Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1890-04-03

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/ edly But was there no maI about
| the place to undertake this disagraeaf.-
job2"
oh, it isn't disagreeable. said
Natty, earnestly. Il ike to row! And,
besides do 50 much want to earn 30
centsr
DO your" said Paul as the little
boat propelled by Natty's skillful
strokes, vanished into the deep shadow
Of the oyerhanging birches that fringed
the lovely tides. May | venture to ask
whyP"
oh yes" said Natty. Its no
secret, / want to 90 TO the lecture to-
morrow night"
Paul Gessner smiled to himselfin the
moonlight as he sat there like a
Spanish gondolier
DO yon suppose it viii be very in
! teresting?' said he.
"Interesting!" echoed Natty. "Of
course it will be- Haven't You heard?
Mr.. Gessner is to deliver a lecture on
the literature of Queen Anne's time
''And who is Mr.. Gessner?' demand
ed the young man.
IF YOU don't read the magazines, of
course you can't be expected to know,
said Natty Purple, with some natural
Impotence. But / have read ever
thing be writes. He is stopping at our
place now, they tell me.
Is hep said Paul. you are the
landlady's daughter, | presume?n
No, lam not, acknowledged honest
Natty 81 help in the kitchen. Il am
Natalie Purple,
We'll. then, to be honest with you,
Miss Purple. said Paul, feeling "a sting
Of conscious i am Paul Gessner,'
Matte gave such a start that the boat
careened dangerously to one side.
Your she cried.
Yes, II Now, il you will take me
safe to the Echo Cove | will give you .
complimentary ticket. So theret'
mo, said Matte, with true woman
~ pride, ~ accept no favors. even
though | am nothing but a working
girl. If am to have Il ticket at all
prefer to to earn it.
Paul was silent. In truth, and in
fact, be felt a little ashamed in the
presence of this ilute-yoiced, independ-
ent young beauty.
You must have read great deal
said he at last.
'Oh! have said Natty. we arc
not so busy in winter, you see, and be-
sides, all the girls lent me their news
papers aud magazines But | never
expected to see a gentleman who wrote
books
1 hope he comes up to your expec
tation, said Paul.
Il must have time to make up my
mind about that, said Natty, with ali
good faith
And once again our hero found him
self at a loss for something to say.
Aut when he came out into the moon.
bathed glories of the Echo Cove, where
all the world was stepped in silver soft.
ness and the matted masses of water.
lilies were swinging to aud fro on the
tides Ike emerald carpets, his tongue
was lCosened once again, and before
they came back, he aud Matte Purple
were on terms of the pleasantest nc.
workmanship.
But he had not skctchcd half so much
as he had expected.
The light was so uncertain" he
said, "he could reproduce it better by
the next days memory
Matte went TO the lecture with hel
50-cent piece and listened with a grave
and critical inteutuess, which spurred
Pau. Gessncr on to his highest elocu.
tionary effects.
1T was very good, she said the next
day, very good indeed. 1t has given
me something to think about And,
oh, dear / have so much time ioI
thinking"
"Natty," said Mr.. Gcssner (eyery-
body called the girl 'Natty" herc) u
have been wondering why you stay
here at all
Where else should stay?" she
questioned him, with simple direct
ness.
why do You not 90 to Boston and
teach Schoolg' he questioned.
OH cried Natty clasping her hands
eagerly, do YOU think there would be
any possibility of my obtaining a situa-
ton there2a
We must see what can be done,
said Paul refcctivelv.
So Grandfather Purple was left in
charge Of thrifty ueighhor and ~taid
by himself that winter, while Natly
went 10 Boston to try her luck ia one OF
the 9rammer schools. In the spring
Size came back, apparently transformed
into new creature
II didn't want YOU growled the old
man. The Widow MaIlev takes good
enough care of me. To tell YOU the
truth. we was married last week and