Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-12-31
A FORTUNATE NEW YEARS AC.
ClDENT.

It was a very jolly crowd which
stood waiting in the Brackenerldge
Depot for the seven o'clock train, that
frosty New Years morning.
One might have thought that seven
was rather an early hour for so large
and exceptionally gay a gathering
especially as only one of the party was
to take the tram, the remaining six
teen having assembled merely to see
her off.
Bat for a better informed person the
fact that one was Ida Terrill, would
have been a sufficient explanation.
That young lady had come to
Breckenridge on a visit to her aunt,
four months previous; and Backen-
bridge society had given her the warm
est welcome imaginable. There had
been furious run of parties during
Idas visit. Breckenridge had never
been 50 lively; for Miss Terrill had
''taken" immensely, and society had
exerted itself in her behalf.
The heroine of the occasion stood IN
the midst of the chattering throng,
entirely beWitchiRg IN her snug brown
suit, tossing back laughing replies to
the chorus of sallies aimed at her.
Charley Whitlock was pretending
to cry into his pocket handkerchief.
George Becker, lolling across a seat
with hair rubbed up wildly, was slmu-
lating fit of insanity brought about
by Miss Terrill's departure.
The train came putting up.
You'll surely come back nextsu
mer2' cried all the girls together.
There was a confusion OF kisses
and hand-shaking, the masculine
portion affecting violent indignation
that they were excluded from the for
mer.
Miss Terrill's uncle, who was to see
her safely TO the junction at Crosby,
where she was to change cars, hurried
her into the train. And the hutter
of handkerchief from a window was
all that was left to the group on the
platform.
Charley Whitlock and Lizzie Cay
ms walked away together, OF course.
They had been engaged all summer,
and were to be married soon.
Poor Arthur said the girl, look
ing after the tall form which had de
tached itself from the group and was
taking a solitary course up the broad
street.
"Yes-poor Clifford r said her lover
compassionately. "What made her
throw him over2 I've never had the
rights Of the case. But ! suppose you
know2N
eyes; she told me all about it. She
is the the most conscientious girl in
the world-Ida Terrill She refused
him simply because she wasn't quite
sure she liked him well enough TO
marry him. She said she'd be doing
him wrong if she married him with
out being certain; so she reject ed
him
Charley gave muSng whistle.
Shes rejected a mighty nice fell
low, he declared.
Yes; told her so / tried to make
her change her mind; bat she
wouldn't. Do you know oughtn't
to say lt--but I've imagined two or
three times that she had come to care
for MIN a littlel You see, the longer
you know Arthur Clifford the better
you like him, and il was two months
ago that she refused him. Well, |
don't know" Lizzie concluded, du-
biously.
Ida Terrill, meanwhile, was spin
nng toward Crosby. Her uncle had
taken from the train boy maya zine
for her and a newspaper for himself,
and was already absorbed in the poih-
cal aspect.
Ida turned the leaves Of the pamph.
let listlessly, closing it at last, and al
lowing her eyes 10 wander among hor
fellow passengers an uninter.
estlng set, She concluded. Then she
rested her elbow on the wiudow-sill
and her pretty chin on her hand, and
looked out somewhat absently.
Had she made a mistake7 she
thought. Was she sorry she had re
fused him3
No surely not. How could she hay,
accepted HIM when she had not carec
for himI There were plenty OF proof.
that she had not cared for him2
According TO the best authorize.
she should have turned red and pal,
by turns at his approach, and he
heart should have substantially in
creased its palpitations; she Shout,
have been madly Jealous at seem.
MIN with anybody else; She Shout,
have thought of him by day an,
dreamed of him by night-if she ma,
cared tor him. But she had had non
of these symptoms.
OF course She reflected as she spe
by houses, and fences, and fields, sh
had appreciated him. She had know
AS who did ot.-that he was yer,
pleasant, very gentlemanly, very en-
tertaining And his behavior after
his rejection, had been nothing les
than sublime he had, as it were
ignored il, continuing to devote him