Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-05-17
THE PLACE OF TRUTH.

OtneT ulEuL IN All uUtuNlaDly bdu lumOI,
found certain little note awaiting him
on his mantlepiece. 1t mad just come,
his landlady said, and slowly tearing
open the envelope, Dick read as fol-
lows:
"MY DEAR Mr.. TURNER: Many
thanks for your lovely bowers, which
have been greatly admired. 1t was like
your thoughtfuuess to remember my
birthday when / had almost forgotten
it myself ! was 30 sorry to miss your
call this afternoon. Sincerely yours,
"FLoRENCE REDLFER."
A very gracious little note, but for
some reason it appeared to afford its
reader but small satisfaction. Dick
read it twice with curling lip, then
tossing it into the scrap basked, he lit
cigar, stretched himself in an easy
chair and thoughtfully observed through
the smoge wreaths that began to float
around his head what precious
little liar she il Az if / didn't see her,
ten minutes after she was mot at home
to me this afternoon, start out driving
with Tom Baker in that cOnfoundedy
jerky dog oart Of his. Shouldn't wonder
If he had jerked her ont before they
got home, and serve her right tot WHY,
Snip, what is the matter with you siY'
Snip was the skye terrier, who fail
ing, to understand why he had been
sighted, was seeking to secure his mas
ter's notice by sitting upright and way
ing his front paws 20 and fro in gen.
tie, depreciating fashion.
"Did / hurt your feelings, poor little
81 nd n.,Iy fa,I,r1,y I
wouldn't, | assure you, for a dczen little
flirts like Florence Redifer, but | do
think, Snip, and | expect you to agree
with me, that we would all he better off
il women, and men, too, would say out
truthiully what was in their minds in.
stead of this eternal beating around the
bush. Why can't people be u lutte
more candid with their felow-creatures
instead Of fooling them to the top of
their bent, and then laughing behind
their back? Do you know, Saip?'
Snip didn't know, bat he was the last
dog in the world to confess his gnor-
anCe, so, assuming a look of wisdom
which Solomon might have envied, he
gave q mysterious little bark that could
mean anything, and composed himself
again 20 listen.
"Just eight O'clock" said Dick, con-
suting his watch. IN two hours I've
got TO dress and 90 to Mrs. Grey's bali,
the biggest bore OF the season, haven't
doubt; but there is no escaping il.
Aren't you glad, Snip, you don't have
to go 70 the ball?'
Snip barked again, this time in an
affirmative manner. He always &C.
commOdated himself to his masters
MOODS, and was well accustomed TO be-
ing questioned. Alert aud vlgilant, he
watched the cigar dwindle down by
slow degrees, while he waited in we'll.
bred silence for ~ renewal OF the con
vtrs uiln. But ID ok was drowsy and
cross, and when the cigar was smoked
out he turned his head aside and fell
fast asleep, while his little dog curled
conteutedly around his feet, looking ND
into his masters face with world of
patient love in mis- honest brown eyes.
Seven, eight, nine, ten. Was it pow
sible that he had slept nearly two
hours. and the clock was striking ten?
Dick jumped up, glanced at his watch
to make sure, and with sttled grcan,
prepared to induCt himself into his
dress suit. This was never very rapid
progress with him, and by the time he
entered Mrs. Gray's brilliantly lighted
house the great clock in the hall was
pointing to quarter past eleven
Tue rooms were crowded and stiff,
hugy hot. The very flowers appear
ed to drop under the glare and the
heat--all except some deep red rose
which had been arranged in n sentence
over the DOORWAY, and whose glowing
hearts presented the most sumptuous
and intense bit of colorng, even in
that many-hued apartment. Ii was
strange bat Dick found himself I'M
able to read the sentence, although
composed OF only three short word =.
The language, even the letters were
unknown 10 him, aud for hall min
ute he stood pulling over the mystery.
Then the incoming crowd gently
showed him aside, and, abandoning the
effort, he made the best Of his way to-
wards the hostess. A pretty little
woman, magnitieently dressed, but
seemingly already much fatigued with
the work m hand, halfsmilhug as Dick
edged up 10 her.
"Haye You just come, Mr.. Turner
she said. 81 thought you were to be
one Of my early birds.
so would nave BEEN" ne explain
ed, "only, unfortunately, fell asleep
and did no. wake up in time"
"Oh, that was ,he case, was il? Wen,
such q lengthy nap ought to brighten
you up beautifully for the rest of the
evening. Sometimes, you know, you
are rather stupid
Dick looked Mt her to see il she
meant joke, hut her pretty lace wa,
gravely raised 70 his "You are a4t
tering me" he said, shortly.
81 don't mean 10, indeed, sAe an
swssee, quite earnestly. But ther,