Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-09-30

will MOI give it up.
Then you do not love me?" saws o..
car once more.
No" says Martha, vehemently stamp.
ing her foot and flushing scarlet. II
hate you-hate you u do you hear? AMI
l VIII never marry YOU nerer!n And
with sudden flood of tears she iumns
up and PUSHES into the house.
When | go down in the morning | find
she is in bed with headache.
" do not know what is the matter with
the child" says Madam, unsuspectingly
connecting her tiSdHe, she is so hot
and feverlsh."
Where is Oscar?" | ask.
=" He has gone to Gannat to see the con.
scription drawn says Madam Petit
" Poor Mere Gomell God grant her Rene
good fortune.n
| am glad that Oscar is out of the way:
for finding that Marthe is unable 10 sit to
him, Stirling makes up his mind to leave
by the diligence, which passes through
ST. Pourcain in the course of the morn.
ing; so that by the time Oscar returns.
my task OF eftecting a reconciliation will,
feel, be comparatively easy and when
young Stirling proposes that shall "set
him a bit on his way, and let the dill
gence pick him up, | assent with much
satisfaction. | have not the heart to tell
him at the last moment of the mischief
his locket has wrought; and we part with
mutual expressions of goo Twill and
hopes of meeting again before long: and
| return to the Ir0ts Et0Hes, hoping to
make all things straight betwe the low.
ers before night. Bat my hopes are DIES.
tined to disappointment When | arrive
at the 1'rois Etoties, | find the COURTYARD
full of people, all talking at once with
French volubility, while Madame is stand.
ing in the center OF the group crying and
eXclaiming; " II is not true; | do not be.
lieve it,"
"What is it?" | ask.
Every one answers me at once; and It
is some time before am able to arrive at
the cause of the disturbance, which Is
dis: Madame Gomel's son has drawn an
unlucky number, and she has no money
to buy a substitute. Well that we knew
before - | say.
Yes, Madame But here is one come
from Gannatt who says that Oscar Petit
has volunteered to 90 in his place, and
been accepted"
NO, mol" cries Madame; it is vile
story, an Invention. 1t is impossible that
he could so treat his unhappy mother.
Is it not, Madame :" turning with pite.
Gus entreaty in her face to me.
Of course, of course!" | begin hasti-
ly; but the words die on my lips as | see
Oscar standing in the gateway, with stern
eyes and pale, compressed lips.
My son, my SON. say it is not true,"
says the poor mother, rushing toward him.
Bat Oscar turns away. Yes mother,
it is true!" he says; and with low
moan, Madame Petit staggers back, and
sinks tainting into my arms
We carry her into the sd2e and man.
age to send every one away but Oscar and
Babette. go, go, my friends" say;
" | will see what can be done. You have
been quarreling with Marthe," say an
grily to Oscar when they are gone, and
so you propose to yourself to break your
mothers heart; fine revenge, truly"
Oscar looks rather ashamed of himself,
but says, simply: Il love Marthe too
well to live in the house with her, if she
will not marry me. She cannot leave her
home therefore | must.
NO, no! says the poor mother, who
now begins to recover. " She shall go.
| cannot lose you, Oscar, my son, my
only sou and she falls into bitter
weeping.
Oscar kpeels beside Ler, and buries his
head in her lap, so he does not see little
figure which comes stealing in at the
door with tear-dimmed eyes and white
cheeks, and holding a silver chain in its
hand. Oscar" says Marthe, "do for
give me, do, do, Take the chain. | love
you, love you; only love you;n and
she too falls on her knees, crying bitterly.
feel very mach inclined to laugh at
the couple of young fools who have got
themselves into this scrape - were it not
for the grief of the mother, which is al
mosttragic in its intensity
Can Oscar not get substitute - l
ask
81 do not know, Madame; but even if
he could, | should have to pay heavily;
aud | have no money laid by - times have
been SO bad since the war"
There is my.dot," says Martha eagerly;
and Madame's sad face brightens for a
moment, but of this Oscar VIII not hear,
even if the money can be touched legally,
which is doubtful, Marthe being under
age.
Perhaps am an old fool for my pains.
Perhaps" remark cynicaly to my.
self, am only helping two people to
make each other m SCRABBLE; - but il ends
in my driving over to Gannat, enlisting
the sympathies of the sous Dreft, fiuding
a substitute, and paying for him - rather
heavily, | am afraid. But when | return
home and place Oscars release in his
mothers hand, duly signed and attested,
| am more than repaid when | see her
oil I'll Oh =,