Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-05-21

We oTtIhlaSJ Just at day.
Mr.. BeilairS receded
81 had thought s o'clock early"
at may be for you but not for us.
However, my wife will see that YOU
have your breakfast at any hour you
wish.
81 could not think" he Yves be-
ginning, but John was closing the door
on his retreating form.
1t was o'clock the next morning
when Mr.. Bellairs opened the dining
room door where Lucille sat Smelling
peas. She glanced up quietly and he
| bowed oravelv.
Il am truly sorry am so late" he
murmured, guilty feeling that he was
not sorry a bit.
"Oh, my husband told me you would
not want breakfast till g. If you viii
kindly sit down | viii wait on you"
But tell me, do You not really think
am a sayage?"
The pretty woman, unused to hat-
terry or Difference, gazed steadily at
him.
why should I? | think it more
Christian-like to breakfast at this hour
than at daylight. If God had intended
people TO begin the day before sunrise
He would have made the sunrise ear
lier"
A simple remark a child might have
made but her evident innocence dis
armed him. She was no woman to be
beguiled by pretty speeches and his
plan to be entertaining to this guile
less creature came to naught-for the
time. She waited quietly on him each
morning, speaking no word unless
pressed.
"She is not a fool but she seems to
have no soul, was his mental calcula-
ton.
The summer waned.
Why did Lucille's step lag and why
had her pink face lost its bloom? He
was to 90 away! Yes, it had come to
this-that this man with the red-brown
hair and the beautiful voice, brown
eyes, suave manners and polished adj
dress-this man had wakened the mar
BILE Galatea into life!
He was no artist but he had the soul
of one. He was only n young city
broker out for Il summer holiday, but
he had looked deeply into the soul of
this little family. He saw the husband
was harsh, cold, Indifferent and unap
preciative and the wife stultiHed by
monotonous round of soul-narrowing
household duties.
The day of the parting came. He
held her hands close. "Good-by, Mrs.
Hardy. III be back next summer"
She hung her head like a shy school
girl; but it was not shyness, it was the
sickness of despair that bent her neck,
but she spoke no word. Careless man
of the world that he was, her detection
moved him.
"If ever can serve you-if ever you
need aid, appeal to me-"
She wrenched her hands free.
at is hardly probable that Lucille
Hardy will need your aid. Go-and
good-by."
proud to the last and yet ! could
have sworn she had grown to like me-"
All! thank God for that woman's
pride that enables her to hide so much
and to set the world at defiance!
Lucille crept up to her room and lay
on the lounge for hours, but she uttered
no sigh and made no moan only looked
out the window with wide-open, tear
less eyes.
surely he did not read my secret
surely he did not 20 away believing
that love him. And yet, do, oh, |
do, and God knows how am to live
all my days without seeing him."
Hex husband never dreamed of the
sleepless nights Of fearless agony she
spent by his side while he slept the
sleep of the just. For months she
went about pale and thin, but her
hours of thinking were developing her.
She was beginning to be less afraid of
her husband. One day she said:
"JOhn, / must have books to read"
"Why?" he asked laconically.
Because Iwish them, she answered
firmly
do you have time toread?" he asked
severely.
81 shall make time"
He was astounded, but the books
were procured.
81 must read and study that / may
become a companion for him." she
thought. But the summer came and
went and Mr. Bellairs came not.
At the end of two years she said:
"John, shall get piano"
He was astonished again. Lucille,
you are becoming extravagant. You
know very well am MOI rich man."
81 realize that quite well, neverthe-
less. l have helped you to accumu-
late what riches you possess and am
Just as much entitled to a piano for
my amusement as you are to costly
machinery that will lessen your labor"
Was this logician the gentle, sub
missiye and accomplishing wife Of two
years ago?
But the piano came and Lucille re-
newed her music, learned in her girl
hood.
The fourth summer John told her
Mr. Bellairs wished to return, for he
nad, unconsciously to himself, begun
to consult his wife in all things.
in that case | must have a servant.
I do not care to become dining-room
maid for city gentlemen"
So Mr. Bellairs, jaded and wearied,
came TO this peaceful home once more.
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