Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-08-18

TRACTORS rs IL Lncy nau Dcen singing
his praises. He was bit Of philoso-
pher, this Vane. Human nature en-
tertained him, and his rule of life was
expressed in the word "audacity."
a few hours later gondola paused
near the bridge at the side OF Mrs.
Langton's apartment, and a young man
sprang out and strobe with the step of
an anthlete up to the door to be met
by slight girl dressed quietly in gray.
Certainly no one in the tea-drinking
circle had begun to regard Miss Nevil
as wild and little doubtful, owing to
her apparent liking for Mr.. Vane,
could have been led to such an opinion
by the conspicuousness Of her dress
ing.
"You had better not go up, think,
Auntie is very angry with me, and I
ahi fatty disobeying her in going out
with you"
IL imagine the next time l call /
shall be forbidden the house." said Mr..
Vane, With touch of bitterness.
"What an accused social system is this!
But, still, do not wish you to do aEy-
thing you may regret, Miss Nevil,
would rather thousand times not see
you again than feel that / have in any
way compromised you. If you do not
wish to go, tell me-"
81 have made my choice. take ali
my own risks Life is not so bright that
one can afford to lose ones happiness
for the sake Of what may come by and
Lv. Do you know what / have taken
for my motor" she asked, as Mr.. Vane
almost lifted her into the gondola.
Fortune, fortunate, fortune 1t be-
longed to Margaret of Navarro"
"a very reckless person, and one
who brought no end of scandal upon
herself, said Mr.. Vane with smile
that did not conceal his admiration of
this resolute young person. Men ad-
mire pluck in women, but they dis
crirninate very keenly between the de-
liberate determination that braves
danger from conviction and the Eighty
bravadO of excitement which acts the
towards part when the moment of
disgrace arrives. Vane knew that Miss
Nevil would never finch under the
consequences of her actions.
81 wish life were all one long gondola
trip" said Miss Nevil. 81 wish one
were not obliged to 60 home to the
prose of life. l hope you understand
the cost Of the pleasure l am giving
myself. shall not hear the last of it for
months. Being man, and free, you
cannot understand that You could
take your hat and leave"
Then l may accept it as proof that
you think few hours with me worth
months of unpleasantness? That is
very flattering."
at is true, nevertheless, said Miss
Nevil, in a low voice, which died in a
whisper as a strong hand grasped hers
for one short moment and was then
withdrawn.
but see what risks you are taking"
pursued Eliot. "You know nothing
about me. am strolling Bohem-
IAN My reputation is very bad accord
ing to the various Parcm of the tea
fights. | might run away with you now
and every one would believe you had
gone of your own accord
Miss Nevil looked up at him with a
smile on her pretty mouth.
"But tnen, you know, trust you"
1t was woman's logic; but it was ire
sistable. A warm glow overspread the
mans brow rs he looked down upon
the little fair face with its sensitive
changes of expression.
"Take care young woman, you are
Oh dangerous ground-don't tempt fate
too far" he said, with laugh. 81
should like to take you away with me,
though; take you away from the dow
ayers and gossips and all the disagreed
blesofl life and discover some nook where
we could be together all our lives with
nothing to do but to love each other"
1t was Miss Nevil's turn to color. Her
heart throbbed wildly as a mortal's
might who caught sight of Paradise be-
fore he knew the doors were closed
against him.
In the distance the islands lay along
the skyline, white and vaporous. The
breeze wore thought of earthly growth
of flowers and budding leaves. The
mountains of the Tyrol rose purple in
the back, ground. The Paduan hills
lifted their low heads behind the pop
lars of IL deserted monastery.
'It will rain before night" said one
of the gondoliers.
Here we are at the convent, and
here comes Pere Gabriel to meet us"
The gondola swung round to the
landing-a row Of broad steps covered
with slime and crawling sea insects. A
middle aged man, with black beard
and spectacles, in black gown and
broad black hat, came forward.
"Ah, Mr.. Vane, | am glad to see