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

stern again.
Darling Queenie. Yes. But it is
dull sometimes, and one wants some
one to consult-to lean on.
"And you think to find that some
one in Reginald Vanen
He is sorry the next moment to
have blurted out the words, but it is
to late to recall them She flashes a
glance at him, and he meets it stead
lily, expecting to be assailed with a
torrent of feminine wrath, but is
taken aback at meeting instead a sud
den burst of tears
Mrs. Fairfax what brute I am
forgive me. | have lived so much
alone that l have fallen into a dread
full habit of speaking my thoughts
aloud"
" But how came you to have such
thoughtsl"
Could help it2 Only last night |
heard your names coupled together
by the voice of common gossip. and
to day have | not seen some confir-
nation of the report2 And / would
not presume to find fault, though
was once not only Jacks friend,
but almost a rough elder brother to
you in the forgotten days of long
ago"
mot forgotten, " murmurs a stihed
voice. Only wondered why you
never came to see me.
1T was best not. L. Jack loved
and trusted me-his meteor, as he used
to call me, poor boy But now-now,
Nina, | cannot but think of the old
days when | see you about to take an
irretrievable step with one whom
cannot think worthy
You are jealous Our grave col
onel actually condescending to such a
weakness! And pray, may | ask what
makes you think Sir Reginald Vane
unworthy don't say of little me-
but Of any good thing the world can
bestoww
His dishonorable conduct toward
another woman. Forgive me Nina
heaven knows / would sooner bite
my tongue out than say it-but he is
playing a double part in this; making
up to you for your fortune, while his
heart-what heart he has to give-be-
longs to Miss Elliot I saw him by
her side last night | watched the
looks and signs that passed between
them, and | speak the solemn truth
when | say that | believe he has won
that poor girls affections, and that
in sober earnest he cares for her. And
now that | have said my say, and
brought a cloud over the face | have
always connected with beaven's sun
shine, l will go my way only asking
that, as time softens your anger you
VIII try to think little kindly of me.
Here is your landing place"
And he pulls the boat into the tiny
creek, and resting on his oars, waits
for her to spring ashore, and give him
his final gesture of dismissal. But
Nina does not move Her head is
bent down, and 50 overshadowed by
her hat that he cannot read the eX-
preston of the family flushed face.
1t seems ages to him before the ST.
lence is broken. At last-"Did YOU
always think me dreadful flirt2"
He was startled and taken unawares
by the appealing tone. Fain would he
answer a roassuring negative, but
memories of the old days again rise
before his mind--viSionS of the sweet
little playmate grown suddenly into
an eXachng vain piece of womanhood
of poor Jacks alternate rapture and
despair in the days of his brief, i'll
considered courtship-and truth, the
guiding star of Leslie Grahame's ma
ture, compels him to answer;
Il don't think you could help it -
some women are formed to be the tor
ment of every man whe comes near
them-lt was your nature TO be sweet
and lovable"
'And now | am grown older and
harder-and care only for admiration,
so that [ could stoop to pick up
heart that belongs of right TO anoth-
err woman. Oh, Leslie you thought
this!'
by heaven, | did you injustice, :"
cries the colonel, in burst of self-re-
proach. I've been insulting you all
this time, and you have borne it like
an angel, just as you used in the old
days, when | was big unmannerly
boy. and tyrannized over you like the
rutHan l was"
And / liked you through it all. :"
This is spoken very softly.
nina, Nina, do not drive me mad.
You can do it-you always could
went away years ago because | knew
you cared for Jack.
you did2'
"Was l not right You would never
have chosen me-the grave, stern
| Scotchman, fifteen years your senior,
in preference to that bright, sunny
hearted lad. And now, don't think.
dear, that have come back to harass
you I would not have seen you to-day
but that | could not bear to leave you
unwarned of the gossip adoat But
now that you know, your woman's
wit and your own brave little heart
viii prove your best defense. Good
bye, Nina. Say once that you forgive
me, as you used long age"
"Leshem
1t is well that the dropping branches
of a weeping willow have made lit
tie secluded bower of this landing