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

II should like that. We could take
care of her here. Mr.. Colthurst Have
you heard her play? Queer, out-ofthe-
way, dreamy things that make you feel
irst as II you wanted to go to sleep and
tken as II you wouldn't close your eyes
| on any account"
! should like above all things to hear
her"
I'll ask if I may bring you up to.mor-
row evening. The aunt is nice, sensible
| lady, and isn't bit hard on the child"
All that night one phrase of Mrs.
| Brooks haunted him. owe could take
care of her" We-we-we-weg Take
care of her? Take care of that sweet
young girl? Ay, though all the world
! sought to do her harm, 1t should not sue
coed while he could raise an arm TO strike
a blow for her.
Tomorrow evening he might meet her !
| lie might hear her voice coming to him
lie might watch her as she sat and talked.
Her hand might touch his. Her dress
might brush against him. He might sit
and listen to her playing in the twilight,
lie might pick up flower or ribbon or
! glove she had worn.
If, When her aunt died, she only came
to that house, what care they would take
of this gentle-faced girl She would be
| like Mrs. Brooks daughter - live with
her, dine and sup at the same table, and
sit with Mrs Brooks in the afternoons
and evenings. That would be delightful.
When he got back to Manvlle Square
next evening he did not linger out of
doors, but walked with quick step up to
the house and went in. 1t was close to
8 o'clock when he met Mrs Brooks She
had good news for him. He was to go
up that evening and be introduced bat
Miss Gay had said, he must remember
they were in the doctors hands, and he
must not take it i'll of them if they retired
early.
Mrs. Brooks devoted herself altogether
to the aunt and the young people were
left almost altogether to themselves.
| They talked Of great number of things.
lie found her intelligent, shy, candid, and
anxious for surprise.
3" You have never been in London be-
! fore?" he asked.
No never. am greatly delighted
with it,"
Would you like to live here always p"
:" | should like it very much. But
aunt could not manage to live here. In
fact, we are going back very soon"
How soon?"
In few days. | do not know how
! many. When we are done with the
doctors"
g am very sorry for the cause of your
visit to London. | wish it had nothing
to do with the doctors"
All, so do l."
WHAT do they say?'
Aunt does not tell me all. She is
afraid of alarming me. fancy the case
is very bad one"
Is it of long standing?n
NO. Only few months
I" understand you have no other rela-
tive in the world but Miss Gay?"
Not one"
"Suppose the doctors report is unfav-
orable, what will you do p"
go back to the country with aunt"
And what will you do then ?"
"Wait."
As she said this word she cast her eyes
down, and he could see her eyelids were
heavy with tears. How he wished ard
prayed she might come to London when
| all was over! He could not bear the no.
| ton of her going away now, He had
made up his mind that as soon as her
aunt died she should come to London and
! live with Mrs, Brooks " We could take
care of the poor child he said, in his
heart Aloud he said; could you not
manage to stay in London?"
"Ah, no. The doctors say London will
! not do. We must get away to the sea.
Torquay or Bournemouth, an not sure
| which,
Mrs. Brooks has been giving me a
most enthusiastic account of your play
ing. Are you very fond of music?'
Yes, very, | care for nothing in the
world so much.'
And who are your fayorite compos-
ers?"
Mendelssohn and Schubert"
DO you play much?"
!" Not nearly SO much as | used"
Why have you given up playing so
much?"
All" she sighed, and shook her head,
q dare say because am getting old and
! lazy"
May hope you will play little to-
night?"
Il will play with great pleasure, only
not too long
She played for half an hour, and Col
thurst listened enchanted. He knew moth
ing of music himself, but he loved 1t
dearly. lie had never before heard any
thjng SO weird So soft, so tender, so
1 sprtuelle 1t was like the signing of
/ f1rlorn winds IN mystic groves. He could
1 not play the simplest air, but he could
interpret the most intricate, or, at all
events all airs had meanings for him
/ right or wrong ne did not pause, he did
not care to inquire.
I A. a., ,uI ,c IaIF ,r b,nr tla M ,, :