Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-12-06

Mrs' brooke, as ner younger niece entered
the dining7room, where they had already
begun dinner. do you feel well enough
to go out this EVENING""
"Oh yes, Aunt Catherine-quite well
enoughP' said Deb hastily, as she slipped
into her seat next to Colonel Wolverton,
after shaking hands with him and with
Captain Wyatt.
Deb was rather quiet during dinner,
but only Felicia knew the cause, and the
others attributed it to her headache.
When the two gentlemen joined the ladies
in the drawing they found only the
two girls there. Felicia was fastening 3
creamy yellow rose in her bodice, and
Deb was putting on a long pair Of gloves
that matched her brocaded amber-colOred
dress
aunt Catherine win be ready in about
ten minutes, said Felicia, 'and mean.
while"
Meanwhile" interposed Colonel VOL.
yerton, who was tall distinguished-lo look.
ing man of about forty with hair already
tinged with gray, miss Ffolliott, you will
just have time to sing 'Eurydice.' No,
am not going TO take any refusal; so resign
yourself"
She went into the adjoining room with
Colonel Wolyerton, and Deb was left
alone with her lover, the curtains which
divided the two rooms, effectually hiding
the two couples from each other.
Captain Wyatt was tall fair man with
a bronzed skin, tawny dropping mus
tache, and intensely keen dark gray eyes
his figure was slim and upright, and ne
looked a model soldier. He was leaning
against the mantelpiece, twirling his mus.
tache and looking down with an amused
smile at Deb's endcavors to button her
gloves. Her hands were trembling so that
she could not succeed in fastening single
button.
"Allow me, y said Captain Wyatt, offer
ing his services; and then under cover OF
the music, he whispered, at was very
cruel of you not to come TO Lady Lawns
garden party this afternoon. You knew
should be there-I told you so last night.
What have | done that you should be so
unkiEdW
Captain Wyatt, began poor Deb, all
her coquetry having vanished; and then
she looked up at him, and her eyes were
filed with tears.
Captain Wyatt was overcome at the sight
Of Deb's tears, and, hardly aware of what
he was doing he drew her to his breast
and kissed her lips,
my darlingW he whispered. Deb, do
you love me"
At that moment footsteps were heard
echOing along the hail. and he had hardly
time to let her go before the door opened
and disclosed Debs afIianced lover, Jack
If,Ito ~, oil MA
discordant crash, and, with a wild cry,
Deb staggered and would have fallen had
not Captain Wyatt caught her in his arms.
Jack crossed the room.
GIVE her to me-" he said quickly to
Dick Wyatt
by what right" inquired the Captain,
haughtily,
"By that of her future husbandW an
swered Jack, CURLY; and, without a word,
Dick Wyatt put her into Jacks arms.
"Take her into the library, Jack" said
Felicia, in an agitated tone. ASK Mrs.
Brooke to come down at once,' she re-
quested of the astonished servant whom
she had Immediately summoned.
A few minutes afterward, when Felicia
returned to the drawing she found
Colonel Wolyerton looking over an al
bum and Captain Wyatt staring moodily
out of the window. His brows were knit
ted in dark frown and his mouth was
set and stern. lie turned slightly as Fe-
lcia entered, but it was the Colonel who
inquired after Miss Deborah.
"She is better, / am glad TO say" an
swered Felicia, rather TREMENDOUSLY; "bu
we had some difficulty in bringing hel
round. 1t was great shock TO her-to Il;
all-my cousins appearing so suddenly.
We thought he was in Australia"
al wonder he did not write TO announce
his coming observed the Colonel.
"He did" answered Felicia, but his
letter miscarried Deb-we never received
it. Aunt Catherine begs that you will ex
cuse our going to the opera tonight; she
is very sorry, but of course in the circum
stances we are compelled to remain al
home"
"Of course" agreed Colonel WolvertoI
1--WE quite understand Come, Wyatt
we will not detain Miss Ffolliott any long
err hope your sister will have quite re
covered by tomorrow. Goodnight"
Felicia shook hands with them both
but as she babe good bye to Captain Wy
att, the expression on his face made her say
impulsively-
''Do not be too hard on poor Deb, Cap
tain Wyatt; forgive her, for indeed"
DO you think" he interrupted bitterly
chat she cares one jot whether she ha!
my forgiveness or not. Let her lover con
sole her As forme will never look upoI
her face again if | can help it 1t is intol
cradle TO me 20 think how she has led mi
on all these monthsl Tell her viii ban
ish' her from my thoughts AS though sh'
had never existed"
Five long weeks passed away, and The
announcement OF Deborah Ffolliotts en-
gagement to her cousin Jack had ceased
to be q topic of interest among her friends
arquaintances, and enemies. There was
great deal of gossip about her at first ant
some said that, finding she could not sc
cure Captain Wyatt rs a husband, she ha'
taken her cousin, who was far too rich, TO-
handsome. too good for her in every way
There were others who maintained the,
had always known it was nothing hut
Irritation between Dick Wyatt and Mis-
Deborah, But, whatever was said OF Deb
one and all envied her for Jack had made
more money than he knew what TO do with
3