Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-02-01
"IL TR0YAT0RE.1

The room seemed tic have crept into
that grim, prosale house by mistake,
80 bright, 30 CHEEKY, SO cosy, was it.
Crimson curtains shut out the black
October evening A coal fire sparkled
in u little open stove, its soft light max
ing q rosy twilight. Everywhere were
the dainty feminine adornments, every
where the suggestion OF Woman's
presence.
BY small shaded lamp in one cor
ner boy was porting over a book.
Swaying herself backward and forward
IN low rocker eat girl, child Mt
first glance, so small was the back.
robed figure.
A mass of rare curls tangled to her
waist The eyes under dark and deli
cate ids were rs blue as meadow vio-
lets.
A knock at the door. She sprang to
her feet with sudden glad cry as she
caught sight OF the tall, shabby dressed
figure on the threshold.
"Max r. she cried, "O1, Cedric, its
Max"
She held out both hands rapturous-
ly, her eyes aight. Ho smiled little
sadly as ne noticed the frank child
ish joy Of words and action.
"When did you get back, Max ?" the
boy asked, ilinging down his book and
coming forward. 1--WE missed you
awfully. DIDN'T we, Cora =? Awfully."
"Yes," Cora --murmured absentiy,
looking up into the grave handsome
face before her and still holding one
cold, brown hand in both her own lit
tie, warm snOW-white ones. Come
and get warmer Max 1t is almost
Christmas weather. Haven't we the
place nice % with quiet PRIDE 600
you know" choerily, chat some
times we~Cedric and don't
hardly miss-home ?''
And there was quick sob. Max
Marsden looked pityingly down on the
pretty. averted, iire-tiushed face. She
had begun SO brayely only to fllter
and limp lamely to the end
III is cosy, Coral ltls homo dear.
Try and remember you have Cedric,
and love always makes homel
She lifted her head in sudden self
defiance. She resolutely curved her
lips into a smile and winked the bright
tears away.
"Now next | viii make you cup of
ten, can make tea you know. And
steaS-I can cook steak now, and"
But he laughed and held up ono hand
deprecatingly.
"What menu And what u little
cook it is to be sure Never mind the
steak, dear Justlet us have cup of
tea and then we will go to the opera "
"The Operam
She stood quite still in the rosy fire
light just gasping out tue one enchant-
ing word She was little more than a
child, remember, this girl Of sixteen.
And She had never been to the opera.
"Yes-'Il 1rovatore" Really and
truly Now, little woman. muiue up,
for it's seven O'Clock and we may be-"
using & genuine Chieagoism, "bridged"
One year before Cora Testers father
had died leaving his children orphaned
and almost frleudless. He had been
accounted a wealthy man. His house
on the Boulevard had been marvel
of almost barbaric magniticence.
But after his death gradually the
knowledge came to his children that
the only heritage their father left them
was that of bitter poverty.
Their only relative, an uncle be-
cause of former enmity with their faith
er refused to aid them.
So with childish PRIDE taking the
small portion remaining to them, they
went out into the world alone. But
slowly their tender purse grew slighter
and slighter, and would have totally col
lapsed were il not that Max Marsden