Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-03-26
"LEAD US NOT INTO TEMP
TATION."

thousand stitched to her skirt! Love
her! Who would not, with fifty thous-
and in the bank, and three hundred
acres of such land as that? Guess you
aim the first one that has found out
that you could keep warm at my fire.
side; so you needn't take such airs
over the discovery
Paul, who had never looked into
Judith's blue eyes from this point of
view, took his hat bowed, and walked
away in silence.
The old elms sighed, because they
had heard and seen whisperings and
chances on the old piazza of which ia
cob Branrhwaite had never dreamed,
and Judith, who had heard every word
through q half-open door, dropped
three stitches to every two she knit
that evening, and had to pull it all out
the next morning.
There came early the next day-the
elms only knew how-a note from
Paul, burning, feverish, passionate.
Judith read it with an instant's
flush, then hesitated, and sent an icy
line back.
She could never marry against her
fathers will.
That night the Strathmore's had a
merry-making. Both went-Paul, an
CRY and reckless; Judith, under her as
sumed GOODNESS, with throbbing and
expectant heart.
Already she had half repented of her
rigid answer. She might have softened
the manner, if not the matter, Of it.
She was sick with Impotence to speak
with him.
She declined all invitations TO dance,
and waited eagerly till the merry mu-
sic should ring out for the opportuni-
ty.
She knew that he was sullen, for he
had not even spoken to her; but he had
some cause, and it was not bold in her
to seek him out, since she promised
one day to marry him-ayc, and
would; and her heart beat high and
fast.
AS she thought, the cornet sounded
the call to the floor.
Paul rose quickly and led out Bessie
Strathmore.
Judith drew her breath hard for an
instant, and then turned, with gay
laugh, to one of the young men near
her:
"Mr Conway, have you forgotten
YOU were to dance with me?'
Paul heard the laugh, but not the
words. and looked searchingly into
her face rs she came and stood opposite
him.
She smiled haughtily, and when he
took her hand, suffered it to lie cold
and lifcless in his grasp.
Farquhar Conway was hardly the
most brilliant of partners; but if he had
been block, Judith, in her present
mood, would have hung out the flag OF
Irritation.
She blushed. she listened admiringly,
she taught the clumsy lout how to hold
her fan and handkerchief, all the time
hating herself for her meanness, and
yet eXulting in the consciousness that
Paups fierce eyes were burning into
her face.
TO the most miserable dance succeed
ed more miserable evening. Paul,
raging at heart, and anxious not to be
outdone in folly, drew all eyes upon
himself and Bessie Strathmore. Judith
was frantically gay, and stopped at
nothing.
One moment in all that wretched
time they were alone. Perhaps pity
ing angels drew them there. Judith $
heart beat fast. and she trembled from
head to foot. Paul's dark face softened
little for he could not be near her
without something of the old tender
ness,
Have you been kind tonight" he
asked under his breath.
Have you? l half believe my faith
er was right, after all, :" returned she.
with true girlish inconsistency, anx-
ious to hide the Joy she felt even to be
reproached.
He dropped her hand as if it had been
viper.
MAY ask you what you mean,
Miss Branthwaite?" His tone and
action aroused Judith's pride in an in
slant.
You are easily consoled. sir; that
is all After all, Bessie Strathmore
has almost as many acres as ].
a dark flush leaped up in Paul's face
and he staggered back as if from a
sudden blow.
When he did speak it was in voice
that she had never heard before.
judith, this strikes at my honor. If
you believe your words, we are strang-
ers from this night
judith did not believe them. Moth
ing but Heavens testimony could nave
shaken her faith ia Pauls truth, but
she revolted at the thought of conces-
sion.
He was wrong. 1t was for him to
sue for forgiveness, since he had com
menced this wretched misunderstand-
ing. She felt that he was seriously,
terribly in earnest; that, perhaps, her
next words would shape aud color both
his destiny and hers; and, in the very
face of conviction, answered, with a
flppant falsehood
II never say what | don't think,
sir. =
a spssm contracted PauIs face for