Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-05-03

| tic conscience and an easy luxury low
! ing nature: while Marian with her head
| between her hot hands, was maturing
plans which she soon set about carry
| ing into execution.
| She wrote a tear-blisterea note TO her
mother, telling her how she had found
notes of John Reading oy mistake as
che was searching for a bill-for indeed
mamma must know she had not meant
to be dishonorable; how she was
wretcked in her present life, with its
shams and attempts TO keep up a lady
like appearance before World of peo-
pie richer than themselves; how she
could not marry John Reading if he
asked her, as she knew was expected of
her, so she would go away to school
friend on whose help she could rely,
and try to get some employment. She
would save every farthing she earned,
and send it to John Reading to pay the
disgraceful debt.
And, please, dear mamma was the
beseeching end of this midnight epistle,
do not, by the love you bear for your
children-which / know has urged you
to this false step-please do not borrow
any more money! | am sorry for some
hard thought / have had of you, and al
re1dy repent the unkind things | said
of you in my anger; and have left
Rita all the things of mine of which
she can possibly make use-l know she
has always admired my sealskin jacket.
When you read this, | shall be on my
way to Dale's station. Don't write to
urge me to change my mind, for i am
fully determined on my present course
kissing the letter she put ii with care
fel steps on her mothers dressing table,
and then stole back to her room. Be-
tween sobs and tears she packed the
remnant of her wardrobe, and in the
dawn of the gray autumn day left her
home.
Her courage rose as she sped along
in the train, and morning showed her
the beauties of the landscape. Nature
brought it's never failing balm to the
turbulent young soul;-snd she was
almost cheerful when late in the even
ing, she arrived at her destination.
The station was dimly lighted, and
the few lamps hckered in the wind.
Marian, in search OF her trunk, stun
bled over a queer little bundle sitting
on satchel, and scared voice came
out of the bundle, saying:
"Please you didn't hurt mo much.
Papa left me here SO long ago, and
am afraid he has gone away?' and the
the child began TO cry.
Marian lifted the little thing and
comforted it with soft cooling words.
She kissed the thin face, and held the
child tenderly until gentleman came
in search of 1t.
Harry, where arc your he called.
"Here, papa, with kind, strange
lady; ] was SO afraid you had gone
awav."
"Gone and left nay little boyl That
is hardly likely. Thank the lady, Har-
ry, and, madame, eccept my gratitude
also for your goodness. | was detain-
ed by some confusion as to my lug
gage. Can / be of service to your"
"No thank y0u," replied Marian;
and as the gentleman disappeared in
the darkness, and Marian trudged
along, foiiwed by the boy who bore her
trunk, she rather regretted her refusal
of assistance, for the strangers face
had Interested her.
Marian's school-friend, Janet Lauris-
ton had married soon after leaving
Mount Edgecomb where the two girls
had grown very fond of each other, and
had of ten written to Marian, asking
her to come to her, to admire her
husband, her new home, and all de.
light of q young wife. Unfortunately
at the time of Marians sudden depsr-
ture from her mother, Mrs. Lauriston
had gone on few days visit to her
new relatives. So when the traveller
arrived. expecting hearty welcome,
she found only dull faced servant to
receive her, a prey to the most mel
ancholy reflections.
Mrs. Lauriston would be home in
three days, Bridget had said; but three
days seemed century to Marian, who
at last, to keep from crying outright,
set to work to empty her trunk. Lift
ing the lid, instead of her own familiar
belongings, she saw before her q cigar.
case, pileof snowy shirts, an embroid-
cred smoking-csp, and in one end the
little socks, collars ana suits of boy.
Marian stared while che mechani-
cally lifted the masculine effects one by
one, until pile Of letters suddenly re-
minded her that she was an intruder,
and she hastily put the things back
with womsnly precision, tenderly
smoothing the child's coats and think
ing a photograph of a lady that lay
among them one of the prettiest she
had ever seen. Then its likeness to the
thin face of the child at the station
struck her, and it all flashed into her
head at once. This trunk must belong
to the gentleman with the nice eyes;
and, Notwithstanding her depression,
she broke into merry laugh as she
thought of his astonishment when he
should find petticoats, sir pers. rufHes,
etc, instead Of his own well. known
garments. The laugh, however, ended
in despairing thought of her own pre-.
dicameat. What was she to do with
out all those sensible, useful things she
had selected with such care?
CATER all, she thought, Dales Sta
ton is not very large place; and / will
send that brilliant-looking maid early
tomorrow morning TO ransack one part
| Of - for man and hOv vvbila I rnvsalf