Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-12-06
T [ LICl A.


old-fashioned us the red brick house to
which il belonged Two of the trio were
girls, and the third was a tall broad-shoul-
dered young man clad in q brown yelve-
teen shooting-suit. His two companions
were in eyening-dress, and he was apollo
giving to them for his morning attire.
"The fact is, +" he was saying, 81 had
lot of letters to turn out and burn; and /
thought, if ] did it tonight, | should be
able to have a good long day with you to-
morrow before | sail"
81 like that old suit of yours, cousin
Jack" said the shorter Of the two girls,
"and, when you return from Australia
millionaire, sir, or we viii not receive
you-you are to look just rs you do now.
You are to wear those old Yelveteen
clothes; and you are not on any account
TO grow a beard while you are away, or |
for one will not speak TO or even look ut
you."
''Do listen to her, Felicial" said cousin
Jack, laughing. Did you ever hear such
young tyranty Wen, Deb, I cannot
promise not to wear beard while / am
away, but ! vow solcmnly not TO return
with one. VIII that please your lady
ship2'
Yes, Jack Remember the reception
you will meet with if you break your
word; and, whether YOU wear one while
you are away or not, / shall always think
of you with only a mustache. "
IF ever you take the trouble to think
about me at all" said Jack, lowering his
voice n little and bending his head to see
more clearly the expression of the laugh
ing piquant face which was upturned to
his
Felicia, who had been smiling at their
nonsense suddenly turned away and
walked back with unsteady steps up the
broad pathway which led TO the house
She passed slowly through the hall and
into the drawingrOOm, and went to the
window and looked out Jack and his
companion were disappearing down one of
the paths which led into the orchard, and
Felicia could just distinguish the outline
of Deb's figure in her white dress. The
girl sat down at the open window and
buried her face in her hands.
"All these months" she was thinking
~ never guessed How blind have been,
how blind He cares for Deb-my dear
little Deb-and II
She must have waited half an hour be
fore she heard footsteps coming up the
garden path and the voices of Jack and
Deb.
"Felicial where are you" cried Deb, in
her clear treble, as they entered the draw
iug-room. Glow dark il lisp
Hereby the window" answered Fe-
licia; and she was surprised to find that
her voice sounded quite calm.
eve have piece of news to tell you
Felicia" said Jack, with laugh, putting
his arm round Deb. Cant you guess
what il is?"
IL think | can" returned Felicia, in a
low voice. Jack Is anxious to become my
brother as well as my cousin"
"You dear old Felicia" cried Deb, kiss
ing her sister yehemently. "Ilow did you
guess? never knew myself till just now
when Jack told me"
"Lookers-on see most of the game" de
clared Felicia, trying to speak lightly. Il
congratulate you both with all my heart
and hope you win be very happy
"You must let me give you n brotherly
kiss TO seal your good wishesl" cried Jack
gaily.
Felicia drew back, pale but smiling.
"You must keep them all for Deb now"
she answered, strokng Deb's soft little
hand.
1--WE are not going to tell anyone else,
you know, Felicia, until Jack has made
his fortune remarked Deb, confidential
ly. "GIandmamma would he sure to OBJ
ject on the score of my age, for"-turning
TO Jack-"l am only sixteen and half,
Mr.. Jack Ffolliott-nine years younger
than you! Have you taken that fact into
considerations
MIR. Ffolliott murmured few words in
u low voice
Felicia rose and left the room hastily-a
fact hardly noticed hy Deb and Jack, who
were too eugro-sed with each other. Swift
ly Felicia tied to her bedroom, closed and
locked she door and, throwing her win.
dow wide open, leaned out, painting for
breath, for her heart was beating so vio-
lently that she felt she would be sufTocat-
ed.
Thank Heaven" she murmured, that
Jack is going away SO soonl l shall get
used to it in time. Oh, Jack Jackl'-and
with n great sob, she turned and hung
herself upon the bed, burying her face in
the snow-white coverlet
Felicia and Deborah Ffolliott were left
orphans when mere children, and they
had resided with their grandmother ever
since. Three years after Jacks departure
FOR Australia Mrs. Gerard, their grand
mother, died, aud the two children went
to live with a rich widowed and childless
aunt. Mrs Brooke was only too happy to
Shapcron two such beauties as her young
nieccs undoubtedly were, for she found
that her society was much sought after
since their arrival; and Deb and Felicia,
having led rather secluded life with
their grandmother were very glad TO see
little moro Of world in which their
beauty gained them hearty welcome
whithersuoyer they went
Jack Ffouiott met with many ups and
downs ia Australia, and found that the
much talkcd-of fortune was not 50 easily
acquired as he had expected At the end
Of years however there came o letter from
him TO Deb, saying that affairs were tax
ing turn for the better, aud were pro
crossing so tayorably that he hoped in
few months to return to England, and that
he was looking forward TO the time when
he would be able to claim little Deb for
his ntya Tho writer went On Ia comulain