Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-12-27

ing else about me to indentify me.
There was none of the proverblal
strawberry marks or moles so often
found on lost children in stories, so l
had only the cameo to connect me
with the unknown past.
So / slipped it on my finger, and
when Jack told me to keep it for an
engagement ring until he could pro
cure another it became doubly dear to
me.
By-and-by as soon as breakfast was
finished, much to my surprise and dis
appointment, my lover went up TO his
studio and remained invisible for two
hours.
He might have spent my birthday
with me, anyway. pouted as |
plodded upstairs feeling blue
enough. l knocked at the door of his
studio Not just now, dear, I'm
busy came in Jacks voice from be-
You'd the door Angry and indignant,
for he had allowed rae to spend my
mornings there for two months past,
silently went to my own room.
And / was angrier still when ten
minutes later his door opened to admit
Miles Griffith, fellow from the Art
lists Club.
And then / was ready to cry with
vexation They had always pettod
and spoiled me, mother and Jack, and
let me have my own way, so that |
could not bear even this little neglect
gracefully.
And besides we were just engaged,
and Jack, it seemed TO me, wasn't act
ing just as he ought under thecircum-
stances.
At last / was determined to be mean
enough to listen and hear if | could
what they were talking about so earn
estly in the studio.
Me, | found out at once, for Jack
had Just spoken my name as | guilty.
put my ear to the keyhole CA dis
graceful thing to do, | admit, but as ]
mean this to be a faithful account of
my birthday, and as Ireally did listen
at the keyhole record it,
II have made a great mistake, said
Jack, signing heavily.
/ couldn't distinguish Mr., Gritiiths
reply, but /, hushing my breath, heard
Jack say again;
at has always been my mothers
wish. / did it more to please her |
suppose. She loves Bird dearly, and
With dry sob | fell forward ON the
rug. / could not have stirred then
had they opened the door and saw me
there
He has found out this early that he
has made a mistake has her / thought
bitterly when my brain stopped whirl-
ing so / could think. 1T was only to
please his mother that he had asked
me to become his wife And TO think
he should reveal his disappointment
to that horrid old Grifliths first O, it
was too humiliating "
resolved to relase him at once, but
again | listened, having dim hope,
| suppose that perhaps my ears had
deceived me.
IF it suits my mother began
Jack.
That's not the thing" interrupted
Griffith. "YoHnever would be suited.
She lacks expression and
Eyes. know-naturalness-- i
know the faults, for | am better
acquainted with Birdie than you are,
Griffith
80 be sure asscnted Griffith.
Mouth too large; eyes very vacant,
I've noticed, l advise You to give it
up
I'm take your advice, said Jack
emphatically, and then | rushed to
my room.
So through "Grimth's advice,
which Jack seemed so ready to take,
my brief little romance was to be
shattered. Well, | would never stay
and let him see my heart break, too;
for | felt sure | never could live
through this trouble, sodearhad Jack
in the role of lover become to me in
few short hours.
And so some way-now it all seems
like a vague dream to mel found
myself a few hours later wandering
aimlessly down a strange street, not
knowing or caring where my steps
tended. Some workmen INSTRUCTED
the sidewalk and | was obliged tocross
the street
remember of stepping down and
advancing a few steps, of hearing
hoarse shouts of warning, feeling a
sudden shock, and then all was
blank.
When | returned to consciousness |
was IN % strange room, everything
was strange to me
Where am IT, asked, although |
could see no one. What has hap
peuedr
you are with friends, said low
voice near me, and turning my eyes
they fell on a sweet faced lady, not
yet old, although her hair was nearly
white, sitting near me
How came | 1ereT ! demanded in
a week. startled voice
After brief consultation with the
woman evidently the nurse. the lady
decided to explain the situation
You are weak, but | trust to your
good sense to remain calm while tell
YOU why yoS are here. About q
month ago yON were crossing the
street and my husband and [ accidcn-
tally ran against and severely injured
WON flhnpa yrrae r4Rf I,tAtr d. h,t,t y.,,,