Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-06-21

| IE6y ever lbt mt kHON, n1audn
Octavia," said poor Denis, "where she
was going, or why. Did she suppose /
held her love so lightly won and so
lightly losl? What if she is engaged to
Baron Won Stock, and bound by sll the
berothale in Christendom, il doesn't
matter in the least. No guardian can
dispose of a girl that way in this coun
try. Jean, / tell you it shall not be,
Don't you believe nae Je' NJ
But Jean was sobbing quietly to her
self, her face buried in her hands, only
the soh, dark fringos of hair upon her
brow visible.
jean" / said at last, surely there
| is no cause for all these tears. 1t is
quite simple; what Denis says is more
or less true; the Baron will never hold
you unwillingly to your word. Be frank
With him, my dear; it IS always the
best way to be honest"
"You do not know" she answered,
lifting the tear drenched face into the
moonlight that now stresmed in soft
effulgence through the open window,
"what it meas to us to have plignted
our ,roth. It is only very little less
binding than marriage vow, and l.,
| above all others, MUST not break mine;
for, do you not know my dying father
promised for me, and | may not soil
his honor, though / might my own?"
| And from this we could not move
her. Denis was in despair, and not
less moved, for loved these two child
rem dearly, and in my secret heart
cherished the hope that they might one
day become something nearer and
dearer than friends.
Jean sobbed on little longer, while
Denis held one unressting hand, and
the kindly shadows OF the calm May
night wrapped us all in soft obscurity.
Presently there came the sound of
wheels and the tramp of horses in the
quiet street below, and then my little
maid appeared with her lisping mes
sage:
"Btron Won Stock was waiting for
Miss DOrsay."
st. Jean dried her eyes, put her nat
over her dark, rufllsd hair, gave her
hand calmly to Denis, kissed me hast
lily, and then we were left alone. The
horses pranced below, and through the
evening air came jeans plaintive voice.
Inen the rolling wheels growing fainter
in the distance, and then--silence.
"Denis, > | said at length, don't give
her up"
Don't give her up, Madam Octavia, :"
he replied; "but what can do? 1t is
her that gives me up. What can |
doY"
go to her guardian, Mr.. Haviland,
and tell him. If he has any remnant
of youth left in his heart no will try
and help you"
This said, not unmindful of Denis
good family, good looks and his great
wealth. He frightened somewhat at
this suggestion, and left me, later on.
more willing to see some hope for the
future.
| did not see either of my children
Tor some days after that evening; in.
deed, l think two weeks had gone by;
hnt eaeh-day saw me SO busiIy en-
ployed with my pupils and an amount
of extra work that l scarcely realized
the flight of time.
One afternoon quite late, az | sat
correcting very much out of draw
ing study, Jean came in. / did not
look up, but welcomed her from my
easel she came across the room silent
ly and stood before me without speak
ing.
well, my dear" l said, rubbing out
a forearm with bit of bread, 1T is a
long time since you gladdened my
eyes with a sight OF your wins0me
face"
Then, as she did not answer, looked
up. She was standing directly in front
of me, with the light from the north
window full upon her. Her dress was
a long, soft, white null, with breast
knot of dark Russian violets; she held
hel hat IN her haHd, and her soft, dark
hair lay slightly moist upon her fore
head. But it was none of these ac-
cessories that drew from me the
startled exclamation:
Jean, what have you been doing to
YOURSELF" For she was perfectly color
less with pallor that betokoned sleep
less nights and restless days, while all
the tiny blue veins about her temples
we're plainly visible, and beneath her
sweet eyes were dark purple shadows.
She gave a little laugh.
"On, nothing, Oc'avis, unless break
ing ones heart can be called an oCcu-
patton, l have been doing that"
Then you are very foolish" / said,
Why should you break your heart.
and some one else's as well, when the
remedy hes in your own hands?'
She made no answer at first, trihipg
IN nervous way with the feathers on
her hat. Then in a troubled voice: as
1t Denis You mean, Octsvia?'
What else shouldit be-" Ianswered
Break your own heart if you will,
child, but you might have spared nay
boys"
spoke quickly and in temper, but I
grieved when / had said it. The girl
started rs if wounded, and gave a long,
deep sigh, though she answered me
lquietly enough.
Dear Madam Octavia, in deciding
rs l have, believe me, have not spared
myself; but did not come to You "a
say so. l came because | am very
miserable, and all alone, and because j