Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-11-23

y
take this vacant seat next to Miss Ran
dolph." lis he going to speak or
mention H?" she thinks in an agony.
Peabody seemingly takes no notice
of the wretched, CRUSHING little being at
his side at least for some minutes.
"Poor little SOUL" he TANKS, show
wretched she is making herself. She
shall call me whole Geological Gar
den, if she only won't look like that"
So, half in fun, half in earnest, he
leans over her with. ~ don't mind it
bit, indeed / don't. | dare say you're
right, we men are wretched creatures"
He had funny, staccato way ofspeak-
ing which in the morning Molly had
decided to be particularly disagreeabla.
Strange it doesn't seem so now
Molly a spirits return. cts certainly
very nice in him." she THINKS, mot to
be sulky." Really" says she, laugh
ing, and looking little bit earnest
through it all, do you know l think
it's very nice of you. should mind,
immensely, if you called me names"
giving him a shy glance from under
her long lashes,"
Perish the the thought You sug-
gest an impossibility," he retorted,
Chow delightful, exclaims Molly
cheerfully. perhaps | may like you
then"
"Will you two people eat dinner
interrupts Mrs. Randolph, who has
been watching this proceeding with
the utmost satisfaction. And she says
to herself Perhaps Imposing if
&c. Il r Lo al ~
But every Paradise has its serpent.
The serpent at Bar Harbor turns up in
the person of Mrs. Crosby, widow, ir-
reproachable in family, but envious,
malicious, gossping, and with pale,
detected daughter 80 years old. Mrs
Randolph hears ofthis arrival with con-
aternation. She rushes up to Molly,
who is sitting on the piazza by dining
room window, chatting with Peabody.
"Our good times over" she cries.
"Mrs. Crosbie is here, and Maria's with
her, and by tomorrow none of us will
have any character left" Peabody
looks CONSERVATION itself. Molly cries
"The slanderous old tabby." She has
hardly spoken when voice from be.
hind the dining.room blinds cries out
maria, my dear, will you close that
window? The chatter outside is SC
tir.some." And they know they have
been overheard. "Gracious heavens, u
cries Mrs. Randolph; "she's there, and
listening?'
Nothing followed this catastrophe
!, however, for several days; and Mrs
Randolph began to think they had not
} been overheard. Peabody even went
, so far as to pay court to Mrs. Crosbie
hoping to cut her fangs, if not to pro-
pitiate her. He had been talking to
her one day. when he saw Molly in
front Of the piazza, without hat or par
asol. BY this time he and she had
grown quite intimate, Mrs. Randolph
like wise woman, looking on and say
ing nothing. They had ridden, walk
ed and boated together, and had SAT
for hours side by side on the rocks
watching the sea, of to the south. He
now rushed forth with almost an air Of
proprietorship.
GLOW can you" he said to Molly
"stand out here ia that way, in the
heat? A nut-brown maid is one thing,
but Sioux or Cherokee -"
care two" interrupts Molly, gayly-
'Its helpless case, Mr.. Peabody"
and she holds out two little brown
hands for his inspection, and then
looks up into his face with laughing
eyes. care you ashamed of me p
81 wish you would let me tell you
how | do feel towards YOU" he whis-
pers, mpetuously, and in an accent he
has never dared to use before. Molly
bushes furiously. She is utterly taken
ahack She had never thought of this.
What does he mean? Oh, perhaps he
meaAs nothing. She is saved reply
by the approach of Mrs. Randolph"
Peabody is his usual Goldman
nered, well bred self IN moment.
"Ah, Mrs. Randolph" he says, 81 am
the bearer Of flag of truce from her
maies Mrs. COSBY. She wants to
know if you have forgotten her, and if
you won't bring up Miss Randolph to
talk to her ?"
"Must we back out of the royal pres
ence when we retire p asked Molly,
mischievously.
"Hush," answers Peabody; "here we
are"
"A very nice old lady," is Molly's
Judgment, as she listens to the bland,
quiet voice purring away to lrma.
Presently she hears: ais this your first
visit to Bar Harbor, Mrs. Randolph
But how then-do tell me-did you
know what u happy hunting-ground il
was ?"
Mrs. Randolph was courageous lit.
tie woman, with very quick temper
In an instant she scented battle, and il
another was fully armed and equipped
"But didn't" she said, With a naive
little laugh. How do you mean
For what kind of game?'
"Game?' rejoined the other, with q
sneering laugh. Good parties, oil
course. l hear chat so far you've been
moderately successful"
All the little group around were 81
lent. Molly alone did not take in the
meaning of her words. Peabody stood
looking, as some one said afterwards,
as il he were going to murder her. But
what could he do? A man interfere
between two women? 1t was impOssi-