Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-02-21

/ parting SuOJ SUE - GYM, lO1f IL \
Vane looking decidedly foolish, and
what is worse, unpleasantiy conscious
that he is looking so.
"By George!" the soliloquizes as he
lights cigar during his midnight
walk to his club, chow savage she
can look when she pleasesl Yet [
don't know but that | admire her all
the more aafe-up shows off those
magnificent eyes, and the very fact of
| jealousy betrays an interest in my
movements. Still the widow is de
cidedly pretty-and | have been down
on my luck lately, and sadly need a
windfall. | really believe she is fond
OF me, dear little soul.
And Sir Reginald Vane's reflections,
not leading him TO any satisfactory
conclusion, the next afternoon finds
| him at Waterloo, taking a return
ticket to Twckenham.
Five minutes walk from the latter
station brings HIM to pleasant little
villa, with green lawn sloping down
to the river; while from beneath is a
weeping ash, a dainty little figure,
emerging from the depth of chaiso
lounge comes with hand extended to
meet him.
In her cool white summer draperies,
and with the Pickering sunbeams
lighting up her great childish blue
eyes and waves of pale gold hair, Mrs.
J Fairfax is as pleasant an objection a
blazing July day as any mans eye
could wish to rest upon. So Reggie
Vane thinks as, with a sigh and muir
muir of satisfaction, he sinks into a
seat by her side, takes off his hat, and
helps himself unlimited from the fra
grant pile of strawberries in the basket
near at hand
''Frightfully hot in London, is it
not2' asks his hostess, sympathetical-
ly even here, Queenie and nave
been able to do nothing but lounge
about in the shade and eat strawber-
ries. Where is the child, by the bye2'
A tiny counterpart of herself, Civ
ing promise Of even greater beauty,
here comes up, and presents a little
hand to Nane; but when he attempts
to kiss her, she shakes her yellow
curls over her face and struggles
away.
why, Queenie, what have / done2'
he asks, half-oifended, yet too Ian
guild to 60 in pursuit of the baby co
quette.
The mothers silvery laugh rings
out merriIy, "You forgot to take
away the rose She gave you when you
were last here. Never mind. Queenie,
you must forgive HIM now"
"And won't you bring me another
in token of pardon2" as the rosebud
mouth meets his half-reluctantly.
Queenie hesitates; but is finally con
quered by that winning voice and
smile, and goes off in quest of the de-
sired gift.
And now, monsieur" says the lit
tie woman, leaning back on her
cushions and surveying her visitor
through the large, innocent blue eyes,
chow has the world been treating you
since we last metz Come, give an &C
count of yourself. Where were you
last night?'
"Dlned at the st. Elmos. Stupid
affair and intolerably hot, and no one
worth speaking to.
Miss Elliot was not thereP This in
a careless little tone of inquiry.
mo. / took in one of the girls of
the house, who had not two words to
say for herself.
And so left the field open for your
eloquence Come, Reggie, don't be
cross take some more strawberries.
want you to amuse me now YOU are
here. Where did you go afterwardN
ITO couple of stupid brushes
really a barbarous institution in this
weather. Lady Hetherington' rooms
were tolerably cool, however
"And you enjoyed yourself there3
1t is hardly like you to honor an even
ing rout when there is no dancing, UNI
less some special attraction tempted
you"
And how could that be when you
were at Twickenham.
well meant, my friend, but hardly
so gracefully expressed as | should
have expected from you. Queenie,
darling, run in and ask why they
don't bring tea.
Here it comes-and-confound it.
duOlicT NlSltOC. w ny CduNOI ILttI JUL
Ter of yours learn discretion?'
Because Iprefer to exercise my
own" replies Mrs Fairfax. And the
little figure is drawn up and the baby
face takeSan expression for a moment
which warns Vane he has gone too
ar.
who would have thought" he
murmurs into his beard, that the lit
tie pussy cat could show such claws"
Meanwhile Mrs. Fairfax has risen
and moved forward toreceive her new
guest. The servant mImbles a name
which she does not catch, and she
lifts her pretty appealing eyes in some
perpleXity to the strangers face.
Something she reads in that grave
bronzed countenance that brings back
old Misunderstanding time long
passed away before poor Jack Fairfax
won her with his hasty impetuous
tale of love before she had as 1t were
leapt suddenly from childhood into
the glare and excitement of a spoiled
beauty's life. Nor is the dream dispel-
led when the visitor speaks, uncon-
c,t,,,r1 ~ e,fto,,;,,o. b;g lan,, tomas NV J.,