Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-10-21

The opera is charming, and Patti ex-
GELS herself; but time flies, AID bright
things fade, and soon the curtain drops,
and Spanish castles fall and Brenda, with
a sigh, places her hand upon her cousins
arm, and soon they have made their way
through the fashionable throng, and are
speeding homeward through the deserted
streets.
As they arrive at number seven, some
clock in the distance chimes II. They
run up the steps, and Brenda puts her
hand in her pocket to draw out the latch
key.
Be sure you don't commit yourself
about Jose's detection" says Wilding;
and then he stops short struck by the
cuange in her face
George, did | give you the key =" she
asks in frightened tone.
mo 1t was on the sdeboard when
we came out told you to remember it.
Have you not got it,"
IL have not. | never brought it at ALL
| must have given it to you, desperately
| am sure you did not"
Nevertheless, try. Try your pockets
Try every pocket you have" says Brenda,
miserably.
tie does try every pocket, one after the
other, but in vain, no key berays itself
anywhere.
Well, never mind" says George, eve
must only put good face on the matter
and ring up the servants"
Ring You might ring until morn
ing You might ring until you were
black in the face! " exclaims Brenda with
the impotence OF despair, and nobody
could hear you. Why, they all sleep at
the very top Of the house, beyond all
hearing, and graDdmamma never will
get bell put to their rooms, WHAT is to
be done?"
Come to Jose"
Jose has no servants bell either, and
they all go to bed early" replies Miss
MolyneuX on the verge of tears.
Good gracious" says Mr.. Winding,
at last thoroughly reused to a sense Of the
awlulness of the situation; what on
earth shall we do?"
1t is a dark and gloomy night. The
" Chaste Diana had sulked and gone to
bed; the stars are nowhere. Not sound
disturbs the silence that enyelops the
quiet road, except an occasional cough
from Kenmore, the coachman, who is
waiting with the Jrougham to convey
Wilding home, and who sits upon the
box the very model Of propriety, and
never SO much as chances in their direc-
ton Perhaps he is wrapt in fond dreams
of days gone by when he and Mrs. Fen
more were a-courtin'," and has a secret
for the two on the doorstep,
A huge black cat, hideOus as a gnome,
Ia nj Z /,
a we rd yell rushes across the road, and
disappears down some area at the oppo-
site side.
This all comes of doing what | knew
was wrong" says Brenda presently, find
ing her companion silent 81 wish"
ungratetully, you had never asked me
to go to that horrible opera"
a thought she sang very well" allud-
ing to Patti. "And | certainly couldn't
be expected to know how things were
going to turn out" says Mr.. Wilding,
aggrieved.
You shouldn't have listened to Jose;
YOU should have brought me straight
home 1t is ali your fault says Brenda,
most unfairly.
Well it wasn't who forgot the latch
key, anyhow" says Mr.. Wilding, I'm.
wisely incensed.
At this unlucky speech, his cousin, see,
ing at last a good opening, gives way to
bitter rcproach.
Eyes, that is Just like you" she says,
large tears gathering in her lovely eyes,
" to upbraiG me now when | am most
unhappy, II you were in trouble, George,
| would moi treat you So
Don't speak to ne like that" says
Winding, miserably, " am far more up
set about this unfortunate matter than you
can be"
"That is impossible Grandmamma
can't look at you as though she meant to
dcvour you in one bite
"If | had anywhere to take YOU" goes
on George "any home of my own, with
some old aunt at the head Of it, for in
stance. Lots of fellows have aunts to
live with them" grudgingly, BIT |
never saw the aunt that would live with
me: and of course a bachelors rooms
wouldn't DO, not if | paced the streets all
night. Whyon earth am not married ~
says Mr. Willing, distractedly,
" Is this time to talk nonsense ~ asks
Brenda, with sudden vehemence. "Of
course, if you were married, | should not
be here Mt ALL and that would end the
whole matter"
She is looking up at him from under
the bewitching hood, with two angry
ewes, that say far more than their owner
is aware of. Her lips are quivering; two
crimson spots enrich each rounde : cheek.
vii ing, gazing at her extreme beauty,
loses his head
II am not sure of that" he says I'M
steadily II think if | we're married, you,
and only you, would be stan ling just