Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-10-07

Then, from rehearsing the things which
had taken place, he rehearsed them mere
ly for the delight of keeping her image
| before his eyes, her voice about his ears
-Four delicious evenings passed away
in the same manner, and then came bad
news; they were leaving tomorrow for
1orquay. She told him, with a smile
the doctors had said no time should be
lost. Ihey were to go, and at once, the
east wind now blowing being most njur-
ious. He was greatly grieved they were
going so soon. When were they likely to
be back again in London?
We do not know. We cannot say.
Perhaps never"
You must not say that. Surely you
will come back again"
THAT will depend, in great measure
on how we get On at Torquay."
But you you will surely come back
to see US once again? | am sure Mrs
Brooks would do any thing she could for
you. She is the most kind -hearted wo-
man in the world"
For an instant the habitual faint smile
left the face of the girl, and her eyes half.
filled with tears. Her lips trembled, and
she said, in low, unsteady voice, " | am
sure she would be kind to me- EveIv
one is so kind to me. | am sorry TO have
to go away"
"But you will come back, won't you?'
he pleaded
She looked up suddenly, with the
brightest smile he had ever seen on her
face, saying, perhaps | may. I'll try
Now good BY"
Life went back to its old course at Man
vile Square. Some other people came
and occupied the rooms where she had
been Day after day Edwin Colthurst
watched the summer ripen and the green
deepen in the foliage of the square Day
by day he dreamed of her return and of
delicious evenings spent within the charm
of her voice, the magic of her presence
AS he drove in and out of town, he con.
jured with her image until sll the recesses
OF his memory were filled up with pic
lures of her. He would have given any
thing he possessed to write to her, to get
a single line from her. but although the
period of their acquaintance had been
long enough for him to fall in love, it
had not been long enough to warrant him
in asking to be allowed to write.
The summer waned and autumn was at
hand. Still no word came from the
guests of June. The rich green of the
foliage was here and there touched by the
first toreboding finger of decay. Morning
found a hoar-trost on the ground, and
evening brought chilly dew Old peo-
pie avoided the enclosure after sundown,
and the delicate chose the sunny side of
the squate, The buxom housemaid had
married the bakers man, and stood no
longer at the head of the area-steps witt
arms akimbo. The birds were getting
ready for winter, and saving up their
songs to keep the cold out.
1t was in the November of last year,
when the first fine sitting of snow fell out
of the sullen sky, that a letter came to
Mrs. Brooks. 1t had black border was
not in the same handwriting as the former
one, and ran as follows:
Dear Mrs. Bro0kS - AS you will
gather from the edge of this sheet, the
for days and months. 1t is a heavy trial,
but Gods will be done. I hope to be
with YOU on Thursday next, when | can
tell you all. Yours sincerely,
"HELEN GAY"
Mrs. Brooks looked at the mortuary
card, ard put the card and the letter back
into the black bordered envelope saying
to herself, They were both Heen's,
Poor thing, we must be good to her.
Poor thing,'
When Colthurst came home she told
him the news. He read the letter slowly;
then said, We must do all we can do for
her"
Yes, poor soul"
He took up the mortuary card, read it,
stared at it, stared at Mrs. Brooks, dropped
it, staggered to his feet, and cried, GOOD
God, it is the girl who is dead!'
No, no."
"les. Aged eighteen"