Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-05-12

. and stay with Us until the warm weather
sets in, then go With Us to Long Branch
Hugh will, Of course, accompany us
there, and-well, strange things happen
sometimes Be sure To come, that's
darling for you don't know how much
good just sight of your dear face
will do
Yours eternally,
"FLossIE.
'P. S.-Write at once on what dav
and train to expect you, and | will send
Hugh and the carriage to meet you.
"P. s. No. 2.-When / showed your
| Likeness to Hugh, he was captivated at
once, and declared he mad never seen
so charming, face. What will he say
to the original? F. T."
Mrs. Travers was correct there Just
how much 90, she herself did not know
The truth was, though nothing could
have induced him to acknowledge it,
Hugh had half fallen in love with the
pure, ratrician face Of Eleanor's pho
tograph and in his heart of hearts, he
had invested her with all the attributes
which adorned his exalted ideal of
feminine perfection, and 1t was with
secret disappointment that he heard of
| her intention to visit his sister, after
what he felt sure Florence had limited
at in her letter For Mrs. Travers had
taken it for granted that Eleanor would
come, and Hugh's high estimate of
delicacy could not be offended at what
he considered-well, to put it mildly
a visit Of inspection, for he really be-
| lieved it to be that. notwithstanding his
sisters indignant protest to the con
trary. But in that he acknowledged to
himself, he might be mistaken, and, if
So why Miss Vance would have every
reason to believe him fortune hunter,
should he remain to PLAY the devoted
| during her stay with Flossie. So he
| considered it the wiser plan to take
himself of, which he accordingly did,
| telling Mrs. Travers to call IT sudden
business, or anything else she liked.
What Eleanor thought of him we
may judge by the exclamation that
A bright, angry flush burned on either
soft, rounded cheek, and the blue eyes
flashed with Indignation as the owner
sprang to her feet, and, tossing the let
ter aside, clenched her dimpled hands,
and proudly cresting her royal head
exclaimed passionately:
"Does Florence Travers Ihink,fOr one
instant that | would be guilty of the
unwomanly conduct at which she more
| than hints in this letter? Does she
suppose that | would seek her brother
would visit her house with the avow-
/ ed intention Of making his acqualnt-
ance2 All. Florence, you make a great
mistake, if that is your idea Of Eleanor
Vance, and have made a greater one
| in my estimate of your brothers char
acter. Judging from the picture which
| you showed me | considered him Il
noble, refined gentleman, but / see |
have been mistaken. He is particu-
| larly anxious to see me, is he? Well,
Mr.. Hugh Castlemon, do not think
you will have the pleasure of playing
attendant cavalier to the heiress Just yet
awhile"
And the scornful emphasis on the
word ''heiress" will give us an idea of
her suspicious rs 10 Mr. Castlemon's
anxiety" to see her.
Il had intended visiting Flossie this
spring, anyway" soliloquized Eleanor,
seating herself and speaking in low
| tone, but this" with a contemptous
glance toward the letter, "has com
| pletely altered my purpose | had an
ticlpated so much pleasure, too, y in
Responding tone. But, oh. | know
what I'll do, with a sudden brighten
ing Of the sweet face, "I'll go right
down to Aunt Sallie's and stay there
the whole spring and summer. Dear
old Appleton I can almost fancy |
smell the honeysuckle that grows over
the front porch and peeps in at the
kitchen window And dear Uncle
John and Aunt Sallie, How glad they
will be to see their little Nellie There
I'll be safe from fortune hunters at any
rate. | will throw aside the heiress.
and be simple country Nell, But now
| will answer FloSsie's letter, telling her
| viii be unable to accept her invitation
this time
One week later found my heroine a
guest at her Aunt Salhe Wares whose
substantial farm was situated about a
mile from the village of Appleton. The
soft breath ofthe spring had just began
awaken into life the junquils and hare
bells and the sweet blue violets when
Eleanor reached the dear old place
Uncle John and Aunt Sallie welcomed
their "itte Nell' with open arms. for
they loved her for her own sweet self
alone. Aunt Sallie had nursed her
through severe spell of sickness in
her infancy, and since then bad loved
her as her own.
Eleanors visit to the farm were the
gala-days in the lives Of Uncle John