branch house. He went
to bid Elinor good-bye-perhaps to say
something more earnest He would
not tell; he could not count upon him
self nor mis- moods. He found her in a
dark, narrow street of the city, where
the sunshine was only a morning visi-
tor of the most ceremonious kind; in
rooms whose shabbiness smote him to
the heart. She sat before a flicker
ing flame, and embroidered in linen.
He understood that by this means she
was eklng out her insufficient wages.
But otherwise she was the same being
whom he had known in luxury. The
blush had not deserted her fair check,
the dimple still hid there; the eyes we're
rs radiant with light and spirit, the ex-
preston rs enchanting, the voice as
liquid and full of soft, lingering tones
and b%ewitching accents, as in the bright
est days Of her prosperity. They talk
ed about lis journey, the sights he was
to see, the sounds he was to hear; and
she sighed and said, "Oh, l wonder if /
shall ever 60 to Europe!" with that wild
hope which most of us long to realize.
They We're sitting together upon a tte-o-
tae, a relic of past magnificence. He
had been looking at her embroidery,
and when he gave 1t back their hands
touched and fingered almost lovingly.
The words were on his lips, ''Wlll you
go to Europe with me, ElinolH
evil YOU" he faltered; twill you
You will-forget me, l suppose. as soon