The Dillon tribune., 1886-12-10
CHE lllo,, !Gribu,,t.
THE STORY OF A MINE.
By BRET HARTE,
Copyrighted, 1885, by 1Io; !lton, Milin Co., ard
published by arrangement with thcm.l


published by arrangement with them.
little friend to shine; it is only the moths who
will burn their two-penny immature wings
in the flame! And why should they not!
Nature has been pleased to supply more
moths :han candles. Go to! Give the pretty
creature-be she maid, wife or widow-a
show! And SO, my dear sir, while mater
familias bends her black brows in disgust we
smile our superior little smile, and extend to
Mistress Anonyma our gracious Endorsement.
And IL giddiness is grateful, or if folly is
friendly-well, Of course, we can't help that.
Indeed, it rather proves our theory.
had intended to say something about Hop
kinson; but really there is very little to say.
He was invariably good humored. A few
ladies once tried to show him that he really
ought to feel worse than he did about the
conduct of his wife; and it is recorded that
Hopkinscn. in an excess of good humor and
kindness, promised to do SO. Indeed, the
good fellow was so accessible that it is said
young Delaney, of the tape department, con.
fided to fIopkinson his jealousy of rival;
01VA ScNc0ScNA LuC N"lul ScClVV CLdC u0 (O0
Lancy) had reason to expect more loyalty
from his tHopkinson's wife, The good fel-
low Is reported to have been very SYM
pathetic. and to have promised Delaney to
lend whatever influence he had with Mrs.
Hopkinson in his favor. "You see," he said
explanatorily to Delaney, ''she has good
deal to attend to lately, and, suppose, has
frrt rothOr >oro1occ-fhofsc
IL can't bring her round I'll speak to CASH
wiler-rll get him to use his influence with
Mrs. Hop. So cheer up, my boy; he'll make
it all right"
The appearance of q bouquet on the table
of Mrs. Hopkinson was no rare event; never
theless, Mr.. Gashwiler's was not there. Its
hitlcous contrasts had offended her wonans
eye-it is observable that good taste survives
the wreck Of all the other feminine virtues
and she had distributed it to make bouton-
niercs for other gentlemen. Yet, when he
appeared, she said to him hastily, putting her
little hand over the cardiac region:
am so glad you came. But you gave me
such fright an hour ago."
Mr. Gashwiler was both pleased and as.
founded. "What have done, my dear Mrs,
Hopkinson?" he began.
"Oh, don't talk" she said, sadly. "What
have you done, indeed! Why, you sent me
that beautiful bouquet. could not mistake
your taste in the arrangement of the flowers:
but my husband was here. You know his
jealousy was obliged to conceal it from
him. Ncver-promise me now-neuc,. do it
again."
Mr.. Gashwiler CALAMITY protested.
mo! am serious! I was SO agitated: he
must have seen me blush"
Nothing but the gross flattery of this speech
could have clouded it's manifest absurditv to
the Gashwiler consciousness. But Mr.. CASH
wiler had already succumbed to the girlish
half timidity with which it was uttered.
Nevertheless, be could not help saying:
"Dut why should he be SO jealous now2
Only day before yesterday saw Simpson, Of
Duluth, hand you nosegay right before
hint"
"Ah," returned the lady, "he was outwardly
calm then, but you know nothing of the
Rene that occurred between us after Won
lsft"
But saspel tho practical Cas.wiier,
simpson had given your husband that con-
tract-a cool fifty thousand in his poclct!'
Mrs. Hopkinson looked as dignifiet!ly ut
Gashwiler as was consistent with five feet
three the extra three inches being pyra,:idal
structure of straw-colorcd hair, frond Of
faint curls, a pair of laughing blue eyes and
small bcltcd waist. Then she said, with
casting down Of her lids:
"You forget that my husband loves me-"
and for once the mink appeared to look peni-
tent. TWAS becoming; but Us it had been
originally practiced in simple white dress,
relieved only with pale-blue ribbons, it was
not entirely in keeping with beflounced lavcn-
der and rcse-colored trimmings. Yet tho
woman who hesitates between her moral ex-
preston and the harmony of her Dress is lest.
And Mrs. HoplSinson was victrix by her very
audacity.
Mr.. Gashwiler was aattercd. The most dis
solutc man likes the appearance of virtue.
@But graces and accomplishments like
yours, dear Mrs. Hopkinson," he said
oaeaginously, "belong to the whole coun-
try" Which, with something between
courtesy and strut, he endeavored to rep
resent "And shall want to avail myself
of oil, " he added, lin the matter of the Castro
claim. A little supper at Welcker's, glass
or two of champagne, and single flash of
those bright eyes, and the thing is DONE"
"But," said Mrs. Hopkinson, II have prom
ised Josiah that I would give up all those
frivolities, and, although NV conscience 10