Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-12-11
MISS MADISON'S MATCH.

and a pair of wonderfully attractive
LIQUID gray eyes. She had also an
undeniable knack OF so
manipulating her sometimes
rather shabby clothes that the
beholders ceased to remark their
sbabbiness in the distinction OF the
wearer. Not that she liked shabby
clothes-she loathed them with a
fervor few people credited her with,
but she was essentially self-con-
tanned person, and endured the minor
ills of life with graceful fortitude.
The Madisons had never had any
money to speak of, and just now
things had come to a crisis with
them.
"What on earth's to be done with
all YOU eirlsl' Col Madison had
asked. helplessly, of his four mother
less daughters that morning at break
fast.
1t was the Christmas holidays, and
the three younger ones, OF course,
turned up with the Christmas bills,
equally unfortunate and inopportune
To- their impccunious father. Three
more mouths to be filled, three fine,
tall, growing girls to be clad in some
thing. and the school bills going on
merrily all the time No wonder the
wretched colonel groaned over his
quiverfull
I'VE must marry" said Lillian, the
beauty.
1--WE must work, said Ethel, who
took life seriously, and had views "
"Thank goodness, I'm too young
for anything heroic to be expected
OF me" said Barbara, the baby, pout-
ing.
HAS anything particular happen
ed9" asked Madge.
"The bank has gone, and with it
all / had, except my pension" said
the unfortunate colonel, signing deep
ly. When die you viii all Of you
be paupers, so it will be better for you
to set about doing something for your
selves before the bad day comes
For your sakes, children, shall take
every imaginary care of myself; but,
alas the best of us is but mortal. "
The affecting thought was too much
for the unlucky parent. he lapsed
into a melancholy taclturnlty for the
remainder Of the meal.
At its con clusion, Madge, who had
been thinking matters over, said
Father, you are right about our
doing something for ourselves. can't
be a governess. / don't know enough;
but old Lady Dumbledon wants a
company keeper I'll ask her to take
me. | shall be earning $50 year,
and, at the same time be relieving
YOU of one of your membranes.
You're good girl, Madge. / am
sorry to sacrifice you, | am sure; but
don't see any help for II. -
Miss Madison was girl Of action.
She speedily bad all the preliminaries
settled with Lady Dumbledon, whose
service she was to enter toward the
end of January. But before taking
up her new duties she permitted her
self the relaxation Of a visit TO a
school friend, now well married and
living in Kensington.
She returned from this outing
somewhat pensive, and, in reply to
the atfectionate badInage of her sisters
suffered it to be elected that she haG
met a man at her friends house,
whom in more fortunate cilcum-
stances she could have cared good
deal for. Unh6Ppiiy if, as she owned
that she suspected, the favorable inn
preston had been mutual, there could
be no results from her. Her too
brief visit had come TO an end and
she and her delighted fellow-guest
had separat ed after their three days
chance acquaintanceship, in all hui
man probabilities never to meet again.
Such is life and-luckl
She had, however, miscalc ulated
the powers of her own attractions.
On the eve of starting for Lady DUN
bledons she received a singular letter
from the man whose good fortune it
had been 10 so strongly recommend
himself TO her.
He had been irresistibly drawn to
her " he said, I'm the few days that
they had been thrown together but
he had then been too poor a man to
let the dictates of his heart find utter
ance. He bad let her 60 in silence
and had suffered much in 10 doing
Now things were changed with him
He had most Unexpectedly come intos
property Of 10000 a year by the sud
den death Of arelative, and he hasten
ed 10 offer himself and his newly &C
Guired fortune for her acceptance
Circumstances connected with ms ac
cession to fortune necessitated his i'm
mediately starting for Australia, anC
would keep him out of England for g
year. Would she forgive his precipi
tate wooing out Of charity for tn,
violence sf his passion for her, anC
promise to become his wife as soon a
he returned homer
This. denuded of many passioDat
expressions of regard, was the sub
stance of the letter.
Miss Madison carried it TO her faith
er.
what shall you do, childl' h
asked, anxiously.
Il will take your advice, but l an
inclined to accept Mr. Smith-Wbite'
offer she added, casting down he
eyes and gre wing little pale.
"You were always a most sensible