Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-05-25
Nor. as the dinner progressed, did

| Mrs. Dunham across the table 10 her
niece, there was no relaxing of the
stiff polteness, SO different from the
usual gracious demeanor which made
her so general favoritc.
| Thus week wore away. until the
last day appointed for Mr.. Rugby
visit had arrived. Quite by accident,
f, Helen, fapcying he had already started
| for the days shooting, entered the IL
brary, to find him seated there engross-
ed in writing letter.
She would have Withdrawn, but that,
at the rustling of her dress, he raised
his head and instantly sprang to his
| feet.
"Do not let me disturb you, beg.
| / came in search of book. How hap
pens it you are not shooting to-dayY'
81 was writing to Uncle Reuben" he
said; and then wave of blood mount
| ed to his face.
| He remembered that he had inscribed
the fulfllment of his pet am bition was
| impossible.
Helen was not slow to detect his EN-
barrassment, and OWNED its cause.
For the first time the Stiffness which
characterized her fed She held out
her hand with bewitching frankness,
and little, light laugh.
"1s there any reason we shouldn't
be friends, Cousin Arthur" she said,
because they wished to force us into
being lovers agaia5t our will2"
"None in the world" he observed,
catching her fingers in his own strong,
warm grasp. at was an absurd idea,
was it not7 But now that we have
broken the Ice regarding it, we can
afford to treat it as the absurd joke It
in reality is. But when you do select
| the fortunate man, cousin mine, let
me know, and promise to officiate as
best man on the OCCASION"
81 will certainly call upon you, if
you do not first set me the example,
she replied.
"And, snatch;ng her hand from his
OBTAINING grasp, she ran out Of the
room.
'By Jove as friend she's not so
bad. 1t was only this idea of matri-
mony which made her insupportable, F"
thought the young man, returning to
his writing.
But somehow the letter to Uncle
Reuben dragged; the outdoor atmos-
phe,e seemed TO invite him to its en-
ljoyment. So, thrusting away the I'M
finished page, he sailed forth, with
lighter heart than he had known in
many days, now that the burden of
future possibilities had been lifted
Tomorrow, he would be amid new
scenes, but at lee he could remember
Helen, not "a all awkward debutante,
forced upon his liking, but girl frank
enough to break down the barriers
which hitherto had made even friend
ship between them impossible.
To morrow? How little one knows
of the tomorrow
Tossing on his bed in feverish, deli
rious pain, Arthur Rugby noted not
time, nor reckoned when that morrow
to which he had looked forward be-
came to-day.
He had been in the midst of the en-
ioyment of his days shooting. when the
barrel of the gun he carried burst, Sc.
riously injurlng his arm and shoulder
In the dusk of evening, he had been
borne back, senseless and bleeding, to
spend long, weary days and wearier
nights of pain and wakeful restlessness.
How glad Helen was that all possible
misconstruction of any act of kindness
WAS done away with.
They so fully understood each other
now, so entirely comprehended the
mutual aversion with which they re-
garded the future folly others had wish
ed them to perpeirate, that she might
take ner place in the sick-room without
n moments check upon her hearts
impulse.
Therefore, it was she who adjusted
the light so that it might not be too
strong; it was her hands which knew
best how to arrange and cool the heat
ed pillows beneath his aching head; it
WAS her voice which whiled away the
hours of convalescence, reading to him
the books he choose; it was her step
which never Jared rs it glided to and
fro across his chamber; it was her COM
ing he grew to watch for, her going he
learned to miss, until the slow weeks
glided by, bringing with them returning
health and strength, which, for the first
time in his young life, had been so sud
denly Stricken from him.
But, although now able to leave the
house where so long he had been an
enforced guest he still fingered.
A full month had now elapsed since
his accident, when, one evening, sitting
in the library, his unfinished letter tc
his Uncle Reuben met his eye. He
took it up and read it all
Full well he remembered the senti
ment of almost aversion which haC
filled his breast as he perused thos,
lines. To what had it given place to
: day? Never before had he asked him
self the question. 1t pressed upon hin
8 with overwhelming force.
, Had ne been blind, that, when h,
might have reached out his hand 70
this most priceless gift, he willfull,
thrust it one side? How bare, hoy
empty, how desolate his future lif
! looked And all because But jus
here his revere was cut short.
The ibrar. door opened, and tn
! blonde head of his cousin was thrus
inopirinplv in