Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-06-28

the city undoubtedly, or she WOGlu no.
be at the exposition at night. And wnv
should Grace Bartlett live in the city
unless ahe had been brought here by
husband. As she was married, John
shrank now from an acquaintance that
he had been so anxious about five
minutes before. He recalled with sick
ly disgust the oft quoted assertion that
only the man of much assurance (be
he had or good) wins the regard and
love of woman. and John Pringle be-
came melancholy under the conviction
that he was not made for this world.
In a revulsion Of feeling he went to
the exposition to see curiosities, in
tercsted no longer in faces. Standing
one day where he could watch the
strange contortions of a white faced
monkey, he stopped to raise chatty
little 3-yearold Girl, who stoutly held
to the theory that the monkey had the
stomach ache. Something in her eyes
recalled Grace Bartlett of the long ago,
aud while 10 the daze of new surprise
he saw q glove hand touch his arm, the
very timidity of the touch thrilling
him, and heard a voice say, "Mr.
Pringle?' and turning, John behelt the
half expectsnt, halt doubling, wholly
bright face of-Grace conduct. He felt
like pattlng himself on the back when
he'realized that be had taken tho lady
hand and had greeted her pleasantly
and without embarrassment, This was
more than he had expected of himself
under the circumstances, and for the
/ bf,x nd g,F al no
! lady, as she moved away with the re-
luctant little girl asked. Cant you
come and see us?" John remember
ins the "us" possibly included her hus-
band could not form an answer.
Embarrassed, the LADY moved away at
the beck of gentleman, and John
Pringle stood crashing his teeth at his
own stupidity.
The next day he met the lady on the
street and walked with her the short
distance of two squares. She had the
old charm of manner, but in the place
of the dashing boldness that character.
ized her as gi1l, was a subdued self
possession. She exhibited an earnest
interest in his affairs that reminded
him Of his mother, and he was alto
gether enchanted Again he met her
at the exposition, showing its wonders
to friend. He joined them and heard
Grace addressed constantly as Jennie
Why was this Because she was mar
ried, he supposed.
But as he smiled at entertaining such
thought, and raised his eyes to look
at = rollickirg crowd scrambling into
tie elevator for trip to the dome, he
saw among the scramblers the face OF
Grace Bartlett. He turned with q face
full of wonder TO look at the woman
beside him, and to q iculate, "Your
double is in that elevator. How she
| frightened me !" But the elevator had
gone, and he proceeded to explain,
addressing the lady absent-mindedly
as Miss Bartlett She said good.natur-
eddy, 81 am not Miss Bartlett, you
know" and he responded instantly,
"Of course not. l forgot. But you
will excuse"
John now felt desire to get away
from his companions. Who was the
woman in the elevator lie must
know. And knowing she had not come
down, and that she could not come
down, until he was at the top, he went
| up, squeezed in among crowd of cap
tious people. At the landing he took
his stand, determined to intercept the
unknown when she came to take the
elevator to 60 down. He saw her at
last a gay spirit among crowd of
young people. She came forward with
out sign OF recognition, calling the
attention of her companions to hIs in
tent look. He crowded into the eleva.
tor after her, but he could find no ex.
cuse for speaking to her. Sne stepped
out at the bottom, and he saw that he
was about to lose his opportunity. He
stepped forward and blunderingly ask
ed. Excuse me, but what Is your
nsma, please?' and she, turning on
him a look Of indignant surprise, an
swered with a manner tina said. None
ofyour business" So expressive was
the action that John did not hear the
words spoken nor heed them. He act
ed like dolt. He started at the young
woman in stupid astonisbment, and
she, tuning to look at him when some
distance from him, laughed genuine
country laugh. that started all her COM
panions in fit of merrimont. And
laughing and capering, they were lost
IN the crowd.
John sat down overwhelmed. He
had sought to settle a question by d.
rect inquiry, and had been met by
rudeness in woman. But who was
this woman? Just then he saw her
coming toward him. She came eager
ly, and John could not analyze the
look on her face. She came directly
to him, and holding out her hand, said,
duplicating the words of another:
"Tais Is MIR. Priugle, isn't il? You
must excuse me, | don't know you.
I'm sorry | spoke that way. But you
know how | always was, and we can't
get over Old faults in q minute. You
really are very much changed, and /
suppose | am; but | remember You
and how bashful you were. was
never troubled ia that way, you know.
Wish l had been" And so the eirl
talked on, her face, eyes. and her msn.
ner all recalling memories of the old
time. John was bewildered, and said
! helplessly, Won't you tell me who
Loo. ~