Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-08-24

| return.
Perhaps, whispered hope, he may love
| on, and all will yet be right.
! But the timid little voice was silenc
ed as me mory brought back II host Of
actions, ali kind, but none iovelike.
| Long did she sit there, and many
wild scheme passed through her head
of stealing away into the world and
| leaving John in poss ession Of the for
tune.
"What is to be done must be done
| quickly, !" he said, "Or he will be before
me in the refusal of the property; and
/ must 60 away and let them
think me dead"
Then she rose, bathed her eyes, and
stole down to the garden. Her favorte
| seat was Just outside the library win
dows, and it was here she went Just N
time to hear Johns voice saying
Eyes we have always been fond Of
each other in cousnly fashion, but
tell you, Percy, under the .circumstan-
ces never can and never will ask her
to marry me; and, poor little girl to
| save for her that money, must refuse
| her"
Gathering her skirts around her Win
ME fed noiselessly back to her room,
but not this time to think or to weep.
| She was cut to the heart, for, all I'M
! known to herself, she loved John Red
mond with the full strength of her
woman's nature and, womanlike, pre-
pared to sacrifice herself for the man
she loved. For an hour she busted
herself in settling the contents Of the
various drawers and boxes in the room,
making up some of the palmer articles
Of clothing into small bundle. She
then sat down, and, taking pen and
paper, wrote the following note:
DEAR AUNT LOUISE: Ere you have
read this ! shall be lying under the
dark waters of the river. Tell Mr..
Weston absolutely refuse to comply
with the terms of my uncle's will. |
could not; barrier greater than you
know exists to his desire. Try and
think kindly Of me, and tell John not
to think harshly of his little sister.
WINNIE"
at is better they should think me
dead" she said. 'If they knew my
real intentions they would never cease
to seek for me-" Then, stopping down,
with fooishly tender thought, she
kissed Johns name where she had
written it, and, sealing the note, left it
where he would find it.
Putting on her hat and cloak she took
down from the shelf her pretty garden
hat, and carrying that and the bundle
| stole from the room. AT the door she
paused and looked back. She had been
so happy here so happy. But stifiling
| her sobs she fled down the old familiar
avenue and took the path leading to
| the river.
And now let us 90 back to the library.
| Had poor little Winnie come moment
before she need not now be speeding
away from her home with so sore a
heart. John Redmond loved her with
8 love equal to her own, and the words
she heard were spoken under the belief
that she loved him with only a sistery
affection, which he was too noble to
play upon by inducing her to become
his wife.
Percy had to return to MS home,
and his friend determined to walk with
HIM rs far as the station, as the night
had becom cloudy and threatened a
storm, and the former was unfamiliar
with the road. He was now returning,
and just as Winnie's figure had emerg-
ed from the gate he caught sight of it,
and at once caught sight of her.
"Where can the child be going at
this late hour" he sohloquized 1T
seems dishonorable to follow her, and
impertinent to question her, and
god heaven she must be walking in
her sleep. In any case, | must follow
to protect her"
A very little watching sutficied to
show him that she was at least wide
awake so on they walked, the young
man keeping in the deep shadow OF
the trees, so that she did not discover
him.
At last they reached the river and
here they paused. A thrill of fear
caused him to hasten his steps. But
no, Winnie's was to noble. q soul to
dream OF selfdestruction. 1t WAS now
raining heavily, and the flashes OF
lightning showed him the slight figure
bend over the stream and drop into it
the garden hat she carried, and then
turned away toward bridge few
yards farther down. He follow
ed noiselessly, almost breathless from
astonishment; the lightning revealed
her standing on the bridge, which was
struck by the next flash and she sank
from sight beneath the waters.
1t was the work of second to spring
in after her, cursing himself for not
having stopped her before, ana seize
the unconscious form as it rose to the
surface He was coed swimmer and
soon gained the bank, where he laid
his unconscious burden. She was not,
as he ut first supposed, dead, but dazed
| by the shock His professional skill
enabled him to use the best means to
promote her recovery, and he was r.
warded; for in few moments she
opened her eyes and recognizing him,
exclaimed, rs in the old, childish DAYS
"Dear old John"
Then, as he raised her in his arms,
murmuring tender, loving words, she
remembered all and endeavuIed TO