Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-03-18
MARY'S ROMANCE.

In tho drawing room at Heathcot
IN the gray September twilight, Mary
Meredith and Felix Trafford sat engag-
ed in earnest conversation.
II really cannot see any cause for
your despair, dear Felix. Have not
told you nov dearly love youl No
power on earth shall ever force me TO
break my plighted troth to you. Have
you no confidence in meg
"All confidence. Mary | know
you will be true to me.
''Then what is it you fear3"
Everything, You are young and
beautiful, the rich Mr.. Meredith's
only child. while ! am poor clerk in
the house of Meredith Brothers. with
nothing but an unsullied reputation,
some brains, and a good right hand to
help me through the world"
so much the better, then, that /
am the daughter Of the rich Mr..
Meredith. Dear Felix, papa esteems
you and has implicit confidence in
your honor. He invites you here and
allows our acquaintance Why do
you annoy yourself so about imagin-
airy troublesT
Your father trusts me, and must
be true to him, you and myself /
viii 60 to him and frankly confess
our attachment. l should feel miser-
able otherwise"
eco now; he is in his study
Felix caught the girl in his arms
and kissed her rosy lips.
"Your confidence inspires me with
hope, he said, and went away on his
mission.
Tapping at Mr. Meredith's study door,
and receiving permission to enter,
Felix approached the old gentleman,
who gave HIM his hand saying:
why, boy, you are an unexpected
visitor. No bad news, hope"
mo, Sir; but want to ask of you
gift so precious that ! have vsry lit
tie hope Of obtaining IT..
"Wel name it, | am always glad
to favor you il ] can"
Felix was greatly agitated, but sum
moned up all his courage and said
mr. Meredith l love your daughter,
I do not, however, ask you TO give
her to me now. Only let me hope
that when prove to you
Mr.. Meredith leaned back in hii
chair amazed. 1t had never occurred
to hun that his young clerk would
dare to lift his eyes to his daughter
You are an ungrateful, PREACHER
Gus scoundrell' he cried "Out o.
compassion for your frieudlessHess
admitted you 10 my house and my
daughters society, and you vlllar
that you are, have taken the oppor
lunity to steal into her confidence anC
win her inexperienced heart. Begon,
sir, and never let me see your fact
again
"Listen to me one moment, Mr.
Meredith.
"Not one secondw cried the ole
man. as he violently brought down
his clenched fist upon the table
Leave the house instantly or the ser
wants shall thrust you out.
AS if to put his threat into eXecu
ton he tercely rang the bell
As Felix staggered along the pas
sage, his heart so Oppressed with con
tending emotion that he was scarcel,
conscious OF anything, he met Mary
who alarmed at the violent ringing
of the bell was rushing to her father
study. Felix wildly threw his arm
about her, kissing her again and again
Then he tore himself hastily ava
and rushed from the house.
Mary never knew what occurred q
that terriable interview. Mr. Meredit
was deaf and all her love had du
appeared. The poor girl was stricke
with brain fever, and for weeks he
life hung n the balance. RepentanC
came too late 10 the unhappy father
for although sought for far and nea
Felix could not be found. At leHgt
youth and good constitution brougE
back health to the heart broken CIR
But alas the blooming Hebe of
summers was no more In her plaC
a tall girl appeared, but with beaut
that even the most fashdious admired
The golden brown curls that clust,
around her temples lay in ripplln
waves upon her brow as pure as sno7
and the lustrous hazen eye wore a
expression of sadness that told of Il
heart-gsef that would be hers foreye
Mr.. Meredith travelled with h
daughter through all the most attra
tive parts of Europe for a year; an
then, at her request, he took her HON
Mary had become woman, brlgh
intelligent, glorious womaA, al
crowds of admirers worshiped at h,