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

golden hair, and the soft folds Of her
dress trailed noislessly after her, as, en-
terlng the sittIng-room, she made her
way 10 the figure standing by the man.
tie. his back to the door by which she
had entered. She knew that pepper
and-salt coat only too well, and she was
just trifie disappointed that it was
her uncle, and not the stranger whom
she saw there. Anyway, though, she
would find out his name; so, softly
placing her hand on one pepper-and-
sat shoulder, she asked with little
laugh:
"Who is he, uncle?"
Uncle turned, and by the Pickering
light of the fire, for the evening had
grown chilly, Eleanor's amazed eyes fell
on-Hugh Castlemon-yonly attired in
Mr.. Wares dry garments.
She recognized him the moment her
eyes rested on his handsome face. She
saw at once the likeness to his photo
graph; and he, with wonder on his face
recognized her.
'Mr. Castlemon !"
Miss Vance ~
Both started back. Eleanor's fair
face crimsoned and then Hugh ex-
claimed In incredulous tones
'Why, Miss Vance, | thought you
were with Flossie."
Il thought y0u were there ~ exclaim-
ed Eleanor, with a proud lifting of her
golden crowned head.
Hugh at once understood the signifi-
cant gesture, and his heart beat the
quicker at the thought that she was not
what he had half suspected her, but
was the sweet, womanly being that her
pure, lovely countenance betokened
He could have taken her in his arms
then, as she stood there, her fair
cheeks abloom, her proud head erect ;
but instead of that, he only said, with
a quiAlcal glance into the blue eyes :;
And that is why you are not there p
Eleanor gazed straight into his face,
and while the hot bushes covered face
and neck, she replied
at is"
And am not there because |
thought ynu were" said Hugh
Further explanations were rendered
impossible by the advent of Aunt Sallie,
who called both young people to sup
per, at which coy meal Hugh proved
himself most agreeable acquisition.
The rain continued until late hour;
so that Mr., Castlemon remained over
night In the morning, as he was TAX
ing his leave, he requested permission
to call again-a permission that was
readily granted, and as readily acted
upon.
Nearly every day after this found
Hugh at the Ware homestead, until
Eleanor began to watch for his coming
with a strange new hutter at her heart.
There had been no spoken explanation
but between them was a tacit under
standing of the feelings which had
prompted each to avoid the other.
One evening, when May had decked
the earth in robes of lovliness, Hugh and
Eleanor took walk along the
road where they first met. The
calm of evening lay like IL
spell over all the beauteous scene; the
sweet scents of wild-howers, the low
music of birds, were all about them,
and Hugh, gazing into the pensive face
beside him, felt how dear-how very
dcdl II was W MN, anu, ere ne Colilu
restrain it, the story OF his love burst
forth in words deep with the passion of
his heart, and then, looking down into
the sweet, blushing face, he asked her
to be his wife.
And Eleanor, yelling her starry eyes
beneath their soft, white lids, placed
both fair hands in his, and, in a voice
of unutterable happiness, answered Il
will.