Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-09-23
A HAPPY GIRL.

at was just exactly like Cinderella
in the fairy-books," said Musidora, ex-
utantly Zone evening of light and
splendor-one delicious waltz with
partner who seemed absolutely to float
on wings, one glimpse of that great
palm-crowded conservatory, with the
arched glass roof, and the festoons of
colored lamps Wasn't it nice of Nell
to lend me her blue Grape dress and
satin boots, and the old set of sapphires
that came down to the Magnus family
from nobody knows who? And now
oh yes, the lights are out, and the ball
bouquet faded. and it's ten o'clock of a
snowy December day, and if | don't
make haste | shall lose the Western
express! Oh, deari--oh, dear, why
can't we all live in fairy-land for
ever?"
because Eleanor Magnus solemuly
made answer, lit is not in the nature
of things"
But Musidora dreamed of that one
glittering ball as the train sped past
the low Jersey flats, and flew shrieking
on its way to the Far West She never
had been to ball before, she probably
never would see one again. Now she
smiled to herself as she remembered
how she had let her partner keep one of
her little blue gloves-'As Il souvenir
he had declared laughingly.
"But he didn't know that | was go-
ing to Dakota" said Musidora, gleeful-
w. II wonder how many nights he will
look out for me at the opera, and at
balls, and SojrceS, and receptions, be-
fore he gives me up? 1t was NIGEL And
how divinely he waltzed! Cecll Grieve
--it$as such pretty name too. Well,
goodbye, Cecil!'' with wave of her
hand toward the marshes, II shall never
see YOU again.
For Musidora was leaving behind her
all the traditions and associations of
the East She had tried in VAN to earn
livelihood in the old seaport city Of
Maine, where fortune had originally
east her lot.
She had stouned the citadel with the
needle, tapped at its gates with Il pen
Gil, written stories which We're ode
clined with thanks, ana opened Il
little school to which nobody ever came.
Its no use, said Musidora There
are too many women mere. I'll go
somewhere else. For surely there is
some place where | must be needed"
So she had written to her uncle out
in Dakota, to know if she could help
him keep house there.
I'm try not to be in the way, uncle, "
she wrote pathetically. II can sew, and
spin, and cook, and darn, and it will
be strange. indeed, if | don't manage to
pay my way
Uncle Absalom had written back:
Come and welcome Girls are as
scarce as sequins here. You are not a
true Magnus if YOU can't support your
self; but even if YOU were wax puppet
I'd make you welcome for my brother
Hiram sake.
SO Musidora had followed the beckon-
ing of this finger of fate; and on her
way to Dakota she had stayed one
night in New York and been to ball
in Eleanor Magnus's new blue Grape
dress. If she had descended INTO the
Valley of Diamonds with Sinbad the
Sailor, or gone behind the scenes in a
fairy extravaganza, the scene could not
have been newer or more delightful to
her.
Its an experience said Musidora
IN put it down in my diary, with my
first lover, my wedding, and my first
glimpse of Niagara. y
And all that weary journey, when the
train seemed to oscillate along the flat
plains with never-resting persiStcncy,
She closed her eyes to think over the
lights OF the palm trees. the swaying
strains Of "The Beautiful Blue Danube, =
and the scent of the gardenia in Cecil
Grieye's buttonhole.
Uncle Absalom was Il tall bearded
man, with grizzled hair, sun-browned
face, and a coat which looked rs if it
hadn't been brushed for n twelVemonth.
He kissed his niece, helped her into a
red cutter, and drove away through the
snow-drift to u LOG cabin, where there
was a fire as big as blacksmithy, and
a dinner OF halt-raw venison steaks and
scorched potatoes.
Musidora looked pityingly on the
carpetless floor. the cobweb-draped cell
ings and the bed. which did not seem
to have any linen sheets on it.
Are YOU so very poor Uncle Absa-
Iona said she wisttully.
well, not 50 very, said Uncle Alb
SALON. with IA smile. Eve got three
thousand sheep, a hundred and fifty fat
cattle. and seventy horses. And think
there's twenty thousand acres on my
place, if the surveyor didn't make no
mistake Yes following the direc-
ton of his nieee's eye. I'm aware we
hain't much bric-a-brac here, bat that
will all come in time. It's yictuals and