Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-11-24
sorry it could be summed up in so few

lie had come to her year previous.
taken her smallest room, and gone ON
as We saw him day after day, with no
change and no Frightening of his hard
lot.
i am sure Mrs. Smith, he never has
one penny to spare, and how he is to
manage about his clothes | do not
know. | am ashamed to own how
carefully l watch that coat, but then it
Is because dread 10 see it giving away.
And | think he is breaking down under
something more than hard work and
poor pay. He is heart-sick. There's
a girl in it, as sure as you live"
With that she trotted out as she had
come in, blithe and sunshiny, and
ready for the next thing that might
happen, with hearty smile.
sat at my desk and dreamed, as |
will do, when ought to be very busy,
could believe there was "a girl in it. !"
surely, one woman, at least-and pro-
baby score of them-had read that
fine, sad face, with tender eyes. Then
| recalled the shadow that had lain on
my heart so long, and pitied the imag
mary girl, | was sure, must suffer with
him for tie look | had seen once or
twice spring into the pale face, when
some word or sentence struck fire.
The supper-bell rang before / had
finished my letter. and | had to hurry
my preparations, as | did not expect
Charlie until a late hour, and must go
| down alone. When | went out into
the hall q servant was waiting at the
Darkroom door, and just as | reached
the turn of the stairs in the arch of
the back corridor the new boarder came
out of it.
Involuntary | glanced over at her,
and at the same moment low excla-
nation of surprise and deep feeling
burst from some one standing IN the
shadow of the arch near me 1t was
young Welleston, and | knew he was
devouring with passionate eyes the
lovely picture before us.
Miss Atheling was young and beauti-
ful-no doubt about that She was,
moreover, lady born and bred, and
woman of pure and delicate intuitions
and tastes. ! cannot tell why or how |
knew all this at one glance, but | did
Something in her face, distinctly visi-
BILE under the bright gas-jet, her atti-
tude as she paused to read the note the
servant handed her, her exquisite toilet
and the soft tones of her gentle voice
as she addressed the man, proclaimed
the facts have set down as first i'm
pressions, which have not been modi-
fled by after intercourse. And, Just as
quickly, knew in the same way that
she and young Welleston were not
strange to each other.
| had scarcely paused on my way
for this look, and | now passed on,
leaving him motionless in the dark
corner facing her. AS / expected, he
did not come to the table, but Miss
Atheling glided into her place next to
mine before | was fairly seated. She
was very, very pretty, slender, not
thin" graceful as n gazelle, dark
haired, dark-eyed, clear. pale skin,
lovier than any color, a mouth so fine
and pure in its delicate lines it was a
continual suggestion of delicate re-
finenlent, and smile that was actually
electric.
a faint and delicious thrill like shock
1t must, 1t does turn a mans very
brain, for l have seen its effects, and
Charlie says it is irresistible, if she had
the will to work evil with it, But she
hal not shadow of evil in her-bless
her!
l told Charlie about it when he came
in, and my fancies as well. So we
were both on the qui vive next morn
ing to sec if anything would bear them
out.
Mr.. Welleston was ut the table when
we went in, and greeted us with silent
bow as we were the earliest arrivals
after him. Miss Atheling came next.
bright and breezy as the morning, and
in her Gainsborough hat.
"Out so early?' could not help say
ing, as | caught her eye.
She smiled, and her lips opened to
reply, but the words died. A scarlet
flame shot up into her cheek that had
more of shyness than anger in its red,
and her eyes half sank
she seemed to steady herself with II
strong hand, however, looked clear and
full at the averted head of Mr.. Welles-
ton, and said, in a perfectly distinct,
attention compelling tone:
Good morning, Mr. Welleston.
am glad to see you are still living"
He answered something which lost,
for the Allen children burst in, tornado
wise, as usual, and all the little world
of our circle was swept into a current Of
teas, toasts, bread and milk, potatoes,
porridge, beefsteak, pouts and pranks.
am not used to children, and | can
didly own | come as near hating a bad
one as do the spirit of evil. In fact,
consider such one the mere embodi-
ment OF that gentleman, sent as pun
isnment and temptation to murder.
Those A Hen children turn all the
milk Of human kindness | imbibe into
purest gall, and never were they more
detestable than at this moment.
But Chac.ie said to me when we were
alone:
"You are about right, Alicel And
you may set her down as the girl in it,
| bet yon ten to one"
Either she is or she warts to be" |
q, ha4 Il, -