Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-02-05
THE WRONG MAN.


and schoolgirl life for ever.
am glad, yet half-regretful, for my
school days have been happy enough
on the whole, and like all the girls,
though Lefty is my especial friend.
Lefty is poor, and | am rich, and
they say have all the beauty, too; for
she is small and pale, and | am tall
and well-developed for my age,
My hair is lovely, must own; but it
is my chief attraction, and makes peo-
pie think | am better-looking than l
am in reality; for without that rich
adornment, my face would look ordi-
nary enough, | am sure.
Lefty is coming home with ME 10
stay little while. l should like her
to be with me always; but she knows
that my mother has companion al
ready so that | cannot persuade her 90
remain with me in that capacity.
Well, if can manage it, her visit
shall be long one. Poor Lefty! how
pale she is, and how slight and fragile
her girlish figure. | am better fitted
TO do battle with the world than she is,
and l have everything and she has
nothing.
There is only one crumpled leaf in
my bed of roses, My father and moth
er expect me to marry II man | have
never seen in my life. Still, | am so
accustomed to the idea, that it does
not strike me as anything terrible.
Men and women must marry, and ali |
know of love is CLEANED from surrep-
titious novel reading.
Lovers seem to be very uncomforta-
BILE people in my opinion, and hope |
shall never feel as they are supposed to
feel. am not like Lefty, W always
cries over the sentimental part of a
story and falls in love with the hero of
every novel she reads
you will see the gentleman you are
to marry, tomorrow, Lefty says sud-
denly, as we sit under the laburnum.
Yes" | say, with smile II won
der what he will think of me, Lefty"
"What can he think, but that you
are the most beautiful girl in the
world?" returns my enthusiastic little
friend. II am wondering what you
will think of him, Gertrude? Ihope he
is nice "
II have heard that he is handsome, :"
! return, rather absently; "but you
know, whatever he is like, | shall have
to marry him. My father and my moth
er have arranged it all.
Poor Gertruder' and Lefty began
to cry, like the little goose she is.
"What are you crying for?" | ask,
with smile ''Why, Lefty, / shall be
the envy of all the women when | mar
ry Reginald Dacre.
But viii you be happy, dear?" and
Lefty lifts her dark eye, to my face.
'Happy-of course | shall be hap
py, | say, almost impatien, ly; Il shall
have everything to make me so. OF
course, people can always be miserable
they choose to brood over imaginary
woes like that girl we read about the
other day
Lefty says no more, and presently q
oell rings, and we go in to tea, and sit
ior the last time at the large, we'll
spread table.
When the meal is over, the girls
gather round me and express their re-
grets at my departure; but very few of
hem take the trouble TO tell Lefty they
are sorry, and the omission makes her
teel little bit unhappy.
She is sensitive. If | were in her
place, | should not feel the Sigh. so
Seenly as she does,
Lefty and | 20 to bed very early, for
we are to rise at five the next morning.
and fall asleep directly ny head
touches the pillow. But Lefty has been
awake all night, she tells me, as we
dress ourselves for our journey.
Zone would think it was you that
was going to meet your fate l say
lightly.
Lefty looks at her little white face in
the mirror and signs.
| ask her why, and she answers that
she is signing because no one will ever
love her as she wants to be loved.
Her words make me laugh-they are
spoken with such lugubrious air.
Poor Lefty thinl, she ought to es-
chew novels for the future.
My mother comes to take her away.
She is handsome woman still, in spite
Of having such n big daughter, of
whom, by the way, | fancy she Is
slightly ashamed mean in respect to
our relationship.
She is very kind to Lefty, and my lit
lie friend quite expands in the genial
of my mothers presence.
Mamma has the happy knack of put
ting people at their ease.
"Thank you, mamma" | whisper as
we enter the carriage.
.'For what my dear?" she asks in
For being so kind to my friend
ANY one would be kind TO her,
mamma says warmly; "she has such
pleasant ways, and is such pretty
child"
Pretty! Lefty pretty! stare at my
mother in establishment; but she real
" means it. Wen, it is the first time
that anyone has ever called Lefty pref
ty.
When we are in the train catch my
self looking at her spcculatively She
has rather nice eyes, and the little pale
face is perfect oral. Still. one could