Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-05-25
CUPID'S STRATEGY.

"The theory of love in a cottage IL
somewhat exhausted in these later
days, my dear Helen. Still, if you so
infinitely prefer the fostering of some
such romantic idea, to accepting man
young, handsome, and with a rent-roll
of ten thousand year, only beg you
to remember, when too late to retrieve
the irretrievable, that you have naught
to blame but your own willful obsti-
macy"
And Mrs. Durham, having delivered
herself of the above sentence, accom-,
panied it by a long and profound
sigh.
What impression the profound wis
dom of her remarks had made was diff
ficult to CLEAN, since only the back os
her listener IN very straight and grace
full back, be it observed) was visible.
She was standing by the window,
looking down into the street below. A
halfshrug of the pretty shoulders indi-
Gated that she had heard, at least. Mrs
Durham could not suppress her i'm
patience.
"You are incorrigible, Helen," she
continued. ado let me know how you
intend to receive Arthur Rugby, and
why you are so unwilling to accede to
your uncle's wishes"
The young girl turned now, revealing
face OF more than usual loneliness
but there was a scarlet flush upon her
cheek and an ominous light i'll her
ewes, as she at last replied:
81 am not piece of merchandise, "
she said, "to be bought or sold, simply
because an old man has taken it into
his head that certain family interests
are to be benefited thereby. Doubtless
this plan is rs repulsive to Arthur Rug
by as myself. He is not in absolute
need of money. If he is man, he
would rather work for u woman whom
he loved than live in ease with one
forced upon his heart"
Forced, Helen' You use such
strong expressions, my dear Remem-
Der that you and your cousin have not
met since you were children? What
is to prevent your falling in love with
each other2 At least, child, look your
prettiest tonight, and receive him il
your own charming way, and | sill
answer tor the result, as far as he j
concerned. It Is arranged that he is
10 take you to dinner"
"With the understanding that !, Is
the first of many dinners where we are
TO be thrown upon each others society
a sort of experience as To the mutua
entertainment of which each is capable
Really, aunty, | don't think the con
dition will be inspiring
Ard WI N a facr,patipu little ai- a
disdain the young girl swept from thu
room.
''He shall see that | am not a party
TO this conspiracy, at any rate, she
thought TO herself, rs ~ slight stir il
the corridor outside her door, n few
hours later, betokened the new arrival
IF | fascinate him." and she lsugheC
scornfully, sit will be through no faul
Vi mine"
Meantime n young ami handsome
man, making his toilet for dinner, al
lowed his thoughts to be somewhat sim
ilarly occupied.
Twenty thousand year, Uncle
Reuben, and q wife OF your choosing
or THREE thousand and the charms of {
bachelorhood, or at least free choice
Really, | believe the latter prospect t
be more enticing. | hope the girl doe
not entertain any foolish ideas. |
would make it embarrassing"
81 needn't have feared" he adde,
mentally, some sixty minutes after tn
above soliloquy, tue formal introduc
ton having been gone through with
and the third course in order at tn
dinner table. "She hasn't an idea upol
any subject Beyond few remarks o.
the weather, and the hope that wi
find the shooting good, she has nc
honored me. Evidently a schoolgirl
unaccustome to society. On, no Uncl
Reuben! a pretty face is not all decsr
10 wife,"