Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-09-18

did not seem to benefit Mr.. Castle
man"
"Castlemanr exclaimed Nellie, in
panied surprise, rs that the name4'
Yes. But what's the matter,
Nell2 You look as if you had seen a
ghost"
Where are they fromT
Illinois, believe. The old gen
tleman says he owns property IN our
county"
1.-THE very same, -" thought Nellie,
with pang Just before papa died
he told me that Castleman was the
name of the man who obtained our
hon.e on a security debt. And this is
the man. Dear, dear old home, she
thought, cit breaks my heart TO re-
member your comforts and sweet as
sociations, and to think that mamma,
IN her ill-health, is banished from
you"
Perhaps / may ask your daughter
again for the saucepan, madam" said
Frank Castleman, when he returned
/ that useful article by strange
coincidence the only tin store III the
village was burned last night. Our
man will be hear in a few days with
supplies, however, and then we will
trouble you no longer"
Mamma" said Nellie on his de-
parture. Il feel sure that saucepan IS
theirs. 1t seems dreadful to think of,
for we need it so badly
IN buy you one, sis, With the very
first money / can earn,
"Oh, dear, how miserable it is to be
poorl" sighed Nellie. ~ think I'll
Just keep il for mamma must have
her porridge, and they can buy a
dozen if they wish.
/ But the result of the matter was
/ that after dinner she attired herself
ia a brown cashmere dress, whose
color well suited eyes of hazel and
golden hair, and started with the
saucepan to their neighbor's tent
The door was tied back, and, seated
within on a camp chair, she saw a
feeble old man.
Come in, he called in a sharp
voice, as she hesitated at the door
Help yourself to a chair child l
am in no fix to play the gallant, as
! you can see.
~ trust you find that Colorado air
4 is beneficial to you, sir, Nellie
ventured to remark, after being seat
ed.
Not bit of it, he answered testi-
! ly. '"These pesky mountains came
near being the death of me, The
altitude was too great.
cit seems 50 pleasant here that we
hope our invalid mother will grow
strong rapidly"
pleasant enough, if camping out
wasn't the prescribed thing, but this
doing without home comforts for the
sake OF health seems rather inconsist-
ent TO me-
1--WE have quite a comfortable
camping outfit" said Nellie, with
modest pride. "Our list includes a
coffee-sack carpet, folding rocking
chair, looking glass"
"And a saucepan" he interrupted
grimly.
No sir, she answered, earnestly,
''the saucepan is not ours. Wcfound
it in the Garden of the Gods, short
time before we reached here, and /
brought it over thinking it might be
the one you lost
"Humph' after brief examina-
ton, at is the very same. l know it
by this cross mark. l suppose ought
to be greatly obliged for its return, for
one doesn't often get back what is lost
on the highway"
1--WE would like to have you call
and see us, said Nellie, rising: II
believe you are our nearest neigh
bors.'
Didn't suppose I'd have any neigh
bors," he answered. with evident
irritation; was told there would be
no one near"
With stiff Good afternoon Mel
lie made her exit.
''Dlsagreeable old mani" she said
on reaching home He did not thank
me at all, mamma, and implied that
he regretted having neigh bors when l
asked him to call.
He must be a great sufferer to be
so ill natured, commented her moth
| err.
Mother, I'll take you on a iaunt
through the Ute Pass today" said
sixteen year-old Harry, a few days
later, for as | have found a job at
last, the horse and | Will have to leave
you soon. Frank Castleman says he
will take charge of the tent.
WAY should we place ourselves
under obligation to Mr. Frank Castle
Inant asked Nellie, coldly. THE tent
can take care of ITSELF
Since the unfortunate visit in re
gard to the sauce pan, she had passed
the Castleman's tent day after day,
unheeding, on her way to the Iron
) Spring.
That very afternoon, for the first
time, Frank Castleman had seemed
: quite oblivious to her presence as
well, as he stood in the spriag gagoda
chatting gaily with a bevy of tastIv
/, dressed girls from one of the village
hotels.
And Nellie felt an access OF bitter
ness in her heart at the thought that
one day this gay, laughing Young
man, who only appreciated wealth and
style, would be master Of the dear