Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-09-16

easychair was placed FRAGRANT bouquet
I OF spring flowers, tastefully arranged
! Violet entered in few moments, lookin q
/ fadiantly happy, and coming up to the
old lady, kissed her, saying impulsively:
Promise always to love me as much as
you do now"
"Bless the child" exclaimed Miss
/ Franks, looking in amused surprise at
! Niolet's beamIng eyes and flushed face.
as that the barefaced way you make love
j to that unfortunate man you have made
| your slave?'
| There he tsp cried Violet, as a knock
was heard; and, darting from the room,
/ she left Miss Franks to smile over the
! impetuousness of lovers.
! The afternoon was so lovely that she
was tempted to open the creeper-covered
window which overlooked the garden,
and breathe the balmy spring air and
sweet scents.
Presently voices beneath the window
attacted her attention.
! 81 must get just one peep at him." she
said to herself, cautiously putting her
| head little way out of the window
| Then she heard the unmistakable sound
of a kiss, and Violets smothered voice
| said, remonstratingly:
she is at the Window 1t would be such
pity to spoil 1t all after my deceiving
her SO beautifully" fes.
Miss Franks shrank back suddenly,
with a suppressed. exclamation. for she
had seen fine manly figure bent caress
ingly toward an eloquent 'upturned face,
two pretty hands clasped on a broad
shoulder. a strong arm encircling a slen-
der waist. .-
" SO she's been deceiving me all this
time" murmured Miss Franks" been
carrying on this outrageous Irritation with
my brother under my very nosel And to
think that he, too, should behave in so
dishonorable manner! But Miss Lloyd
shall hear OF it, poor ill-used child And
so shall the other poor dupe."
Here the sound of approaching foot
steps made her seat herself at the other
end of the room, and the offending couple
entered, looking very innocent.
am SO glad to see you down stairs"
said the doctor, heartily, as he took chair
by his sisters side; but you look as if
the exertion had been little too much
for you"
II certainly feel more overcome than
expected" replied Miss Franks, primly,
adding, with an emphasis Violet's
woman's wit detected at once, 81 found
great difficulty in getting b& k to my seat
after standing at the window for few
minutes
Violet blushed deeply and looked re-
prOachfully at John, who, however, was
quite al his ease and ready to be Trash
again on the slightest provocation. She
saw that Miss Franks was still in the
dark as to how matters stood, and deter
mined, with characteristic courage, to
rush boldly to the attack.
Dear Miss Franks" she began, in her
soft low voice, will you forgive me for
trying, under false pretences, to make you
love me? And may | still believe that |
have not tried in vain John, come here"
Then, putting her hand in his she con-
tinued, with proud humility new to
her, "This is the man have promised to
marry, who has made me so happy with
his love, so honored me by his prefer
ence" .F aas IFS
AS Violet paused, John looked at her
with loving admiration blended with
astonshment.
"Bul," began Miss Franks.
Zone moment, Emily" interrupted her
brother, drawing Violet closer to his side.
81, too, have a few words to say When
| told Violet of your probable displeas-
ure at our approaching marriage, she was
conceited enough to wager that in less
than a month after you knew her you
would love her. If she has won her
wager - and | see she has - can you
wonder at my boundless love? | have
had the opportunity of seeing her in pri-
vate society, in domestic life; | know her
forbearing kindness, her tender charity,
her sincerity and unseltishness o, my
darling" he went on, gazing into Violet's
gentle eyes, | don't know how to thank
you for what you have just said. You
know how inexprt ssibly dear you are to
me; and if love, lasting love, can make
you happy, happy you shall be-"
Darling" murmured Violet, nesting
close to him in her gentle, womanly way,
all the happiness shall not be on my
side"
But" put in Miss Franks, with be-
wildered air who are yOu?'
"Violet Lloyd, at your service" replied
Violet, recovering her natural gayety and
dropping mock courtesy the baby
faced chit you dislike so much"
You naughty girl, said Miss Franks,
nearly crying for joy; I'll never forgive
you for letting me make such an old
donkey of myself Why, you told me
yourself that your name was Matthewsm
No" laughed Violet; Il told you my
aunts name was Matthews and as you
persisted in thinking it was mine, did
not like to be so rude as to contradict