Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-01-18
DOUBLY SAVED.

must tell you all that has happen
ed to me since my birthday party
my sixteenth birth FAY, that we kept 80
merrily in our country home.
It WAS soon after Christmas, the
twenty eighth of December, and the
Christmas decorations were still about
.he ROOM and the childreu's Christmas.
tree all glittering with glass balls and
little candles, stood in the corner, !
wore my white silk with Jacqueminot
roses in my hair and at my bosom.
Amy Lovelace, my dearest friend, had
pale yellow silk and tea-roses. g
we're the best dancers in the room, and
papa had quite q little band to play FOR
rs.
remember Amy telling me that she
thought Dr. Garcia had the most
beautiful eyes she ever saw except in
the head of a seal. Such funny COM
1'imenti But they were splendid, and
amy was right; and when she said he
was very much in love with me she
vas right too.
But Charlie Constant had been court
ing me for some time, aud he propos-
ed that evening when he followed me
INTO my fathers study, where | went to
get some music. remember Just
what he said the very words.
crosse, you are the prettiest girl
know. May have your"
laughed and SAID, yes, if mother
and father say So
And he kissed me-
Later on, when Madame Vine was
playing wonderful piece, all triils and
quavers and crashes, DR.. Garcia got me
20 himself IN quiet corner, and did
the same thing. What he said was
"Rose, | love you better than my life.
] wish ! thought you liked me enough
be my wife some day"
And in spite Of what just happened
real pang pierced my heart.
How he could look at one, and what
deep, soft voice he had. | had hard
work to answer Just as | did.
90, DIR. Garcia, do like you, but
I'm engaged to Charlie Constant"
But then who could blame me for
my choice? MIR. Constant was old
Archibald Constants only son-riCh,
handsome, accumpl ished-all that men
his way to fight in the world, and was
not handsome. Good? Oh, yes, /
knew that well; but all the girls envied
me Charlie Constant? Yes, | said that
quite quietly, and he took my hand
and SAID God bless you, | hope you
sill be very happy" and went away,
and | did not see him for long time.
Charlie brought me ring next day,
and we were to zoe married on my sew
snteenth birthday
What a pleasant year it was. ltpass-
sd like q dream, and mid-winter cam .
again, and the week before my we'd
ding there was a full moon.
We had planned glorious ride
ten miles through the country roads
Charlie and ! were together of couse
We drove two new horses that day
animals that cost him fortune, ant
were splendid, creatures, though very
nervous and hard to handle. But
was not easily frightened then; ! did
not know what fear was. | could not
remember ever having been hurt in
my life. | had never been i'll Or an
happy.
We flew over the ground, until W,
came near a rocky deelcvity known as
"rGe Great Delf,' which was covered
with snow, the branches Of great trees
sll covered with icices growing in CON
fusion along the sides One branch fell
Ss we dashed along. II frightened the
horses. They swerved and the vehicle
turned over: that's all know about IT,
Afterwards | came to myself down on
}he rocks, horribly hurt and cold-sC
cold / could not stir and ! knew wa,
freezing TO death.
/ did not know what had happened
e. Charlie. Perhaps he was lying near
me, dead The sun was going down
and far up above | saw the bank over
which I had fallen / thought OF moth.
er and father, and of everybody, and
il seemed very hard to die. Oh Char.
lie must be dead, | thought, or hC
wouj3 have come down TO me. Il was
all q kind st dream 10y that time, bul
Just a. the last red gleam faded away
i saw man coming down the rock
A rope was around his waist and stat
vas in MS hand H. came nearer anc
nearer, and ut las. was beside me.
Ii was not Charlie. 1t was bigger
man than he
"Is it father asked through m
my frozen lips
NO" was the answer-no, darling
father is up on the rocks, there L
2I,"-and knew i was Doctor Gracis