Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-09-16
VI0LETS WAGER,
AND HOW SHE WON 1T.

"A IN - nv w Oh T. w YIN IL.
"Done?" Intercepted DR.. Franks, with
an amused smile
Ozone" replied his companion, plac.
ing her hand laughingly in his
Z" II is a foolish wager on my part, Vic
let" concluded the doctor, kissing her
hand with eager tenderness; "for |. above
all people, know there is something about
you that no one can resist y r
You surely are Joking, John | can.
not believe it! You would not, without
first consulting me, 90 and propose off.
hand to girl | have never seen, know
nothing about, and whom you yourself
never saw until few months ago?
And" continued Miss Franks without
giving her brother a chance of replying,
"to think of you beginning to talk of love
and marriage. and all that sort of rubbish,
when you will be thirty six on your very
next birthday You ought to know bet.
terw
my dear Emily" began John.
Don't dear Emily me, sir" inter.
rupted Miss Franks. / can't be very
dear to YOU when, after keeping your
house for more than twelve years, you
treat me in such manner However |
have no doubt Miss What's her-name will
attend to the messages. study economy,
and have your interests more at heart
than |, who am only your sister, have
had
81 told you I had proposed, Emily;
but YOU interrupted me before YOU knew
whether ! had been accepted or not"
Accepted or not indcedi" said Miss
Franks, salirically. COZ course you're
accepted - snapped at. Do you think
know SO little of my own sex as to give
them credit for being the charming,
guileless creatures they would have you
simpletons of men believe them? No,
John; | remember. when YOU were "A
baby and | was n good looking yes, !
repeat it, a good-looking - frank out.
spoken girl of twenty drawing my own
conclusions as to the arttulness and hy-
poorisv OF my companions, and the pitt
able credulity of the men they tried to
cnsnare.N etfT#
"Well." remarked John, al am sure
that, when you know my future wife, you
will believe that | have chosen for my
own happiness; and, believing that. !
know YOU too well to doubt the reception
she will receive at your hands. And Of one
thing be very sure; | shall never forget
your uuseltishness, your patient striving
for my welfare, your ever-ready sympathy
and loving care"
"Dont talk like that John said Miss
Franks, teartullv, and taking his face be-
tween her hands. she kissed him impul-
sively and hurried from the room
DR. Franks sat down in rather a dis
turbed frame Of mind, He loved ant re.
spectcd his sister, and was grateful to
her; She had kept house for hila since he
had been in practice studying his com
fort in every way. and he was really sorry
that she should feel herself personally
sighted at the first mention of his ap.
preaching marriage. No idea of mar
riagc had entered the doctors head until
quite lately, when he had fallen dcsper-
ately I'm love with the niece of a new pa.
tient OF his hut he had thought il better
to be assured tina, his love was recipro.
Gated before taking his sister into his con-
tideuce
At dinner Miss Franks was evidently
determined, by an extra display Of dig.
nifty and ceremony, to chace all rcmem-
brance of her previous weakness, but,
after a time, her womauly curiosity over.
cam" all other feelings.
pray, John, what is this child's
namc>'
"What child? O, l beg pardon You
mean Miss Lloyd Violet Lloyd"
Did YOU say she was seventeen 3"
"No," replied the doctor, smiling; she
is twenty.three
80, no natter II is very nearly the
same thing. She is quite young enough
to make ducks and brakes of your money
before you've eaEned it,"
Emily said the doctor, more sternly
than he had yet spoken hardly think
il fair, and certainly very unlike your
ususl self, TO form an opinion Of person
you have never seen, | am the more hurt
at your prejudging Violet, as bad hoped
you would remain with us TO help her in
the management of the house. OF course
we cannot expect child like her to