Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-04-14

see no one, and the poor child, taken
up with nursing me and tied to sick
room. has made no acauaintances. 1t
Is killing me to see her young life sac
rificed and to think Of the future"
The mothers tears began to flow.
Her hearer, very amiably inclined to-
ward the weaker sex, or at least IN It's
company, Increased his quarter deck
pacings in much discontinue rs these
symptoms Of water works turned on"
became apparent. His hurried steps
soon subsidized, however, to a steady
march up and down the little drawing
room, while with frowAing brow and
occasional chuckles, he seemed to be
connecting some scheme. After few
minutes he came TO sudden halt be-
fore the invalid's sofa. Can the girl
act?" he asked, abruptly.
"Actl How do you mean? /"
ooh, you needn't look frightened
I'm not going to propose sending her
TO the Gaiety or the Criterion"
"Well, except in the little make be-
lieve plays and dressings-up that chill
dren delight in-all children are
think. actors born" Aye, and men and
womer too" growled the cynic Eek
cept that sort Of thing she never has
seen or had an opportunity of acting
Why d. you ask?
And N reply her brother unfolded
the plan he had been concocting-
namely, that his niece, laying aside her
''frippery and her trinkets and other
girls nonsense" was to put on the
mourning garb and act the part of a
widow, in which assumed character she
was to come to stay with him IN his
London home.
''But | don't understand"
"And you're not wanted to under
stand" he snarled. ITS my whim;
and it may be for the girls advantage.
If she is willing, and can hold her
tongue, III come back for her when she
is ready. and I'll pay for her outfit.
Grape and weepers. Ho, no. ho -
When the first surprise at her uncle's
strange proposition was over, the young
! girl jumped eagerly at the prospect Of
Il change from the dull home she never
yet had left. She was young and spir-
ited at an age when love of variety
and a longing to see the world and
plunge into its unknown delights are
natural The playing the widow she
thought would be excellent fun. There
was a spice of adventure in it, and it
would be like the private theatricals
and acting charades she had read of and
imagined so pleasant. The old gentle
mans reasons for wishing her to do so
was puzzle; but then who could Won
der at anything he did absurd .oddity
that he wasl Perhaps it was to avoid
having to provide a chaperon for her;
he hated ladies so, elderly ones espec-
tally.
The result of the scheme we have
SEEN and the scheme itself was what
its originator proceeded to divulge to
the would-be husband when that indi-
vidual presented himself with consid-
cradle misgiying and agitation on the
| appointed morning.
! AS the lady has not turned out to
be what you took her for, is not in fact,
a widow, perhaps the whole matter
may be Oft. A disappointment, no
doubt" wound up the uncle with one
of his grim chuckles; "but twas only
right to tell you in time. Young man,
| if you can pardon the deceit, take her. J."
'Wel," exclaimed the young man to
his fiancee, when, all things cleared up
and satisfactorily arranged, the engaged
pair were talking over the queer cir
cumstance that brought them together,
II always knew your uncle was eccen-
trio, but this surpassses anything |
could have imagined even of HIM"