Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-05-03
A DEBT OF HONOR.

or value received, promise TO pay
to John Reading the sum of - Mari
an Lang's lip curled and her face flush
ed-a miserable flush that would have
panied any one that loved her; but her
youngest sister, Rita, who rolled in an
easy chair only said languidly:
"What displeases you, Marisn?"
"For value received" began Marian
again angrily, as she drew the promis-
sorry note upon the old fashioned writ
ing-table-."y that has been mammals
ruling principle through life, and l
must say that she has discovered in
many, most ingenious if not always
creditable, ways the fine art of getting
the worth of her money. Am | worth
the money! ! wonder will John Read
ing think [ am worth these notes that
mamma has given from time to timeY
| wonder how they came here anyhow?
When am John Readings wife, would
it not be we'll to put on my new
bsrouche, under Johns crest, the mot
to. For value received? Oh, Rita" she
cried suddenly, in an appealing voice,
"how could mamma borrow money
from that man? How | hate the few
luxuries that we have had lately, and
now | have discovered their source!
We whe are so poor ought to be asham.-
ed to dress above our means" Big tears
fell slowly upon the offending notes.
ooh, what blind fool have been not
to have suspected thisI'
"Quite true, my dear Marian; you
are fool to take trifie so seriously"
said the lazy voice of Miss Rita. IF
cousin John chooses to lend a little of
his surplus money to three charming
ladies whose circumstances are some
what Strengthened"
"For shame, Rital" cried Marian in.
dignantly. Chow are we to pay for it,
/ should like to know?p
you do know, my dear Marian;
but don't be quite so emphatic-you
are, in fact, almost violent. That last
most unladylike stamp of the foot quite
suggested an earthquake"
"Oh, if there could be an earth.
quake that would swallow us all up to-
gether."
Now you are childish, Marian. An
earthquake? No, thank yon, leave me
out of it please-for | have not yet
worn my new plush costume. Any
way postpone it until after the next
promenade concert"
of the costume were mine, [ would
send it with my compliments to cousin
John, as you call him, although I could
never make out why; his money, of
course paid for it,"
Give back my brown plush costume!
Marian, you are certainly insane.
There is the tea bell Let us go down,
my much troubled sister, and try to
smile upon future for his generosity"
Marian moved away followed leisure
ly by Rita; and in the pleasantly
lighted parlor, dain tily spread tea ia
BILE was awaiting them. Mrs. Lang sat
already at its head, and cousin john"
laying down the evening paper, looked
e up approvingly at Marian's flushed
cheeks as she entered.
\ "Mademoiselle, you are brilliant to-
. night" he said with rather awkward
attempt at courtly bow.
Marian could not force polite smile
but grimly took her seat; and her
thoughts were mole too amiable.
John Reading has an air of proprie-
torahip," she thought. However he
is not quite master of the situation, yet,
Mamma sale is by no MEANS affected.
What red face he has? And such
teeth He probably chewed tobacco
before he was rich enough to buy good
cigars as well as wife. Oh, how hard
feel toward everybody"
cousin John" ate his mullins and
admired Marian; Rita discoursed pla-
cidly about various topics of the day;
MIS-. Land, with an occasional look at
her eldest daughter, endeavored to
make herself agreeable to her guest.
Her flattery was most delicate and sub
tie, and her watchful tact made even
the commonplace remarks OF John
Reading seem almost brilliant Marian
in spite of the trouble within, could not
but admire her mothers cleverness.
Eyes" she thought, mamma ekes
Y out the mans ideas as she does a scan
q ty old silk dress and makes them near
. ly bearable."
4 When, after most wearisome even
ing for one, at least, of the auartetto
that looked so cosy as they sat around
the fire. John Reading had gone to
the club and the two girls had gone to
their rooms. Mrs. Lang thinking till
the embers faded to sudden glow; her
reflections we're far from agreeable.
IN off | have overrsted my influence
with Marian" she thought, eff she
1, should refuse John-she certainly had
~ defiant air to-night-what will become
81 Us? The neighbors say be is a hard
man; but that may be from jealousy of
bis attention to us. I have striven all
these years 10 give the girls a chance to
make good marriage; and now when
the chance seems near TO fulhllment,
to have that chit dare to defy my plans!
Oh, it il too harassing. Was ever
poor mother so wretched as II she