Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-03-16


watched them drive away; and she
wished she could be away--away to
the endsof the earth. For others, sun.
shine, flowers and the broidery of life;
for her the sterile pathway which duty
sternly pointed out.
Despiteof her friends advice, Ger
aldine dressed that evening for another
party. She had knotted the last rib
bon, fastened the last glittering clasp,
and taking up ner snowy lace fan, when
little Clare stole into the room.
GERRY" she asked, looking intently
at her radiant sister, does you like Mr..
Stuart? ?"
Eyes, like him." responded Geral-
dine, absently.
"Wen, Miss Lind doesn't" returned
the child with emphasis.
'Doen't she" responded Geraldine,
indifenty.
"No; she don't even talk to him.
Not now" added the child. "She used
to talk to him in the garden, when she
took us to walk before breakfast. But
this afternoon when her flowers rolled
out of her lap, just as he came through
the lilly walk, and he stopped and
picked them up, she looked at him just
as she does at us when we are naughty
wondering, as if she did not love us
at all--and said, just as if she were
proud, Let them lie,' and he dropped
them and went away as if he felt bad.
But she isn't proud picked them
up, and she said, Thank you, dear.
Shes always good to us, but she don't
like Mr.. Stuart"
Geraldine did not heed the child's
chatter, only the vision of Annie
Lind's sweet face, which she had seen
daily 50 many months without heed
ing, rose before her.
"She is girl like myself, and she
has no interest in my making "A good
match | wonder if she would under
stand?"
"You must not keep any more late
hours, Geraldine" commanded the
Judge, next day.
"No, papa" replied Geraldine. Mrs.
Courtnay's is the last of the season.
"Who was that Frenchman who
picked up your glove, Geraldine"
asked Vivian Stuart, sitting at the feet
of his lady-love. where every lifting of
the beautiful lashes were observable to
him.
"No Frenchman. 1t was Captain
Julian Wilton, of the navy" she re-
piled; but every bit Of color had gone
out of her satin cheek. 1t came back
furiously. at is very hot in the
house." she said, rising, 81 am going
down to the spring grotto."
And Mr.. Stuart sauntered after. The
great dog, Emperor, went too. The
birds sang, the flowers were blooming.
Musky and hot was the glowing gar
der, the spring grotto was spot sacred
to shade and GOODNESS. The water
poured into messy cavity within the
natural arch under a bridge of stone.
Shadow-loving vines had crept under,
and the further entrance was almost
filled with trailing willow boughs. En-
tering at the free opening one found
rustic seats, a green gloom, delicious
atmosphere, and the tinkling music of
the water.
Here Vivian Stuart spent the long
forenoon, watching the perfection of
Geraldine's face in shadow, and reading
aloud the musical meanings of
Lucille" 1t seemed to him, at least,
that the green gloom made his beauti-
full companions face to pale.
Did it not occur to him that Gerald
inc Blake was twenty-three, and that
his might not have been the first voice
which had read beautiful verse to her
"Miss Lind" said Aunt Doretha,
kindly, few days later, you are look
ing extremely thin and pale. Per-
haps the extreme heat and the care of
the children are too much for your
strength. | think it must be SO, and
Martin can take care of them for few
days while you assist Geraldine to pre-
pare for her fathers birthday tste. They
can be excused from their lessons for
week"
ooh, no. said Annie, family.
But the proposed change WIS AS
pleasant relief as the friendly words.
A little color came into the sweet
cheek. With little warm persuasion
for Aunt Doretha was not unkindly
she yielded, with thanks. So the two
girls were busily about house and gar
den, planning and suggesting new
beauties for both.
Papa invites everybody-even his
worst enemies son these joyous occa-
sions," said Geraldine. Il wish our
grounds were twice as large"
They were in an arbour, weaving a
garland of roses, on the evening before
the tete-day. The sunset light struck
Geraldines dark face with strange
splendor. Annie Lind looked at her
without envy, but q sad admiration.
Thrown into Geraldine's special COM
partnership, she could not dislike her,
even though she was Vivian Stuart's
aiiianced.
Geraldine's nature was warm and
kind. She would have been generous to
worm, Annie thought, feeling dwarfed
and colorIeSs beside this glowing beauty
whose jeweled hands sparkled among
tie roses Her own little hand fell
idly down rs her thoughts deepened.
care you tired" asked Geraldine
kindly.
NO." answered Annie quickly. "But