Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-06-22

could not have acted differently.
Only one course was left to me-to be
silent"
"Well il is all over now; we shall
probably never meet again."
'You won't take my friendship,
them"
"No thank you; you are very gen
erous, but / don't want that gift"
| He drew himself YEARLY into chair,
and for time there was silence. Hope
is so subtle, so intangible, that we are
aware ofits existence only when it has
ceased to be. Arthur Seton looked
upon himself as man without hope.
1t seemed to him that his life could
not be more desolate than it was, yet
VINO shall say what feeling of which he
was not directly conscious. may have
sustained him during the last three
years? Now everything seemed gone
there was nothing left for him but
| death.
| Presently carriage came down the
road carriage lamps flashed through
the dusk, and grew stationary opposite
the window. Mr.. Hunter hustled in
and announced that the carriage had
come for the young lady, and had done
the distance wonderful quick. Then
the door shu. and they were alone to-
gether again.
Softly ana distinctly Seton heard her
speak his name, "Arthur" but he did
not move. 1t seemed to him that he
would keep back all his love, chnch fast
his heart till she was gone, and then die
swiftly of the pain.
"Arthur, I am waiting, dear. Won't
you come? Are you going to forgive
me-"
He CROPPED his way toward her. She
stretched out her hand and drew him
toward her. Then he bent down; she
raised her face, and the hearts and lips
so long disunited, came together in n
long, passionate kiss. He knelt down
by her, her head sank upon his shout
der, and for many minutes they re-
manned thus, lost in loves profound
peace and mystery. And the corks
continued to pop, and the wagoners on
their way to London tramped IN and
ont of the bar, and good-nights were
exchanged between customers and land
ord, and as Arthur folded Alice's man.
tie around her, she said shyly:
"You are coming back with me to see
mamma, are you not?'
"May II" he answered joyfully.
So the bedroom which Mrs. Hunter
had been preparing all the afternoon,
and of which she was not little proud,
remainded unoccupied; but the pay
M ent was lavished and the days labor
was not regretted.
Oh that ever-to-be-forgotten ride
to Chiselhnrst through the wild, winoy
evening The rain ceased, and strange
voices were abroad in the wind, sing
ing jub;antly over love re-risen and
redeeming. The clouds drifted away,
and the pure, sweet moonlight culver
ed over wet fields and trees, and SEEM
ed loves benediction.
The reader is left 10 imagine the ar
rival home. Arthur had been favor
tie with Mrs. Clarefeld, and in the old
days of quarrels she would take his
part. When dinner was disposed of,
Mrs. Clarefeld pleaded household
duties and went to her room. There
she sat down before the fire and wept,
dear soul, over the happiness of her
children. Down stairs these two were
very quiet. TO them love was solemn
thing, and they silent lovers. The mo-
ments went swiftly on.
Presently. Alice said as she looked up
into Arthur's face:
"You are not going to Hastings this
week p
He answered with smile:
"But, dear, l have pledged my word
of honor to do so"
II command you to break it,"
He did so; but none of his friends
brought it as an accusation against him
that he for once in his life broke his
word Of honor.