Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1890-11-06
MABEL's HUSBAND.

beams of the barn loft, so that her heaC
should be just on level with that of hen
brother, and casping him around the neck
with both arms
Robert was atall hundsome young athlete
at that moment busy III menulng one of the
cogs of a steam plow with def and ready
touch.
His dark brown hair hung in heavy
masses over his broad forehead; his hazel
eyes were full of latent fire, and there was
a world of character and resolve III his
mouth and chin. One might easily ex-
cuse Florrie Dale for being proud of such
a brother
Don you see, Flora?' said the young
giant gently putting away the hands that
interfered with the delicate screw he
! held II never asked her to be my wife
teacher here, How can | have the face
to do it now that she has inherited a for
! tune"
Flora balanced herself on the beam, her
uimpled face looking out from its frame
work of hay; a speckled hen came cackling
| from the nest in the fragrant hay, and a
half dozen captive swallows flew back and
forth in the peak of the barn overhead.
But you were just going to ask her,
Bob, you know you were!"
"Ah, but how is she to know it?'
why, by instinct, of course, decided
Florrie.
Dale shook his head, with a rather sad
smile.
mo, my little girl" said he, Il do not
choose to be one Of the great army OF
fortune hunters. I've lost my opportunity,
and there's the end of it. 1t is my own
fault.
Florrie burst into tears.
Ion Bob!" said she.
Robert Dale stroked down her sunny
head without a sparkle of moisture IN his
eyes, but he smiled wan smile, neverthe
less.
i've often read that pride was a sin, '
sobbed Florrie, but never comprehendec
it before. Oh, Bob, could almost hate
you. if didn't love you so daarly!"
| And Florrie scrambled down from hel
perch ON the BEAM and ran away, witt
| both hands clasped over her face.
| Dale leaked after her.
Poor little darling!' ne said to him
| self. "ltis but a scratch on the surface o.
her tender young heart! On mine it is {
!
God help mel"
! 1t was one of those romances which oc
! cur in re, life oftener than any one has
an idea Of. Mabel Wynne was pretty
I young school teacher in Abbott's distric
whose life of poverty had suddenly beer
/ turned into riches by bequest of a distant
and nearly forgotten relative. To Mabe
herself it seemed like golden dream
How often she had built castles in the air,
where the foundation was, "lf ! were
rich!' And how the dream had come
| true; the pinnacle of the air castles were
actually shining athwarth the sky o.
her lite, heretofore slch a cold and gray
nxpanse.
And now. said Mabel to herself, 81
can have my hearts desires?"
She took counsel with no one, unless
now and then an hour with the gray head
ed old lawyer might come under that head
she SIMPLY did as she pleased.
! Hey we seen the new house that Ma.
! bel Wyyne is buidin p said one neigh
! Dor to another It's a regular Aladdin
/ castle! With the trees all cut away from
! the lake, and new drives made through the
! woods and heather statters set up hel e ano
E there and row of glass houses to raise
/ Turin plants and ripen grapes and peaches
before their time.
! don't approve of nc such notions, v sol
} EMMY answered the other. ITO my mind
it's clear settin' O Providence at def
ance. Grapes in March. And orange
i trees fowerin in this ere climate, with
the snow on the ground Mark my words,
! there won t no good come of it. "
,,,oe a b,i l,or ,, bot
Mabel Wynne stopped at the old Dale farm
| house
Florie rushed out to meet her. and
greeted her with hugs and kisses innum-
| cradle.
Dear, dear Mary" she said why
/ haven t you been to see us before?
why haven II you been to see me?" re-
torted Mabel, with the piquant, off hand
manner which was one of her greatest
charms. That is the question, | should
think.
Florrie's eyelashes dropped; instinctively
she turned to her brother.
| Robert advanced to her rescue, offering
Miss Wynne his nand, with excellent i'm
itation OF composure.
Because. Mabel, your time has been
so much occupied, " said he Il told Flor
RE that things were changed-that you
could hardly be expected to have leisure to
devote to her silly prattle.
How did you know that things were
changed?" cried Mabel, with a resentful
! fash in her violet-blue eyes
Why, my own common sense told me
so.
WAS that the reason that you haven t
been Z see me?"
"Ore of the reasons.
"Oh!" said Mabel with an indeiscrbable
intopation of voice, and fixing her eyes
upon his with a sudden qestioning
glance. which he was but too thankful to
eyade By looking another way! That
was all that you cared for your old friend,
eli p
could be of any real pranctical use
d friend"
can, briefly interrupted Miss
how and shall be at your
service. :.
Florrie put her arms around her friend J
neck whispering softly:
This is like old times, May