Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-02-18
ET1IE sANDIFRa'S MISTAKE.
BY CLYDE RAYMOND.

Elite Sandifer, gazing dlsconselately
out upon the pretty country yard
where the flowers were being beaten
to the earth by a violent transform
that was next thing to deluge. II
is enough to give one the horrors. |
wish something would happen.
As if III special answer to her WISH,
a horse came dashing by at q wild gal.
Iop, so evidently running away that
both Elite and her mother, who were
sitting together IN the little parlor,
sprung up in alarm ana rushed TO the
door.
They were Just in time TO see the
frightened animal suddenly rear upon
his launches as a deafening crash OF
thunder and binding glare OF light
ming rent the heavens, and then-Et-
tie shut her eyes in horror, for at that
instant he plunged forward again,
pitching his lulkless rider violently
upon the grouhd at their very gate.
Something had happened, sure
enough, and the girl felt almost guilty
at the manner in which fate had taken
her by her word.
The young man was at once convey
ed into the hosptable cottage insen
sible, and as il seemed, badly hurt
and Elites foolish little heart hutter-
ed with a wild, sweet excitement as
she saw that he was handsome-yes,
the very han1somest OF his sex that
she had ever looked upon.
And she heard with secret delight,
the verdict OF the doctor, that this in
teresting patient would be compelled
TO remain under their roof for some
DAYS, at least.
Therefore it happened that when
Charlie Alger called that evening, he
found our little heroine in a state of
very unusual exsitement.
ooh, Charliew she began the very
moment he had crossed the thresh-
hold.
Then in low tone and eager,
brealhless manner, she related the
startling event of the afternoon, end
ing with this emphatic declaration:
"And Oh, Charley he is the very
handsemest man you ever saw !"
Indeed responded Charley some
what dryly.
For some reason or other he failed
to recover her news with that appre-
citation which Elite evidently thought
it deserved.
But Charlie Alger was her lover,
and it was hardly TO be expected that
ne could listen delightedly to such ex-
travagent praises of another man.
Her lover, tender and true" he
had heen for ever so long-so long,
indeed, that Elite sometimes grew al
most weary of his devoted attentions,
and the monotony of her life generally
and longed for a change-fOr "some-
thing to happen"-a little Irritation,
perhaps like other girls, before settling
down forever 10 a humdrun married
life.
Not that she loved Charlie well
enough and meant to marry him all
in good time but just now she was
thankful for the little diversion which
Providence had thrown in her way.
And as she sat by the bedside of the
handsome stranger on the following
day ,anxiously watching over him as
he lay there in deep drugged sleep in
to which the doctor had put him when,
recovering consciousness, he had
showr Signs of fever and delarium,
there were all sorts of romances about
him being busily woven in her pretty
flaxeB head.
"Who was hel' "Whst was his
manner Had he a sweetheart who
would mourn his absence and grieve
for his misfortune9h
In the midst of these innocent spec
ulations the handsome patient stirred
a little, then his dark eyes suddenly
Enclosed and gazed into Elites blue
ones with very bewildered expires
sion.
"Where am ~ he inquired family.
passing his hand over his white fore.
head like one awakening from some
dream.
Just what they always say in nov.
els' murmured Elite, to herself.
And, OH what beautiful eyes he
hasW
But aloud she related what had hap
pened, adding the doctors order thai
he must not be removed for severa
days.
And are.you going to be my nursef
he asked, looking, so it seemed to Etti,
not at all displessed at the idea of hay
ing to remain SO long.
"Yes-my mother and L. she an
swered, unblushingly. But if yol
have any any nearer friends whom
you would rather have to nurse you
we will send for them il you will oul,
tell us where they are. "
Artful little Elite she was Just dy
ing to know if any woman held te
key to this handsome strangers heart
She was certainly fast forgetting tina
Charles had any claim on her hear
already.
y "Oh, no, he answered with smile
Il am quite content.
And then he would persist in talk
ing to her, though Elite imilingl,
shook her flaxen head and told hin
her was disobeying orders. Blu
he would do so in spite OF her. kec